Mailbox

In this week's Mailbox: the Czechs' achievements in the football World Cup, Radio Prague's production of Vaclav Havel's play, winner of September competition. Listeners quoted: Geoffrey Hodson, George Smith, Joel Strafelda.

Mailbox

Gerry Turner and Gordon Truefitt

Thanks for tuning in to Mailbox. Of course, today's being the first Mailbox in October, we'll have to announce the winner of last month's listeners' competition. But before that, let's check the mailbag.

We've had reactions coming in to our special programme on Tuesday September 28th. Tuesday was Day of Czech Statehood, a national holiday here in the Czech Republic. On that special occasion, Radio Prague broadcast a play by the country's former president, Vaclav Havel. The play is called "Guardian Angel" and Radio Prague broadcast it in a first ever English-language production, in a translation by Paul Wilson which Radio Prague commissioned.

Let's hear what our faithful listener Geoffrey Hodson from Norwich, England, has written.

"What a splendid black comedy. Vintage Havel as you said. Well done. Sorry I missed the discussion. I mistakenly thought it was on the Sunday after transmission."

Those of you who also missed the discussion with the translator, one of the actors and a witness of the 1968 events in Prague - or the play itself, for that matter, you can find both on our website, www.radio.cz/en/article/58506.

Now from the theatre stage to the football pitch. Our shortwave listener George Smith from Liverpool, England, wrote to us saying he hoped that the Czech Republic would qualify for the next football world cup. And he asked "What is the highest position the Czech Republic has achieved in a world cup?"

Well, as football is not really my cup of tea, I asked my colleague Jan Velinger to answer this one instead.

"The Czech Republic has actually appeared in two world cup finals. The first time was a long time ago, it was in 1932 and that was against Italy. There the Czechs were actually winning 1:0 in the 82nd minute but ultimately went on to lose the match. The second final they appeared in was in Chile. The team they were playing against was Brazil, and that was in 1962. And there also the Czechs got off to an early lead. That was a goal by Josef Masopust, but again Czechoslovakia lost 3:1. Still it was considered a great success at the time. There are old newsreels showing the team returning to Prague, greeted by thousands who lined the streets of the capital, as if they had won. Coming in second is not really all that bad. The last time Czechoslovakia got to a world cup was in 1980 and that was in Italy. Czechoslovakia came in second behind Italy in the group stage but eventually lost to West Germany in the quarterfinals."

And Mr Smith also asks what the expectations are for the coming World Cup?

"Well, based on the Czechs' play at this year's Euro 2004 in Portugal they should qualify for the World Cup in 2006 to be held in Germany. They should, but you never know. The route has been seriously complicated by recent developments. One of them being that the European Footballer of the Year for 2003, captain Pavel Nedved, recently announced he was quitting the national squad and that's a huge blow to the team. Another thing is that there are some key qualification matches coming up and another player, midfielder Karel Poborsky, is injured. So, considering he's going to be missing for that game, that could make it difficult for the Czechs to qualify in the long run if they don't beat Romania. That certainly could shake things up a bit. If the Czechs do make it through, of course, it would be a great thing for Czech fans because as I said the 2006 World Cup will be held in Germany, just around the corner, so there's no doubt hordes of Czech fans would love to attend."

Thank you very much, Jan.

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But now it's time to announce the winner of Radio Prague's competition for the month of September. In it we asked you to find the connection between the English word pistol and Czech music. Although at first sight it sounds rather bizarre, most of you did answer correctly. The winner we drew is Mr Joel Strafelda from Nebraska and here is his answer:

"In answer to your quiz question for September, the connection between the word pistol and Czech music is, the word pistol comes from the Czech pistala, literally meaning pipe, fife or blowpipe, which of course is a word used in describing certain musical instruments. I have been your fan since April, when I first found you on the Internet. Every morning I listen to your English broadcast. I then listen to your Czech broadcast repeatedly throughout the day. This year I began studying the Czech Language, and hearing your Czech broadcast is helping me learn this wonderful language. I am of Czech descent and I am very proud of my Czech heritage. Thank you all for the way you have enriched my life."

It's been our pleasure. So this month we're sending a CD of Czech music to Nebraska. Congratulations!

Those of you who haven't been lucky this time, have another chance, because the question for the month of October is:

"The name of one traditional Czech dance is in fact a contradiction. The name suggests that the dance comes from another Central European country. Which dance is it?"

You have the whole of October to send your answers to Radio Prague, English Section, 12099 Prague, Czech Republic, or much quicker by e-mail at [email protected].