We have reached a historic milestone. The Opava Patriots have successfully completed their inaugural season. From building the team completely from scratch last year, through a challenging autumn full of heavy defeats, to spring comebacks and the first hard-fought points on the pitch. We sat down with the club’s chairman and head coach to talk about how demanding this year was, what the official administrative decisions took away from the team, and what the plans are for the summer.
“Is it really over already? It flew by so fast.”
The final curtain has fallen on your first season. What were your feelings as you walked off the pitch, and what was the very first thing that flashed through your mind when you realized it was all behind you?
The first thing that crossed my mind was, “Is it really over already?” It flew by incredibly fast. Right after that, though, I felt a huge sense of relief that, despite all the hurdles, we made it and finished the entire season. When you build something completely from scratch, just completing the season is a major victory in itself.
The autumn part of the season was like a baptism of fire for the club, as shown by the wild overall score of 23:210. How challenging was it for you back then in your dual role as chairman and coach? Did you believe you could keep the team together?
It was tough for everyone at the club. Personally, I never give up and I love challenges, which is exactly what this project has been from the start. During the autumn, I kept repeating to the guys that this phase was mainly about recruiting more players, gelling as a team, and gaining experience. For the spring part of the competition, we set a clear goal: to fight for some points. And we managed to achieve that on the pitch. Unfortunately, we were plagued by terrible luck with injuries throughout both parts of the season. A huge thank you goes to everyone here, because it affected the whole team, and some of the guys, whenever it was even remotely possible, played through the pain and gave it their all despite their injuries.
On the Ruined Joy Caused by the FAČR Decision
You mentioned the points won in the spring. You fought hard and earned 6 points on the pitch, but after one of the opponents withdrew, the FAČR (Football Association of the Czech Republic) annulled all the results, stripping you of those points. How much did that make your blood boil?
I was both pissed off and disappointed at the same time. It was a match where we were losing 1-2 at halftime. Yet, we managed a fantastic comeback to win 5-2, even though our striker, who had just joined us on loan, got injured again in the 43rd minute. The team showed real character; we left everything on the pitch, only to lose it at the green table. From a football perspective, that hurts deeply.
Plans for the Summer: Healing Wounds and Expanding the Roster
The season is over, and as chairman, you already have to prepare for the next one. What are the Patriots’ immediate plans for the coming weeks? Can we expect any new signings?
First and foremost, the guys need to recover and get healthy. That is the absolute priority right now. At the same time, however, we want and need to reinforce the squad. This experience with injuries showed us that we need a deeper roster. We also have to account for other factors like work commitments, illness, family, and so on. In amateur football, unfortunately, you just can’t do it without a deep squad.
In closing, what would you like to say to the players themselves and to the fans who went through this past year with you?
First of all, a massive thank you goes to all the players. It wasn’t an easy season, both physically and mentally, and everyone pushed themselves to their absolute limits. Another big thank you goes to the families and loved ones for their support during matches and for their patience with the time-consuming nature of the entire year. However, we now need to prepare properly for the upcoming season.
