A Home Away From Home: Opava 1-2 Prostejov

A home away from home - a phrase often associated with comfort and a certain extent of joy. However, for SFC Opava, it is very much the antithesis of this idea.

Following the tragic and unprecedented floods that dominated Central Europe back in September, Opava were one of the unfortunate victims of the devastation. One could argue there are more tragic losses than that off a football stadium for at least the first half of a season, but the upheaval means Opava have been playing their home games across the Czech Republic.

Now žlutomodří  (the yellow-blues) have played at the likes of Kromeriz and Jihlava - two cities that are nowhere near Opava's home in Silesia. Borrowing Piast Gliwice's stadium in Poland would have been more convenient. At least this week, Opava will 'play host' in some sense of the word in nearby Hlucin - a town that at least in the region, almost serving as a district of nearby Ostrava some 6km away.

With the rest of the Second League having wrapped up for the first half of the season, a game against Prostejov intended to take place during the floods in September will cap off the first half of the Second League season. 

The Second Tier - the story so far, in brief:

Through the first half of the season, it's been another yellow and blue team leading the way by quite some distance, as Zlin already look like champions-elect. The big question will be whether they can stop circling the drain of the relegation zone when they make their First League return.

Trailing behind Zlin by seven points are surprise package Chrudim, who are likely to face a playoff against a First League side. They've scored more than the leaders, and could conceivably be described as 'freescoring' given their 30 goals. Another six behind them occupying the other playoff spot, are Vyskov, who themselves are four points above Zizkov. Though both Opava and Prostejov seem solidly mid-table, a win for either can conceivably bring them back into the mix.

Vlasim, Lisen, Tabor, Slavia B and Sigma B could bring themselves into contention with a good run, though a bad run could just as easily send them packing to the MSFL or CFL. As for the bottom, things look a lot more bleak for Sparta B, Jihlava, Banik B, and (sigh) Zbrojovka Brno. Bottom by an ominous four points are Varnsdorf, despite one of their two wins being a 6-1 success at Zbrojovka. 

The game, the ground, and any other business

I took the 9.02 to Ostrava on Saturday morning, with kick-off set to be at 13.30 up in Hlucin, and despite some minor delays, I made good time. I arrived in Ostrava at around half 11 before walking to the nearby bus stop to get the 56 to Hlucin - a 20 minute journey from the centre of Ostrava. 

I took a walk around Hlucin, regrettably not finding time to see Hlucin Jezero (the nearby lake). That would perhaps be something to save for a summer trip there in any case. Despite being able to hear a pindrop amidst the inactivity of Hlucin on a Saturday morning (a common theme in Czech towns and cities), it was a pleasant enough town, seemingly a world away from Ostrava a mere 6km east.

I met with fellow Gentleman Ultra Kenny for the first time and we both headed to the ground, pretty much spending the entirety of the game having a chinwag in between moments of quiet from the nearby ultras, who were in fine voice considering they weren't technically at home. There were a healthy number of Opavaci too, with 631 fans in total.

We were surprised that Prostejov also bought a few fans, given that (to my recollection) none had travelled to nearby Zbrojovka Brno last season in a game of far greater importance. Perhaps the fact Prostejov aren't looking in any danger of relegation is the key factor in bringing the away fans. In fact, as mentioned, a win could have brought them into play-off contention.

Opava took the lead through Patrik Haitl after 23 minutes, assisted by excellent Cape Verdean winger Papalele. The net was gaping and it would have been easier for Haitl to miss. It only took three minutes for Prostejov to hit back through right-back Robert Bartolomeu, who also had the goal gaping following some goalkeeping misjudgements.

It wasn't the end to end game this sequence of play might suggest, with Opava creating the most and Prostejov holding firm. That said, it was Prostejov who took a leade though Robert 'That Man Again' Bartolomeu - an impressive day in front of goal for the right-back who hadn't scored yet this season. 

Opava continued to dominate, but just lacked that clinicality in front of goal, which meant Prostejov went home with three huge points. They move up to 5th, only four points off Vyskov in 3rd. As for Opava, they'll end the first-half of the season in 10th, which March seeming even further away now.

Five things you didn't know about...SFC Opava

Given the unique nature of Opava playing elsewhere for a home game, it feels more appropriate to save the more general facts on the city for another blog. It also doesn't seem right to focus on Hlucin, given that FC Hlucin had no involvement in the day at all (apart from the friendliest bar staff I've encountered in Czech football so far). 

So this week, here are some things you perhaps didn't know about SFC Opava.

1.) Given the S in SFC Opava stands for Slezský (Silesian), the club has a very close friendship with fellow Silesian side Śląsk Wrocław in Poland, as well as an intense rivalry with nearby Banik Ostrava. 

2.) From my minimal research, it seems Opava are one of the only sides in Europe to boast a player from Mauritius, with the club having signed Wilson Mootoo from Cercle de Joachim this summer - the other being Red Star B in France, who have Adel Lange on their books.

3.) Libor Kozak (the goat, as his name translates) is perhaps a familiar name to fans of Lazio or Aston Villa, with the Opava-born attacker having played for both over the last decade. Now, Libor has come full circle, returning to his hometown club this season, following spells at Lazio, Aston Villa, Sparta Prague, Puskas Akademia, Slovacko, Zlin, and a few others here and there.

4.) The club were founded in 1907, though they went through countless names before setting on SFC Opava. They began life as Troppauuer FC, before becoming DSV Troppau in 1909. This German moniker was dropped in 1945 for SK Slezan Opava, which changed a lot over the following decades - they had Jiksra Opava, Tatran Opava, and perhaps most controversially of all, Banik Opava. SFC Opava was ultimately decided on in 1998.

5.) The club only began to become a second-tier mainstay in 1977, when they would begin fluctuating between the 2nd and 3rd tiers until the fall of Communism and the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. They began life in Czech football in the 2nd tier, even gaining promotion in 1995 for the first time in the club's history. They would stay until 2000, at which point four seasons of yo-yoing ensued. Financial issues (I assume) saw them briefly drop into the 5th tier in 2005-06, but they were back in the 2nd tier a year later. They spent another three seasons in the top flight from 2018-21, and now find themselves solidly mid-table in the third tier.