Tipsport League: We are sorry that we could not attend, says the director of Bohemians Prague
Bohemians Prague is a traditional participant in the Tipsport League winter tournament. Except for last year, when not a single major league club could accept the invitation for a short winter break, look at all the others. And they will be at the start this year as well. “It’s a matter of the heart for us,” admits club director Darek Jakubowicz.
When the invitation from the organizer came to this year, did the management decide to accept it?
Due to the fact that this is a sports section, we do not interfere in the preparation, so it is in the competence of the coach and his implementation team. Management is only considering the economic side. Tipsport league is a convenient and cheap option to secure three matches with quality opponents.
Moreover in Prague, without traveling. If the coaching section was fundamentally opposed, I would get into it well and try to maintain our participation in this tournament. We did not succeed last year, the winter break was very short, unsatisfactory for the premier league teams.
Personally, I was sorry, but there was nothing I could do. This year we have interesting rivals (Jablonec, Dukla, Sparta B), it is easy to join in terms of organization.
The betting company Tipsport also announces interesting bonuses, the winner takes 200 thousand crowns. Is it also a motivation for players to achieve good results?
It’s tempting. For club and for players. We deal with their possible rewards for the results directly with them, usually that fifty percent of the premiums go into the cabin.
You will also meet Jablonec, which is your almost close neighbor in the premier league table. Do you welcome this match or would you rather have another opponent?
It is a priority for us to have a first-league opponent in the group. If we only had second leagues, we would consider participating in the tournament at all. We have been communicating with the organizers since August and we are pushing for not to be the only club from the first league in the group. Jablonec came out this year, so our plan was fulfilled.
The winner has a great chance to take part in an international tournament in Malta next year. Would it suit you?
It is definitely interesting for us, such a tournament in the heat, on natural lawns and against quality opponents definitely belongs to the winter preparations. When we were invited to the first year four years ago, we wanted three matches. However, only two of us would be waiting and not against the first league teams, the third against the local team, which does not have such a level. We would miss that match.
Otherwise, such a tournament, where the stay is paid by the betting company, is very attractive for the club, also due to the accommodation, training areas and other security. Now we know what we would go to.
The patron of the tournament is a former great personality of the past, densely associated with Bohemians: Karol Dobiaš, Jiří Rosický haunts, most recently Jaromír Blažek. He had to resign from this position due to his duties in Ústí nad Labem. Won’t you get a personality for the organizer?
When Tipsport contacts us, we deliver someone. We have plenty of big characters.