You have been training with Zbrojovka since Monday. How do you like it in the new club?
I feel very well in Brno. Everyone here is nice to me. The guys in the cabin gave me a great reception. And coach Dostálek too.
Have you talked to him about your role in the team yet?
Yes. I know he prefers attacking football. That suits me. I am convinced that I can prove my qualities in Zbrojovce. I want to help her so that she doesn’t have to worry about the rescue. I believe that I will be happy in Brno and enjoy football.
So are you ready to play for Zbrojovka in Saturday’s top league match against Baník?
Clearly. I’ve been preparing for this all week.
Photo: FC Zbrojovka Brno
Stopper Mohamed Tijani with a Brno jerseyPhoto: FC Zbrojovka Brno
In the past, you have been troubled by health problems quite often…
Even during the winter training, I recently treated some small injuries. In such a big club as Plzeň undoubtedly is, the downtime in preparation plays a significant role. That’s probably why I didn’t play in the first league at the end of the spring. But now I am 100% healthy. I was looking for a team that would count on me. I opted for Zbrojovka, who are playing good football and deserve to be higher than eleventh place in my opinion. When Pilsen recently played in Brno, I had no idea that I would be here in a few days. But I thought that the Brno team performed perfectly despite the 1:3 loss.
Doesn’t the fact that you haven’t played a sharp match for a long time limit you?
No. I trained honestly, I still added. I ran a lot. That shouldn’t be a problem.
What is your motivation for the coming six months?
Show everyone that I’m a good defender. You can’t do that from the bench. I want to play good matches in Zbrojovka and move it higher in the table.
Did you remember that you started in the Czech Republic in Vyškov, which is located not far from Brno?
Sure. I signed my first contract in the Czech Republic in Vyškov. I like it there, I’m going to visit Vyškov. Back then, my then teammate and friend Daniel Přerovský and I sometimes went to Brno. So I didn’t come to an unfamiliar environment now.
Who or what do you remember most from your engagement in Vyškov?
To coach Trousil. He also played football at the top level in the past as a stopper and taught me a lot. And he also assigned me an important role in the team.
When you worked in Jihlava, in a friendly match with Zbrojovka, you drove indiscriminately into the then Brno midfielder Štepanovský, and by doing so you made a lot of noise for his partner Jakub Šural. Did you deal with him now after coming to Brno?
Did you know any of the new teammates from before?
Not even one. But I think I fit in well with the boys from Brno.
Did you fulfill your dream by joining top Czech clubs from Vyškov?
I don’t take it that way. The way I look at it is that if I get an offer from a better club, I’m probably doing a good job. It is a commitment for me every time that I have to work even harder. And you also earn more money and can help your family.
How often do you visit it?
About every six months. And now, in the spring, my closest relatives should visit me in the Czech Republic for the first time.
Why are you representing Benin when you come from Ivory Coast?
My dad has roots in Benin. He owns both passports. When they offered me to represent Benin, I nodded. Also because Ivory Coast has many more quality footballers.
What is your main speech?
But you won’t negotiate with her in the Brno cabin, will you?
Never. I mainly speak English with the boys. But I also manage a little in Czech.
