Photogallery
Photo: Archive of Aleš Schuster
Former football defender Aleš Schuster in the jersey of Zimbru Kishinev, for which he played in 2011-2013.Photo: Archive of Aleš Schuster
(From the Sport.cz reporter in Moldova) – “It was a life experience for me. There was a lot of poverty outside of Chisinau,” says the 41-year-old Schuster, who has 150 starts in the Czech league.
Moldova is not a very attractive destination for football or for life. How did you end up there?
I was unemployed at the time. I was called by the manager of what I would call an engagement in Moldova. I knew nothing about this country. He told me that one person owns two clubs – in addition to Zimbra and Dacia, and that I should fly for Zimbra to the training camp in Turkey. After one training session and one match, I signed the contract. With the fact that after a year I will move to Dacia, which was more preferred by the owner. I ended up leaving after two seasons. But the funds soon ran out in Dacia, so I packed up and returned home.
What memories do you have of Moldova?
It was a great life experience for me. Unfortunately, I was alone in Chisinau without my family. The wife stayed in the Czech Republic, and she was also pregnant. When it comes to football in Moldova, the level of clubs is very different. The upper half of the competition is financially secure anyway. Thus, in recent years, Sheriff Tiraspol, who is economically elsewhere, has jumped up. He is also doing well in European cups, a year and a half ago he even beat Real Madrid in the Champions League. But many Moldovan clubs are thriving. Players generally spin a lot in them. Clubs are able to replace eight players after the season, and the rest in the middle of the season.
What was the level of competition?
I think it’s plus or minus the same now. Clubs from the top would certainly play in the middle of the table in the Czech league. The teams from the bottom are more or less outnumbered. If only those who are financially secure could play in the league, the Moldovan competition would have four participants. Several times it happened that a club went bankrupt during the competition and had to withdraw. But there was no problem with that. He just pulled out and drove on.
Were there significant differences in the background of the clubs?
Definitely. For example, Zimbru has a beautiful stadium, next to it is a training ground and an artist. Above-standard conditions for Moldova. Tiraspol has complete luxury. In addition to the magnificent arena, it has a training center with fifteen grass areas, plus halls with artificial grass. But when we came to a match with a club from the bottom of the table…
Imagine a classic village playground in the Czech Republic. Around him is an iron railing, against which the spectators lean. That’s exactly how it looked there. I had the feeling that I was going to play the district championship, not the league.
How was your life in Moldova?
I lived in Chisinau, where you could get everything. I didn’t miss anything. But I saw a lot of beggars on the streets. I didn’t travel much around the country except when we went to away games by bus. The roads were a hole, the poverty outside Chisinau was even greater. But I remember Moldova in general good.
