March 7, 2020 - Prostějov 1 Ústí nad Labem 1

Czech Republic 2nd tier - March 7, 2020
SK Prostějov 1 Ústi nad Labem 1
Attendance - 500

With nothing better to do, I decided to walk the short distance to watch SK Prostějov play.  I usually go to a few games every season, but they are most certainly not my first choice.  Little did I know at the time, that this was going to be my last live football match for a number of months.

There were some groundhoppers at the game, which kind of surprised me that any would bother to come to Prostějov, because the ground is not interesting at all.  At least the match was okay, even though it was clear both sides were quite rusty after coming off such a long winter break.

March 1, 2020 - Kroměříž 2 Dubnica 1

March 1, 2020 - Friendly

Kroměříž 2 Dubnica 1

Attendance - 55

Kroměříž is one of my favourite places to visit, and being only 30 minutes from where I live, it is an easy trip to watch some football.  The weather was sunny, and warm, by early March standards, so the match was played on a grass training pitch next to the main stadium.  Kroměříž plays in the Czech 3rd tier, while Dubnica plays in the Slovak 2nd tier.  On paper, the visitors are a better team, but it does not always work out like that.  Kroměříž jumped out to a 2-0 lead, and managed to hold on for the remainder of the match.  Based on overall play, they deserved the win.

I would highly recommend a visit to Kroměříž for a little culture, local beer and football.

February 29, 2020 - SK Prostějov 2 Blansko 2

February 29. 2020 - Friendly

SK Prostějov 2 Blansko 2 

Attendance - 80

On a cold and windy late February morning, I headed to the 2nd training pitch of SK Prostějov (2nd tier) to watch them play Blansko (3rd tier) in the last winter friendly for both clubs.  Blansko are a very ambitious club, and have hopes on winning the league and possibly getting promoted to the 2nd tier, while Prostějov are very much an average club.  All goals were scored in the first half, and as the whistle blew to end the first 45, I left.  I usually hate winter training friendles, and I especially hate them when it is windy and cold.

February 2020 - Stadion Blagoj Istatov in Strumica, Macedonia

I first visited Strumica, Macedonia in November in 2009 when I travelled from the Czech Republic to watch Canada play Macedonia in a friendly.  Unfortunately, Canada lost that match 3-0, which saw 4 penalty kicks called, and a dodgy ref from Bulgaria.  In 2010, I married a woman from Strumica, and as a result I have visited the city numerous times over the last 11 years.  

The last time I watched football at the stadium was in 2017 when I watch a few Europa League and Champions League qualifiers.  At the time, the stadium in Strumica was the only stadium able to host European qualifiers.  The main stadium in Skopje was under construction.  Needless the say, the stadium was in poor condition.  No real facilities, dirty, and broken seats.  Since then, it has gone under extensive renovation, and looks a little better as of February 2020.

Currently, Belasica Strumica are the main tenants of the stadium.