Winter Tipsport League: Patron Blažek experienced the first edition 25 years ago. That just shows how old I am getting, he lamented

You’ve been a patron of the tournament for four years, that’s one World Cup cycle. Aren’t you tired of it?

That’s when my role became more important. The organizer asked me if I would make an inspection tour of the island in the Mediterranean and assess whether the conditions were satisfactory. In terms of playing fields, accommodation, transport, training facilities. Just all the facilities.

Before you, Karol Dobias or Jiri Rosicky Sr. fulfilled this role. But the Malta project came with you. Do you think you contributed to it with your personality?

Not at all, I don’t think so. However, I think the idea of moving the summit to a warm environment and natural grass is excellent, and it has become a tradition.

The current pandemic, however, makes it very difficult to organize. Last year you said that you consider it a miracle to keep the tournament home and away. What about this year?

This year I am looking at it with more optimism. It won’t be so difficult to comply with the strict hygiene measures. So many people don’t come to winter matches, the permitted capacity of 1,000 spectators is absolutely sufficient.

The participants are first and second league teams, where players are regularly tested, many of them are vaccinated. In Malta, the increase in infections is almost zero, the locals are vaccinated a lot. The situation is therefore much calmer.

As a goalkeeping coach in the second league Ústí nad Labem, you have duties at the club during the winter break. Do they conflict with your position as tournament patron?

They conflict with the fact that I won’t be flying to Malta, it’s impossible to reconcile. At home, my work doesn’t interfere with me, I’ll go to see some matches, on the contrary, I’ll use it for work. I’ll see how our opponents in the second league are preparing for the spring, I can look for some reinforcements. I have an agreement with coach David Jarolim.

Ústí nad Labem participated in last year’s tournament. Aren’t you sorry that they’re not playing it now?

Sorry. When I joined Ústí in the summer, I discussed everything with coach Jarolim, even the Malta Cup came up. He urged me to arrange it somehow, to take us to it, it’s the ideal winter preparation in the warmth.

But you can’t do that kind of favouritism, the chosen one has to earn it. Win the winter league and qualify. By not signing up, the Estuary won’t go that way either. The Malta Cup has moved so far up in quality that the organiser will no longer invite second league teams.

Why didn’t Ústí enter?

The decision was not mine, but the management’s and the coach’s.

Who will you cheer for?

Definitely Sparta, even though there’s only a B team.

Although you are a Slavia offspring, but you gained your national team form in Bohemians Prague, which is a traditional participant of the tournament, they are the only ones who have not missed a single edition. And the Bohemians-Sparta B derby will be on the schedule. You won’t be ambivalent?

I won’t be. I spent the best years of my career in Sparta. But when they reminded me that it’s the 25th edition, I realized how old I am. Because I played for Bohemka in the very first one!

The Czech, Slovak, Austrian and Danish teams will compete in Malta. Do you welcome this strong international participation?

I consider it a natural development. The idea of offering participation to foreign clubs is not new, last year there was even a discussion to expand the number to six and play more matches. It didn’t work out, but it’s a great opportunity for the Czech representative Sigma Olomouc to compete against foreign opponents, not just against the home team they face all year round.