August 23rd, 2009 - Olomoucký Kraj - 1. B Třída - Skupina A - Sigma Lutin 3 Haná Prostějov 1

August 23rd, 2009

Olomoucký Kraj - 1. B Třída - Skupina A (7th level)

Sigma Lutin 3 Haná Prostějov 1

Attendance: 125

Admission: 20kc

Beer: Holba Šerák 20kc

Game rating: 6.5/10

Lutin is a small town of 2,000 located in between Prostějov and Olomouc. The biggest employer in the town is Sigma Pumps, and as you can see they sponsor the local side.

Sigma Lutin switched over from Skupina B (Olomouc region), to Skupina A, during the off-season. According to the local weekly sports newspaper, Lutin are considered one of the more ambitious clubs, and they are strong favourites for promotion.

Lutin won this game, but I would not say they were head and shoulders above Prostějov. Actually, it seemed that Lutin treated this game as a World Cup Final. They had this annoying habit of over celebrating their goals, so I wish them nothing but bad luck for the rest of the season. May they lose all of their games. haha I'm just joking.... best of luck to them.

August 22nd - Olomoucký Kraj - Okres Prostějov - IV Třída Skupina A - Haná Prostějov "B" 7 Zdětín "B" 1

August 22nd, 2009

Olomoucký Kraj - Okres Prostějov - IV Třída - Skupina A (10th level)

Haná Prostějov "B" 7 Zdětín "B" 1

Attendance: 13

Admission: Free

Game rating: 6.5/10

This was the 2nd round of games in the IV Třída, with Haná Prostějov "B" losing their first game 4-1. A regional weekly sports newspaper has tipped Haná Prostějov "B" as favourites for promotion this season. Based on their play against Zdětín, I would say that they are not far off.

The pitch where Haná plays is being redeveloped. From what I understand there will be a stand with capacity for around 120 people, and some sort of sports hall. The plan is to have the men's team of 1. SK Prostějov reform after a few years of inactivity. They use to play in the 2nd division but were relegated a number of times in succession. I have heard that 1. SK Prostějov wants to play in the Czech 4th division next year. I am not sure where this will leave Haná Prostějov, but I have hopes that they will be able to share the new facility with 1. SK. One thing is for certain, I will not be jumping ship and supporting 1. SK next season.

As a result of this reconstruction, the pitch and surrounding area is a mess. The few rows of cement steps have been removed; there are fences everywhere; and it is very muddy. It certainly will not be a very nice place to watch a game this season.

The first half was very one-sided, with Haná domininating the play. I do not think the visitors even had a shot on goal. The second half was much the same, and Prostějov were full value for the win.

August 6th, 2009 - Europa League - 3rd Qualifying Round - Sigma Olomouc 3 Aberdeen 0

August 6th, 2009

Europa League (3rd qualifying round, 2nd leg)

Sigma Olomouc 3 Aberdeen 0 (Sigma Olomouc advances 8-1 on aggregate)

Attendance: 7500

Admission: 150kc

Game rating: 7/10

The 2009/10 Europa League is Sigma's first venture into Europe since the 2005 Inter-Toto Cup. They hadn't played in the UEFA Cup/Europa League since 2002 when they went out to Sarajevo on penalties. In the 2nd qualifying round Sigma edged out Fram (Iceland) 3-1 on aggregate to advance to the next round. Most thought Aberdeen were the better side, and would advance without much problems. However, things certainly didn't turn out as expected.

Sigma easily won the first leg in Scotland 5-1, which essentially made the second leg meaningless. Around 300 Aberdeen supporters still made the trip, and full credit to them for following their team in what was a hopeless situation. Aberdeen were completely out of sorts for both legs. To put it politely, they looked awful.

The second leg wasn't that much different from the first one. Sigma scored early, and often, with three goals in the first half. With a little more luck, they could have had one or two more in the second half.

Olomouc now advances to the Europa League playoffs against Everton (in Everton on August 20th and Olomouc on August 27th). The winner advances to the Europa League group stages.

June 27th - Preseason friendly - Sigma Olomouc 1 MFK Petržalka 0

June 27th, 2009

Preseason friendly at Slatinice

Sigma Olomouc 1 MFK Petržalka 0

Attendance: 200

Admisson: 20kc

Game rating: 4.5/10

I have been to Slatinice many, many times over the past few years as the little spa village of around 700 is quite popular for summer preseason matches. The local club plays in the 6th level of Czech football.

Some of you may remember FC Artmedia Petržalka from a few years back when they knocked out Celtic from the Champions League and went on to make the group stages. Since then the club has changed its name.

This was the first preseason game for Sigma, and it showed. Thankfully the beer was good.

June 30th - Preseason friendly - Sigma Olomouc 0 MFK Ružomberok 2

June 30th

Preseason friendly

Sigma Olomouc 0 MFK Ružomberok 2

Attendance: 450

Admission: 30kc

Game rating: 3.5/10

This game was played at Mohelnice, which is a town of 15,000 located around 30km northwest of Olomouc. I was here back in March to see a league game, but it was played on artifical turf beside the main station. The local club, Mohelnice, spent last year in the Divize D, but were relegated back to the Olomoucký Kraj Přebor for this upcoming season.

The game itself was rather poor, even by the lofty standards of preseason football.

Only four more weeks until the Gambrinus Liga starts up again, and only two and a half weeks until Sigma Olomouc takes to the pitch in the Europa League. It cannot come soon enough. Preseason football....