Fortune: League

He didn’t really get between the posts during the spring. He ended up in Lech Poznan and returned to the Czech competition. However, not to Sparta, where he previously worked, but to Karvina. That is, a club with a completely different budget, setting and mood. Slovak goalkeeper Dominik Holec held the position of the unit responsibly, helped the team significantly, but he is fully aware that he has a tense second part of the season ahead of him in order for the club to save the first league competition.

How do you rate the half-season in Karvina?

“We knew it would be difficult. We are new to the competition and every match is difficult for us. I dare to say that the team has the quality to move even in the higher ranks, since we are fourteen. We confirmed this in several meetings, but there were also quite a few where we could have performed better. Unfortunately, we were not as successful as we wanted. However, we also showed several bright moments and we have something to build on for the spring part.”

At the beginning of the season, after the ninth round, there was a change in the implementation team. Juraj Jarábek returned to Karvina. What did the Slovak coach bring?

“For me, the change was beneficial. Jarábek certainly brought new wind and energy to the cabin, he can motivate the team properly. We worked hard and he definitely pushed us forward. We got off to a great start under him, winning three out of four games, even in Pilsen. It’s a shame that we didn’t continue with the results and we didn’t win in the remaining five rounds until the end of autumn.”

Jarábek started with a victory over Liberec (5:2). By the way, Liberec conceded five away goals after nine years, on the contrary, Karviná scored five goals in a match for the first time in the Czech competition. You also had special motivation from the coach. What was it about?

“Slovan wrote on his website before the match that he was coming to us for victory. The coach posted this article on our bulletin board and it locked us all down even more. That’s Jarábek… He will use all available means to kick the team. The strong words of the opponent also helped us to a certain extent to a great victory. I think we are not a “slap shot”, but we also have our quality.”

Slovakian Juraj Jarábek won the Coach of the Month poll in the Czech League. The October results were published by the League Football Association (LFA), which organizes the traditional survey.

And a great victory in Pilsen?

“Winning at the Victoria Stadium is something unreal, especially with a clean sheet. It must be said that the home team also had chances, but we gave a very responsible performance, we also had luck on our side, and the decisive moment came 15 minutes before the end. I just wondered if the surprising result in Pilsen had hurt us, then we didn’t win until the end of autumn. It froze because we could have won more on the pitches of Bohemians, Mladá Boleslav and Jablonec.”

At the end of autumn, winter weather interfered with the program, some matches were postponed until spring. Even Karvina against Sigma Olomouc was tormented by the vagaries of the weather. You grabbed the shovel and moved the snow off the playing field. It was met with a very positive response on social media…

“During the first half, it started to snow heavily, so the half-time break was extended to prepare the pitch. Immediately after the change of sides, we conceded the second goal and the game was on the edge of regularity. In the end, the referee stopped the game and I took it into my own hands. I shoveled the lines of snow to get started as soon as possible. Gradually, my work commitment spread on the Internet and it was a funny moment. Not for us as we lost.’

In the fall, you caught 12 games, you kept a clean sheet in three, you have almost 73 percent success rate of interceptions and more than 85 percent success rate of passes. How satisfied are you with it?

“I am aware that the start was not entirely ideal, as I had a longer match break. Upon arrival, I had the support of the management and the coaches. Gradually I gained confidence, I felt better and better between the poles and the performance had an upward curve, which makes me happy. Of course, I’m hard on myself and it can always be better.”

You were in the national team in the past. How do you perceive the fact that the Slovak national team made it to the Euros in Germany?

“I cheered for the guys, I kept my fingers crossed for the team. The promotion was deserved. I feel that we can do a good result in Germany. I watched most of the Slovak matches. I am pleased with the performances of Martin Dúbravka. Although he didn’t have an easy position at Newcastle, that has changed now, which I’m happy about. He performed brilliantly and held the national team. We all know that he has the quality, he just needs to start regularly.”

What awaits you at the end of the year?

“I am not going to foreign countries, it will definitely be at home with family and friends whom I have not seen for a long time. For me, the Christmas holidays are about commuting between several cities, so I planned it. I also know how to arrange things regarding gifts in such a way that I am not under unnecessary stress. I am looking forward to the last days of this calendar year.”

AVOIDING THE GOAL A year ago at the Štefanský cup tournament in Čadec, he demonstrated excellent technique, delicious passes and scored quick goals. “During the interim period and days off, I try to avoid the goal, I have enough during the season,” smiled Dominik Holec.

“I’m happy that even now I can talk with the guys, that it will be better in that it is to be played on artificial grass. But it’s not about results, it’s more about having fun to relax. The team meets and I always look forward to Kysuca. An excellent tournament that has quality and is prepared in an organizational and responsible manner every year. In the past, I also went there with my father and we all always left satisfied,” added Dominik Holec, whose father Peter Holec is a former goalkeeper of Žilina, České Budějovice, Bohemians, Petržalka, and Dubnica.

2023-12-22 12:50:00
#INTERVIEW #Goalkeeper #Dominik #Holec #autumn #Karvina #unexpected #motivation #coach #Jarábek.. #Sport.sk