Martin Pešout | Photo: Roman Jüngling, piratichomutov.cz
He was supposed to spend the season in Kometa from Brno, but after a series of bad results, Martin Pešout was recalled from the south of Moravia and did not accept any other offer during the next few months. “I needed to take a little distance from everything,” he says. Now he’s returning to a place he knows well. He’s supposed to be one of Chomutov’s main assets on the way up.
Have you missed the hockey environment?
One could say. I’m probably not yet at an age where I want to rest a lot, so I’m glad that we agreed in Chomutov and that there was interest in my services.
On the other hand, some regeneration had to take place after the end in Brno, didn’t it?
Yes, right after the end in Brno I had a few offers, but I needed to take a little distance from everything.
It was the first time you had been called off during the season. Was it a big blow to your self-esteem?
Appeals are part of the coach’s life. In addition, I am already at an age where I have a little perspective. Of course, it wasn’t pleasant. I’ve been comparing myself to it for a while. I needed time to be able to work fully again elsewhere. But as they say, time heals everything. You know it.
What made you accept Chomutov’s offer?
There were more reasons. I mainly want to help Chomutova return to the Chance League. It is a competition in which I think Chomutov belongs. I am extremely grateful to have received this offer.
“Right after the end in Brno, I had a few offers, but I needed to take a little distance from everything.”
Feeling nostalgic? You worked in Chomutov in the past.
You know that, right? I mainly remembered the old hall. Overall, I have fond memories of Chomutov, even though the management at the time dismissed me after the second season. Paradoxically, they helped me because after that I got to Karlovy Vary and Kometa as a head coach.
Photo: Jiří Princ, hcbilitygri.cz
Do you feel that the Pirates have a clear vision for the future?
Clearly. It was one of the things that appealed to me. There is a brand new management that is serious about hockey. I went to watch the match against Letňany. There were almost three thousand people on it, which is unbelievable. It can be seen that people in Chomutov are crazy about hockey again. Only in such an environment can you fulfill your ambitions.
“You can see that people in Chomutov are crazy about hockey again.”
This time you will primarily be a sports manager.
It’s a big challenge for me. I want to put together the strongest possible team and at the same time help Chomutov in his work with youth. That’s the way. You can see for yourself that even some extra-league clubs do not involve their own pupils, and our Czech hockey looks like that.
How do you perceive the current strength of the Chomut staff?
The team definitely has quality for the 2nd league. We have to build the team prospectively – the squad is not very wide, which could be a problem in the playoffs. Now is the perfect space for me to get to know the team and take a picture. We have to build a team in the future – if you want to play in the first league, you have to build a team that will be able to play it immediately.
“We have to put together a team in the future, if you want to play in the first league, you have to put together a team that will be able to play it immediately.”
Do you count on the continuation of veterans Viktor Hübl and František Lukeš in your plans?
It will depend on them. I saw one match and two training sessions and I can tell you that these are players who could still play in the first league. Even there they would be among the movers. So if they want to continue, I’d be happy to. I would like to build the team around them.
Photo: Stanislav Souček, mountfieldhk.cz
Isn’t it possible that you would step on the bench during the playoffs?
I certainly won’t do that because it would be unfair to the coaches.
“Get on the shifter? I certainly won’t do it, it would be unfair to the coaches.”
But you are in contact with them as a consultant, right?
Yes, I go to all the training sessions. I tell them my observations, we prepare video analyzes of opponents and so on, but the coaches always have the main say. I don’t want to mess with them.
What impression did the 2nd League make on you?
I saw the match with Letňany and I liked it a lot. It was clear that the Letňans have a young, very skilful and hardworking team. But others also have quality. For example, Tábor, Ústí or Příbram. There are more teams that want to advance and it’s a shame that there are only fourteen teams in the first league.
Should there be more?
For me, the first league should not be played nationwide, but two groups of eight teams should be created. This competition should primarily educate players for the extra league. In my opinion, it is nonsense for Sokolov, for example, to travel across the whole country several times during the season.
Photo: Jan Pidrman, piratichomutov.cz
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