GOALIE SENECKY TO JOIN SLAVIA ON LOAN?
Slovak goalkeeper Stefan Senecky could soon join Slavia Praha on loan from Turkish side Ankaragucu.

The 30-year-old sometime international is unwanted at his current club because of a new quota system limiting the number of foreign players in Turkish clubs’ squads.

According to Slavia spokesman Ondrej Zlamal, intensive negotiations are underway with Senecky, who has 12 international caps but is a fringe player in the current Slovakia squad.

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MEDIA RATINGS OF CZECH PLAYERS ABROAD
ENGLAND – THE SUN
(BEST: 10, WORST: 1)
Petr Cech (Chelsea), 6
Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal), 5

BELGIUM – NIEUWSBLAD
(BEST: 10, WORST: 1)
Daniel Pudil (Genk), 6
Ondrej Mazuch (Anderlecht), 5

FRANCE – L’EQUIPE
(BEST: 10, WORST: 1)
Jaroslav Plasil (Bordeaux), 4

GERMANY – KICKER
(BEST: 1, WORST: 6)
Jaroslav Drobny (Hertha Berlin), 2
David Jarolim (Hamburg), 2.5
David Rozehnal (Hamburg), 4
Michal Kadlec (Leverkusen), 4
Jiri Stajner (Hannover), 5

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MONDAY’S FRIENDLY RESULTS
Baumit Jablonec 2, FK Rad (Serbia) 3
Venue: Cyprus
Jablonec Goals: 22nd Elias, 75th Vosahlik

Sparta Praha 0, Lokomotiv Moskva 1
Venue: Spain
Goal: Traore

• Slovacko’s friendly against Romanian side Politehnica Iasi was called off because of bad weather in Turkey. Slovacko will play Serbian club Vojvodina Novi Sad later today (Tuesday) instead.

• Brno’s friendly against Daugava Riga was called off after the Latvian side failed to arrive in Turkey in time for the game.

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Source: CT Teletext

BILEK & HASEK REACT TO EURO 2012 DRAW
National team coach Michal Bilek and CMFS (Czech football association) chairman Ivan Hasek were only partly happy with Sunday’s Euro 2012 qualification draw, in which the Czechs were drawn with Spain, Scotland, Lithuania and Liechtenstein in Group I.

The Czech delegation were pleased to have been placed in a five-team group rather than a six-team group but were less happy about drawing reigning European champions Spain.

According to Bilek, however, the draw gives his team a chance of qualification and — presumably looking ahead to the games against Spain and Scotland — should prove lucrative for Czech football.

The Czech coach was also happy to avoid difficult journeys to Central Asia, Eastern Europe or the Faroe Islands.

One downside to the draw, however, is that it puts March 3rd’s Scotland-Czech Republic friendly in doubt.

Talking to journalists yesterday, Hasek and Bilek said they would be happy to go ahead with the game but that the final decision lies with the Scottish Football Association.

Representatives of the five teams in Group I are due to meet in Madrid on February 18th and February 19th to agree a fixture list; the first round of qualifiers is scheduled for September 3rd and September 4th.

The nine group-winners are guaranteed a place in the finals, along with the second-placed team with the best record. The remaining eight second-placed teams play off over two legs for the remaining four spots. (Hosts Poland and Ukraine qualify automatically.)

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WEEKEND FRIENDLY RESULTS
Pribram 3, Dinamo Minsk (Belarus) 1
Venue: Cyprus
Pribram Goals: 48th T. Pilik (penalty), 85th Borek, 90th Wagner

Banik Ostrava 2, Rapid Bucuresti (Romania) 2
Venue: Antalya, Turkey
Goals: 3rd Gregus, 60th Zeher (penalty) — 63rd Herea (penalty), 82nd Spadacio

Sparta Praha 0, Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) 3
Venue: Spain
Goals: 20th Poljanski, 59th Jadson (penalty), 68th Kravchenko

Bohemians Praha (Strizkov) 5, FC Pisek 2
Bohemians (Strizkov) Goals: 40th Kincl, 55th Jeslinek, 65th Turtenwald, 81st Pospisil, 89th Dobes (penalty)

Teplice 0, Dinamo Zagreb 1
Venue: Turkey

Sigma Olomouc 3, Chornomorets Odesa (Ukraine) 1
Venue: Turkey
Olomouc Goals: 16th Horava, 56th Dreksa, 67th Sultes (penalty)

Viktoria Plzen 0, Austria Wien 2 (Tournament Final)
Venue: Sochi, Russia
Goals: 45th Okotie, 86th Schumacher

LASK Linz (Austria) 2, Dynamo Ceske Budejovice 1
Goals: 42nd Weissenberger (penalty), 56th Hart — 66th Jasansky

Mlada Boleslav 3, Vlasim 1
Goals: 8th Chramosta, 45th Sylvestre, 75th Sedlacek — 55th Jungr

Brno 1, Banja Luka (Bosnia & Herzegovina) 0
Goal: 85th Dosek

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Source: CT Teletext

The Czech Republic have been drawn with Spain, Scotland, Lithuania and Liechtenstein in the Euro 2012 qualifying draw.

More on Monday…

TALKS ON CZECH-SLOVAK LEAGUE MERGER
Officials from the Czech and Slovak football associations are discussing the possibility of merging the two countries’ league competitions again.

Returning today (Friday) from talks in Slovakia, CMFS (Czech football association) Deputy Chairman Miroslav Kriz told the CTK news agency that the project is in its earliest stages and that the CMFS and SFZ (Slovak football association) are currently trying to judge whether or not a joint league is feasible.

Former CMFS General Secretary and current UEFA futsal official Petr Fousek warned in today’s edition of Sport that UEFA have blocked all previous attempts to form international leagues, however, including a Dutch/Belgian merger and Scottish giants Rangers’ and Celtic’s attempts to join the English Premier League.

Following 1993’s “Velvet Divorce”, the original Czechoslovak league split into separate Czech and Slovak leagues for the 1993/94 season, having come into existence in 1925.

SLAVIA LOAN VOLESAK TO BUDEJOVICE
Ladislav Volesak has rejoined Dynamo Ceske Budejovice from Slavia Praha, on a six-month loan deal with option to buy.

The 25-year-old attacking midfielder previously played for Ceske Budejovice during the 2006/07 season, on loan from Sparta Praha, and was Budejovice’s leading scorer.

SLAVIA TRIAL FOR FRENCH DEFENDER
Slavia Praha are giving a trial to Banik Most’s young French defender Kevin Lafrance.

The 19-year-old was expected to play for Slavia today in a friendly against Slovak side MFK Petrzalka.

SLOVAK FORWARD UJCIK LOANED TO VITKOVICE
Slovak youth international Robert Ujcik has joined second-division Vitkovice on a six-month loan from Slovan Bratislava.

The 20-year-old forward has previously played for Derby County in England and Mattersburg in Austria.

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THURSDAY’S FRIENDLY RESULTS
Pribram 0, Levski Sofia (Bulgaria) 5
Venue: Larnaca, Cyprus

Sparta Praha 1, Union Estepona (Spain) 0
Venue: La Cala, Spain
Goal: 30th Kadlec

Teplice 2, Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan) 3
Venue: Cyprus
Teplice Goals: 21st Stozicky, 70th Jablonsky

Teplice 1, Vaslui (Romania) 0
Venue: Cyprus
Goal: 57th Vachousek

Zhemchuzhina-Sochi (Russia) 1, Viktoria Plzen 1
Venue: Sochi, Russia
Plzen Goal: 77th Jiracek
Penalties: 1-4 (Tournament Semi-Final)

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Sources: SportovniNoviny.cz, CT Teletext

SLAVIA’S BELAID TO JOIN BOHEMIANS 1905?
Unwanted at Slavia Praha, midfielder Tijani Belaid is reportedly in talks to join Prague 10 neighbours Bohemians 1905.

Unable to secure a move abroad, the Tunisian international would most likely join Bohemians on loan — possibly with an option to buy — if the deal goes through.

BOLESLAV’S PECKA TO MISS REST OF SEASON
Mlada Boleslav’s Lubos Pecka looks set to miss the rest of the season after undergoing an operation on an ongoing back problem.

The 31-year-old forward is currently recovering at home and isn’t expected to begin rehabilitation for another two months.

SLAVIA WANT PRIBRAM DEFENDER STOCHL
Slavia Praha are in talks to sign 23-year-old Pribram defender Jakub Stochl, according to Pribram owner Jaroslav Starka.

Slavia coach Karel Jarolim is in the market for defenders following the departures of Ondrej Celustka to Palermo and Marek Suchy to Spartak Moskva over the winter break.

In Starka’s opinion, the most likely deal for Stochl would be a six-month loan with an option to buy.

JANKULOVSKI TO RETURN TO OSTRAVA?
Former Czech international Marek Jankulovski could return to Banik Ostrava next year, according to Banik owner Tomas Petera.

Petera met the AC Milan star in Italy last week to discuss his future and says it is “almost certain” that Jankulovski will rejoin Ostrava as a player and in some kind of management role in the summer of 2011.

A product of the Banik youth system, Ostrava-born Jankulovski left the club in 2000 to join Napoli.

KOLLER SENT OFF PLAYING FOR CANNES
Jan Koller was sent off playing for his new club AS Cannes in a French third-division game against Evian on Tuesday.

After making an “unspecified unsporting gesture,” the former Czech international faces a ban of up to three games.

CZECHS 25TH IN LATEST FIFA RANKING
The Czech national team remained in 25th place in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, which was announced on Wednesday.

Despite not qualifying for the World Cup, the Czech Republic are 11 places higher than 36th-ranked Slovakia.

Spain remain top of the ranking, ahead of Brazil, the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, Germany, France, Argentina, England and Egypt.

MICROPHONES FOR REFS IN TV GAMES
Ceska televize (Czech Television) have announced that they plan to equip head referees with microphones during live televised games in the spring.

—
WEDNESDAY’S FRIENDLY RESULTS
Slovan Liberec 0, Bohemians Praha (Strizkov) 1
Goal: 21st Mach

Bohemians 1905 3, Opava 0
Goals: 25th Pavek, 52nd Opava own goal, 54th Ibragimov

Pribram 1, Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova) 0
Goal: 7th Huna

Baumit Jablonec 1, Zenit Caslav 0
Goal: 80th Kulhanek

Sigma Olomouc 4, Politehnica Iasi (Romania) 2
Goals: 45th Sultes (penalty), 53rd Vasicek, 76th Schulmeister, 90th Navratil — 41st Caragea, 88th Badea

Brno 1, Astra Ploiesti (Romania) 2
Brno Goal: 55th Hodek

Red Bull Salzburg (Austria) 3, Dynamo Ceske Budejovice 3
Goals: 63rd Svento, 76th Afolabi, 78th Pokrivac — 28th Otepka (penalty), 52nd Sima, 68th Sedlacek

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Source: CT Teletext

ERICH BRABEC SIGNS FOR SPARTA
Former Slavia Praha captain Erich Brabec has joined Prague rivals Sparta Praha from Turkish side Ankaragucu for an undisclosed fee.

The 32-year-old central defender signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Sparta on Friday, in a move expected to further inflame Czech football’s oldest rivalry.

Brabec was unexpectedly released by Slavia in July 2009, six months into a three-and-a-half-year contract.

Sparta and Slavia are due to meet three times this spring — twice in the Ondrasovka Cup (Pohar CMFS) and once in the league.

SLAVIA’S CELUSTKA JOINS PALERMO ON LOAN
Slavia Praha’s Ondrej Celustka has joined Italian side Palermo on loan, in a move that could become permanent at the end of the season.

Palermo have reportedly paid Slavia 14 million crowns for Celustka’s services and, if satisfied with the Czech Under-21 international’s performance, would offer him a four-year deal and pay Slavia another 60 million crowns in the summer.

Slavia officials would supposedly have preferred a more traditional transfer deal.

RAJNOCH LEAVES BOLESLAV FOR ANKARAGUCU
Czech international Jan Rajnoch has left Mlada Boleslav to join Turkish side Ankaragucu.

The versatile 28-year-old defensive player has reportedly signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with his new club.

The transfer fee Ankaragucu paid for Rajnoch has not been disclosed.

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TUESDAY’S FRIENDLY RESULTS
Bohemians 1905 1, Zlin 1
Goals: 21st Balek — 1st Zurek

Slovacko 4, MFK Petrzalka (Slovakia) 0
Goals: 20th Urbanek, 30th Kosut, 66th Ondrejka, 79th Kuncl

Sparta Praha 2, Metalurh Zaporizhya (Ukraine) 1
Venue: La Cala, Spain
Goals: 30th Kusnir, 89th Wilfried — 13th Kucka (own goal)

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Sources: SportovniNoviny.cz, CT Teletext

KUBIK APPOINTED USA ASSISTANT COACH
Lubos Kubik has been appointed as an assistant to US national team coach Bob Bradley and looks set to be the only Czech directly involved in this summer’s World Cup finals.

Prior to his appointment, the 46-year-old former Czechoslovak/Czech international was sporting director of second division Hradec Kralove — a position that Ladislav Skorpil could now fill.

CHOVANEC: SPARTA WANTED SKACEL TOO
Sparta coach Jozef Chovanec has revealed that he tried to sign former Slavia Praha midfielder Rudolf Skacel.

Skacel, who played for rivals Slavia in the autumn, instead opted to join Greek side Larissa FC but Sparta are expected to complete the signing of former Slavia captain Erich Brabec later today (Friday).

FLACHBART JOINS BOHEMIANS (STRIZKOV) ON LOAN
Experienced defender Jan Flachbart has joined Bohemians Praha (Strizkov) on loan from third-tier Hlavice in a six-month deal.

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THURSDAY’S FRIENDLY RESULTS
Sparta Praha 2, Dynamo Ceske Budejovice 2 (First Game)
Goals: 34th Krejci, 35th Jurdik — 35th Cernak, 56th Meszaros

Sparta Praha 4, Dynamo Ceske Budejovice 1 (Second Game)
Goals: 14th Kusnir, 39th Zofcak, 48th Kadlec, 86th Kadlec (penalty) — 72nd Kanak

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Source: CT Teletext

SLAVIA AND SPARTA FAIL IN CUP DRAW APPEAL
The CMFS (Czech football association) have rejected Slavia Praha’s and Sparta Praha’s appeal against being drawn together in the Ondrasovka Cup (Pohar CMFS) quarter-finals.

The Prague giants had argued that the cup draw should have been seeded to keep the two clubs apart until later in the competition but the association’s appeals commission turned them down.

As things stand, the two rivals will play each other in the cup on March 31st (at Slavia), on April 7th (at Sparta) and again in the league on April 10th (at Sparta).

It’s widely expected that April 10th’s league game will be shifted to Monday, April 12th, however, to accommodate live TV coverage.

MARECEK COMPLETES ANDERLECHT MOVE
As expected, Lukas Marecek has completed his move from Brno to Anderlecht, signing a four-and-a-half-year deal with the Belgian club.

Anderlecht are reported to have paid Brno 1.2 million euros (31.3 million crowns) for the 19-year-old midfielder, plus one percent of any subsequent transfer fee.

HOLENDA LEAVING SPARTA FOR ANZHI MAKHACHKALA
Jan Holenda is set to leave Sparta Praha to sign for newly promoted Russian Premier League side Anzhi Makhachkala.

The 24-year-old forward has already undergone medical tests with the Dagestan-based club and has reportedly agreed a three-year contract.

Representatives from the two clubs are expected to meet this evening (Thursday) to complete the deal.

LIBEREC LOAN JAN BLAZEK TO LARISSA
Slovan Liberec forward Jan Blazek will play on loan at FC Larissa in the spring, joining fellow Czech Rudolf Skacel at the Greek club.

According to player agent Jiri Rosicky, the 21-year-old’s move could become permanent in the summer if all the parties are happy with the deal.

KASCAK STAYS WITH SIGMA OLOMOUC
Slovak midfielder Marek Kascak’s proposed move from Sigma Olomouc to Azerbaijani side Neftchi Baku has fallen through.

Instead of the medical tests Kascak was expecting, Neftchi had wanted to give Olomouc’s captain a further trial, which the 27-year-old refused.

Kascak has now rejoined Sigma preparations for the spring re-start.

KARVINA’S JURSA JOINS OSTRAVA ON LOAN
Full back Tomas Jursa has joined Banik Ostrava on loan from Karvina.

The 20-year-old’s six-month loan move could become permanent in the summer.

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FRIENDLY RESULTS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26TH, 2010
Brno 1, Opava 0
Goal: 14th Oklestek

Brno 3, Nitra (Slovakia) 1
Brno Goals: 38th Dostalek, 69th Dosek, 79th Borak

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27TH, 2010
Banik Ostrava 2, Vitkovice 0
Goals: 15th Strnad, 72nd Vydra

Pribram 1, Dukla Praha 0
Goal: 75th M. Stochl

Hradec Kralove 2, Bohemians 1905 0
Goals: 12th Cerny, 65th Fischer

Karvina 1, Slovacko 1
Slovacko Goal: 60th Fujerik

Slavia Praha 2, Dynamo Ceske Budejovice 1
Goals: 20th Kopic, 38th Vlcek — 28th Horejs

Varnsdorf 0, Baumit Jablonec 0

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Source: CT Teletext

CZECHS TO PLAY IN AMERICAN TOURNAMENT?
The Czech national team could take part in a friendly tournament in the USA in May, according to CMFS (Czech football association) chairman Ivan Hasek.

Speaking to journalists today (Wednesday), Hasek revealed that the CMFS is in negotiations to play in a three-team tournament from May 22nd-25th, which, along with the US national team, would also involve Turkey.

With no competitive games until September, the Czech national team are lining up a series of friendly internationals for the first half of the year:

UPCOMING CZECH FRIENDLIES
MARCH 3RD, 2010
Scotland vs. Czech Republic
Venue: Glasgow, Scotland

MAY 22ND-25TH, 2010
Three-team tournament in the USA?

AUGUST 18TH, 2010
Czech Republic vs. Morocco
Venue: Olomouc

The dates of the Czech Republic’s Euro 2012 qualifiers won’t be known until after the draw is held on February 7th.

—
SKACEL LEAVES SLAVIA FOR GREECE
Rudolf Skacel is leaving Slavia Praha to join Greek side Larissa FC, signing a one-and-a-half-year contract with his new club.

Slavia coach Karel Jarolim had reportedly wanted to sign the 30-year-old midfielder but the former Czech international preferred a move abroad.

Skacel moved to Slavia in September 2009, outside the transfer window — a move that required him to join the club as an amateur.

CLUBS WELCOME NEW ANTI-HOOLIGAN LAW
Czech clubs have welcomed a new law under which convicted football hooligans can be required to report to the police when games are being played.

The law, which came into effect on January 1st, is modelled on similar legislation in England and applies not only to fans convicted of criminal offences but also to those convicted of misdemeanours.

The new law was explained to Czech clubs by CMFS (Czech football association) security manager Miroslav Platil at a meeting on Tuesday.

CONFIRMED: MARECEK TO JOIN ANDERLECHT
It’s been confirmed that Lukas Marecek is leaving Brno to join Anderlecht, signing a four-and-a-half-year contract with the Belgian side.

According to the Belgian press, Anderlecht will pay Brno 1.2 million euros for the 19-year-old midfielder.

Marecek was due to undergo medical tests today (Wednesday) and sign a contract with his new club immediately afterwards.

SPARTA’S KALOUDA HAS GROIN OPERATION
Lubos Kalouda underwent a groin operation on Monday but could resume training in a week’s time.

The 22-year-old midfielder is currently playing for Sparta on loan from Russian side CSKA Moskva.

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Sources: SportovniNoviny.cz, CT Teletext

DROBNY IN GERMAN TEAM OF THE ROUND
After saving a penalty and keeping a clean sheet at the weekend, Hertha Berlin’s Czech goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny features in the German Bundesliga’s team of the round.

MEDIA RATINGS OF CZECH PLAYERS ABROAD
BELGIUM – NIEUWSBLAD
(BEST: 10, WORST: 1)
Daniel Pudil (Genk), 6

ITALY – GOAL.COM
(BEST: 10, WORST: 1)
Zdenek Grygera (Juventus), 6

GERMANY – KICKER
(BEST: 1, WORST: 6)
Jaroslav Drobny (Hertha Berlin), 1.5
Jan Simak (Mainz), 4
David Rozehnal (Hamburg), 4
David Jarolim (Hamburg), 4
Michal Kadlec (Leverkusen), 4
Jiri Stajner (Hannover), 5

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NEW JABLONEC DEAL FOR COACH KOMNACKY
Baumit Jablonec coach Frantisek Komnacky has extended his contract with the club by another year, until the summer of 2011.

Komnacky, who is also an assistant to Czech national team coach Michal Bilek, took charge at Jablonec in October 2007.

NEDVED AND POBORSKY RAISE MONEY FOR HAITI
As expected, Czech greats Pavel Nedved and Karel Poborsky took part in a charity game in Lisbon, Portugal on Monday, which ended in a 3-3 draw.

Poborsky played for a Benfica All Stars team while Nedved was part of a Zinedine Zidane-selected world XI.

The match raised money for earthquake relief in Haiti.

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Source: CT Teletext