Sports News
Slavia Prague's footballers have ended Zizkov's 30-game unbeaten home run, on a pitch that looked like it had just been ploughed. Sparta stay top with yet another win, while Hradec Kralove have got their first win of the season. Czech international striker Jan Koller was the talk of the Bundesliga on Saturday when, after scoring a goal, he had to go IN goal for 25 minutes. In ice hockey, the Czech Republic have come second in the Karjala Cup, after yet another defeat at the hands of Russia. Those stories and more are in Sports News.
Conditions worsening as football's winter break approaches
There is only one round of games left before the winter break in the football season, and it's easy to see why the break is necessary. This weekend's tie between Jablonec and Ostrava was called off as the pitch was frozen and covered in snow; Viktoria Zizkov's ground, meanwhile, was simply a quagmire during their 4:0 drubbing by Slavia Prague. Slavia last beat Zizkov away two years ago when, says their veteran striker Pavel Kuka, the conditions were even poorer.
"The pitch was even worse then than it was today and it brought both teams down to the same level. Viktorka are very strong at home, and they know how to play on that pitch. We're glad we won; it was a very important victory for us."
Zizkov's keeper Pavel Kucera made a huge error to allow Rudolf Skacel through to score Slavia's second goal. There were accusations from some in the stands that Kucera had been bribed to throw the game, though the goalie seemed plausibly contrite afterwards.
"I lost us the game today because the second goal was my fault. I apologise to all the guys and to all Viktorka's fans. I was to blame today, I know that."
That result leaves Slavia second in the league. Elsewhere, leaders Sparta beat Olomouc 2:0 away, and third placed Liberec were beaten 3:2 away by second-from-bottom Hradec Kralove. It was Hradec's first win of the season.
Koller forced to go in goal for Dortmund after keeper sent off
Czech international striker Jan Koller was the talk of the Bundesliga on Saturday, when - after scoring for Borussia Dortmund - he had to go between the posts himself following the sending off of Dortmund's keeper. Koller wasn't beaten in the 25 minutes he was in goal, though by then Bayern Munich were already 2:1 up and it stayed that way till the end of the game.
Czech Republic lose yet again to bogey team Russia
Slegr joins Omsk despite falling out with coach Hlinka
Jiri Slegr, who was a member of the Czech team which won gold at the 1998 Winter Olympics has just signed with the Russian club Omsk. Omsk are managed by Ivan Hlinka, who was at the helm at Nagano. Slegr's move will have surprised many though, especially as he has often spoken publicly about the fact that he and Hlinka - who Slegr has known since he was a boy - are no longer on friendly terms.
Senoirs out in force for Velka Kunraticka cross country run
The 69th Velka Kunraticka cross country run took place in Prague's Kunraticky woods on Sunday. The muddy, hilly conditions are all part of the fun and this year over 2,500 people took part, including over 300 seniors.
