Czechmate - A Banik Ostrava Story

Frantisek Komnacky walks out on Banik Ostrava
-Banik hire new manager in 27 year-old Janek Nebojsa

Banik Ostrava are a team from the Silesian part of the city of Ostrava in the Czech Republic. Banik Ostrava are a team founded in 1922 and are a very reputable side in the Czech football league. Banik's most fierce rivalries come with the clubs Sparta Prague and Second Division side SFC Opava.

Banik were formed on the 8th of September 1922 as Slezsva Ostrava and were officialy registred as a club on the 14th of Ocotober that same year. They played their first ever game against the reserve side of the main local team Slovan Ostrava. It took Slevska only 15 years to get from the bottom league of Czechoslovakia to the top and their first game in the top league against CsSK Bratislava and in their next game they beat the famous Sparta Prague 3-2 in a game which sparked sensation. Slezska only lasted 3 years in the top league before being relegated in 1940. In 1952 Slezska Ostrava changed their name to Banik Ostrava and in 1954 they reached their record high of second in the top league, just short of Sparta.
In 1973 Banik claimed the Czechoslovak Cup, their first major trophy. Winning this meant that Banik were qualified to play in the European Cup Winners' Cup. In the first round Banik eliminated the Irish team Cork Hibernians but where eliminated the next round by German 1.FC Magdeburg, who went on to win the cup. In the 1975-76 season Banik won their first league title after winning 1-0 in Plzen and watching Slavia Prague stumble to a 1-0 defeat against Slovan Liberec. Banik went on to have a run which has been dubbed as their 'Golden Era' in which they won the Czechoslvak Cup in 1978 and finishing second in the league that year, in which this season Banik went on a 74 game run of invincibility at home. In this same season Banik whent on a run in Europe beating teams such as Portugese Sporting Lisbon, Irish Shamrock Rovers and German 1.FC Magdeburg but were knocked out in the semi-finals by Fortuna Dussledorf. In the 1979-80 season Banik won their second league title after finishing five points ahead of Zbrojovka Brno. Banik also reached the UEFA Cup quarter-finals in the 1980-81 season but got knocked out by Bayern Munich. In this same season Banik won their third league title. In the next few years Banik reclined on their run and undergone a generation change. However, in the 1988-89 and 1989-90 season Banik finished second in the league. Banik won the Czechoslovak Cup in 1991, beating Spartak Trnava 6-1 in the final.

Yesterday the chairman of Banik Ostrava, Petr Šafarčík, called a press conference to announce resignation of manager Frantisek Komancky. He thanked Petr for the hard work he had put into the club but quickly moved onto his replacement and announced the promotion of Head Youth Coach Janek Nebojsa. He said that he had worked with Mr Nebojsa for many years and believes that his motivation and drive could inspire Banik to have another 'Golden Era'.
Mr Nebojsa briefly talked to the press about his plans for Banik, he said that he knows what the fans want and he is here to give it to them. He said he wants to bring through the very best in Czech youth and develop the club in a way which will benefit Czech football in a whole. He talked about how he wanted to bring glory days back to Banik and how he will stop at nothing to please the fans.
Mr Nebojsa certainly has the drive that Mr Šafarčík promised the Banik faithul but it's the football that will determine what direction Banik are ultimately moving in.

Banik Ostrava is one of the few Czech teams I know, And I have no idea why I know them. Good luck!

Good luck. Lets hope this story lasts...

Mr Nebojsa signs 4 players
-Banik legend Milan Baros joins Banik for a third stint along with Salif Diao, Josef Divisek and Jan Hosek.

Milan Baros is a legend to most Banik fans. Milan started his career off at Banik and played for them for 5 years before moving to English side Liverpool for £3.4m where he went on to play for Aston Villa, Lyon, Portsmouth and Galatasary before rejoining the Czech side on a free transfer. He moved to Antalyspor after his contract ran out but after an unsuccessful stint in Turkey he has returned to the Czech Republic and Mr Nebojsa has promised he still has it in him to score plenty of goals. Milan has immediately been given the Captains armband.


Salif Diao has been labelled a coup for Banik Ostrava and Mr Nebojsa. The midfielder from Senegal has joined Banik on a free after a long 7 year stint with Stoke City in the English Premier League and Championship. Salif comes with vast experience to his name after playing for big teams such as Liverpool and Monaco and Mr Nebejsa sounds certain that he will be an important player for Banik.


In his first money transfer Mr Nebojsa has brought in 22 year old full back Josef Divisek from Pribram for £80 000. Mr Nebojsa is sure that with the right nurturing and playing time, Josef can become a great player for Banik. Mr Nebojsa has also brought in 24 year-old centre-back Jan Hosek who is certainly someone you don't want to get on the wrong side off. Jan has come in for a fee of £125 000 from Chomutov and has joined a Banik side that is notebly lacking in quality defenders, Mr Nebojsa hopes that Jan can make a big impact.

19 year-old goalkeeper Patrik Macej and 19 year-old centre-back Oldrich Byrtus have had their contracts terminated after Mr Nebojsa stated that they would never be good enough to break into the Banik first team. 20 year-old creative midfielder Martin Foltyn and 18 year-old winger Daniel Holzer have moved to Vlasim and Sparta Praha on year-long loan deals.

Louis O. - Haha, I know them because they were the first team Boro ever played in Europe, fun fact of the day for you!

Jamesg237 - I'm planning on making this long, I'm feeling motivation for this story like I did with Osijek but that save sadly got corrupted.

Great signings mate! Especially Baros! What a player!!

Baros :') + Diao...

Mr Nebojsa makes good on his debut as Banik get off to a good start
-SK Sigma Olomouc 0-1 FC Banik Ostrava

New manager Janek Nebojsa had a dream debut as he watched his new Banik Ostrava side triumph 1-0 away at Sigma Olomouc. Early signs in the game must of been pleasing to Mr Nebojsa as Banik dominated early possession and a chance came close when winger Kukec took the ball past his marker and cut inside from the left only to see his shot fly narrowly past the near post. Another chance came just minutes later when a lovely ball from Diao over the Sigma defence found Kukec on the left, his following cross found Baros but Sigma keeper Zlamal produced a good save. The Banik dugouts were off their seats celebrating in the 35th minute as they saw a Kukec free-kick from the far left get knocked into the near post by Salif Diau, only to be sent down in sheer frustration by a flagging linesman. The second half was slow to kick in, but in the 56th minute Banik finally got the goal they had been pushing for when a Sigma passing move was broken down and an inspired counter-attacking ball fell to the feet of Stepan who slotted it past the keeper to put Banik ahead. Nothing much happened after the goal as Banik held back to preserve their lead.
After the game we caught up with Mr Nebojsa to see what he made of the result and he seemed happy enough to have won his first game. He stated that he thought the players played excellently and he marked the game as one to say 'that's how you get the job done'.

Competitive debutante Jan Hosek got man of the match for his solid defensive display.

Good signings, Mainly Baros. Also good start to the season, getting your first win.

Banik hold Slavia to a draw
-FC Banik Ostrava 1-1 SK Slavia Prague

Mr Nebrojsa has followed up his victory over Sigma with a 1-1 draw at home to Slavia Praha. Slavia Praha thought they scored an early goal when Licka put in a cross to Fernando Neves who knocked it past the Banik keeper Srom but it was deemed offside by the linesman. 30 minutes in disaster struck for Slavia when Gregus found a gap in their defence and slotted through a perfect ball to Stepan who powered it past the keeper into the far post to put Banik in front. Slavia thought they equalized just before half-time when Pitak threaded a ball past a bewildered Jan Zawada into the feet of Vosahlik but he saw his shot saved comfortably by Srom. Slavia came out after half-time determined to make things write and on the 47th minute, they done just that. A great passing move created space for Skutka who placed a pinpoint accurate shot into the bottom corner of the Banik net. Slavia must of thought they had won it right at the end when Pitak hit an astounding shot from outside the box but Srom pulled off a save that Petr Cech himself would of been proud of and kept the score 1-1.

Jan Gregus got Man of the Match for his fantastic passing in midfield, including his brilliant assist for Stepan.

good results,no loses yet, Unbeaten Season? o.o gl

Banik beat Slovan Liberec in sparring battle
-FC Slovan Liberec 0-1 FC Banik Ostrava

Mr Nebojsa kept his unbeaten start in Liberec as he watched his team finish one goal ahead of Slovan. It was Slovan who had the early chance when Hadascok found himself free in the middle of the box but his shot was hit straight at Srom. Nothing much else happened in the first half and in the second half it took until the hour mark until Lindpere found Stepan free in the box and the right-winger slapped it home to score his third goal in three games and send Banik one up. Banik almost scored another just before the end when Kukec found Milan Baros free just outside the box but he saw his shot wonderfully tipped over by Hrosso and the game ended 1-0.
After the game Mr Nebojsa expressed delight at his start but said that he wanted to keep down to earth, he knows that the next game, Sparta Praha, will be his toughest yet and he doesn't want to lose focus on keeping the morale up.

Vojtech Stepan claimed Man of the Match after his clinical finish in the second half gave Benik the win.

Banik stumble in Sparta derby
-FC Banik Ostrava 1-3 AC Sparta Praha

Things looked good at the start for Banik as they got off to a strong start and they were jubilant as they saw 20 year-old Jan Baranek head in a wonderful corner by Kukec. But things turned all to Sparta afterwards with the equalizer coming when Costa Nhamoinesu took the ball down just outside the box and thundered it into the top corner, leaving Srom scrambling. Sparta then took the lead just before half-time when a goal mouth scramble got turned into the near post by Roman Bednar. In the second half the game slowed down as Sparta tried to preserve their 1 goal lead, but a counter-attack in the 88th minute saw Josef Husbauer free in on goal and he coolly slotted it past Srom to make certain all the 3 points go Sparta's way. This is Mr Nebojsa's first competitive defeat as Banik manager and he will be certain to be looking to bounce back in his next game.

Man of the Match: Costa Nhamoinesu

Banik scrap in goal filled game
-FC Viktoria Plzen 3-2 FC Banik Ostrava

Vojtech Stepan got Banik off to a flying start when he ran down the right wing and cut-inside to deliver a powerful shot past the stranded Plzen keeper into the far corner. Plzen pulled one back in the 40th minute, however, when Pacel Horvath was found unmarked in the box and he knocked it past new keeper Generosso Rossi. After the break it was Plzen who got off to the brightest start and scored twice in 10 minutes to put them 3-1 ahead, both of the goals being scored by Michel Dures. Banik pulled one back in stoppage time with Davor Kukec knocking the ball past the Plzen keeper but it was too little, too late for Banik as they dropped another 3 points.

Man of the Match: Michal Duris

I'm from Czech so I'll be looking forward to how you progress with Ostrava. They are a decent side and with the addition of Baros, you should be looking at top 4 or 5!