today 07:15
|
The football public expected that Banská Bystrica’s Dukla would win a direct promotion to the Fortuna League. Coach Stanislav Varga’s charges reigned in the 2nd league for many months, but they screwed up the end of the season. In the last three rounds, they could not win even once and Liptovský Mikuláš surprisingly jumped to the front.
The Liptovs showed a fantastic finish, finishing the season with 60 points and a four-point lead over Banská Bystrica. At first, they didn’t even realize how successful they had been. No one in the city spoke out about the highest competition in the city. But day by day, progress has become a reality.
Even before the start of the first league season, they remain in the club by the ground. No big-mouthed statements, just hard and soulful work. President of MFK Tatran Milan Mikusiak he believes that this is what will bring his club success. In the premiere season, the team will also avoid the fight for rescue among the elite.
Photo gallery
President of MFK Tatran Liptovský Mikuláš Milan Mikušiak.
Source: facebook.com/mfktatran
–
Two months ago, you won the promotion to the Slovak elite. How do you remember the great finish, thanks to which you overtook the favored Banská Bystrica?
“Honestly, I didn’t even expect it. I have always judged with a cold head what our options are. At the club, we thought it would be nice if we played a playoff. Nevertheless, it is already broadcast on television, more people are interested in it. It would be a celebration for us. The fact that we managed to win the last three rounds and Banská Bystrica kept it constant was a bonus for us.
I didn’t even experience it at the time, because I didn’t realize how successful we had been. Only now do I see what a change it is. It’s a nice feeling, they write newspapers about you, people are interested, everyone praises you. However, the moment of expectation and responsibility is coming. We don’t want to be in the league for a slapping shot. And I don’t think we will. Our staff has the quality he did last season. ”
After the departure of coach Zaťek to Pohronie, you hired Marek Petruš. Was he the key to success?
“For the last seven years, we have had quality coaches in Liptovský Mikuláš, who later won the highest competition. First it was Juraj Sabol who went to Senice. Karol Praženica, Jožko Majoroš and Anton Šoltis also worked for us. Experienced coach Zaťko brought peace, respect to the team. He lived with the whole club, he also had a friendly relationship with people from the management. It fit very well into our family environment.
Under his leadership, the players grew in performance. When he left, we had some concerns. At that time, however, we were in second place in the table and I said to myself that even if it doesn’t work out with the selection of a new coach, I guess we won’t fall out (smile).
We chose from three coaches, and finally, together with the sports director Ján Papaj, we decided to contact Marek Petruš. We knew him from Poprad, we knew that the team played good football under his leadership. Petruš is a modern coach. Although more impulsive than Zaťko, they are of various natures, but he was also able to unite the team and bring the team to the first place. We are satisfied with his work, which is why we have extended the contract with him. ”
Photo gallery
MFK Tatran Liptovský Mikuláš coach Marek Petruš.
Source: TASR
–
No money from the city
The new Fortuna League season will start soon. What are your current feelings?
“It simply came to our notice then. Celebrating articles still appeared in the regional newspapers last week, but I have already said that there is enough of it all. The start of the Fortuna League is approaching, which we are going to with some anticipation, but certainly not with apprehension. If we were scared, we wouldn’t even have to board. That would be our pointless procedure. We have to go with it determined, fight for the best possible position and, above all, prove that our start in the highest competition is justified. ”
Are you ready for the highest competition? What did you manage to do in the short season?
“There were a lot of robots. We founded a joint-stock company, we dealt with all tax and banking matters. We sent the necessary requisites to the Slovak Football Association. Even before the team left for a short training camp in the Czech Republic, I signed 21 professional contracts.
We also had a small celebration, the city council awarded us the highest city award. The mayor presented us with the city award. Unfortunately, the city cannot help us financially, because it is still provisional and cannot support any sports club. This is a stumbling block because we were counting on a financial contribution, but we didn’t get a penny.
We have also strengthened our marketing team, renovated our website. We still have a general against Trebišova, which we will play in Poprad. During this match, we technically test the stadium, turnstiles, lighting and the like. Time was short, but we managed to put all the technical and legislative issues in order, and we also strengthened the staff. ”
So none of the players will have another job besides football?
“No, it’s not even possible, as we have signed professional contracts with 21 players. Some players from a wider cadre may still be working, but they will primarily work in the three-league Liptovská Štiavnica, which is our farm. ”
Photo gallery
Players MFK Tatran Liptovský Mikuláš before the match.
Source: MFK Tatran Liptovský Mikuláš / mfktatran.sk
–
They brought quality to the team
We know that you live by football and you are involved in the action. So are you happy with the staff you managed to put together?
“I’m not interfering in the selection of players, we have coaches and managers for that. However, I go to matches regularly and I offer my opinion to the management. We make many decisions together. Of course, we had to strengthen the staff, because we had it relatively narrow. We got six new players, but the gro team remained here and will play directly in the highest competition. We can’t change the whole set from day to day, it wouldn’t work. Players who have won promotion will also get a chance in the Fortuna League. ”
Which players should be the team leaders?
“I think the strongest weapon will be the collective. Cohesion that adorned us last season as well. After the injury, Rišo Bartoš gets into the form. It is our team engine, from which we promise a lot. But also from new players – Hranáč, Filinský, Švec, Flak, Pinte or goalkeeper Sváček. They all brought quality to the team and they should help us. ”
Are you planning to hire more reinforcements or will you wait for what the opening rounds of the season will show you?
“Starting the season will be challenging for us, because we will start against the four strongest opponents. We will welcome Slovan at home, we will travel to Dunajská Streda and Trnava and then we will compete with Žilina. The fifth round and the match in Michalovce will probably show us more, but at that time the transition period will slowly end. Therefore, I do not expect any significant changes. ”
There is a minimum of legionnaires in the team, is that the intention?
“We have a Serb Dragan Andrič, now players from the Czech Republic have been added. Of course, various managers also urge us foreign players, but we are not thinking that way yet. We want to give an opportunity to our boys and players who have won the promotion. ”
The list also includes South Korean Chansoo Kim. Does this mean that cooperation with the Seoul Academy is still ongoing?
“The contract is valid until the end of this year. In addition to Kim, we have one more player here, but according to the coaches, he does not meet the requirements for the highest competition, so he will probably play in the lower league. Three teenagers should arrive in September. Further cooperation with this academy is open, it will be resolved in the coming months. ”
Photo gallery
MFK Tatran Stadium Liptovský Mikuláš.
Source: TASR
–
The “poorest” in the Fortuna League
Did you have to increase players’ salaries after the process?
“Yes, because they were low. We also had low salaries for the second league, now we have reached the level of the wider top of the second league. The budget automatically increased, new people joined the club. An assistant coach was added, we strengthened the marketing team, increased salaries. The budget is once bigger than it was a year ago. ”
What amount are we specifically talking about?
“The budget will be at the level of 500 – 600 thousand euros. It will probably be the lowest in the Fortuna League, but we cover ourselves with the duvet we have. If the city was not in the makeshift, we would have received the promised 180-200 thousand euros and maybe we would have hired more expensive players. However, this is not possible, so we only rely on sponsorship money. ”
How many sponsors are involved in budgeting?
“We have a general sponsor, which is a company where I am a co-owner. We also have four or five companies that contribute to us at the level of the main sponsor. And then there are several small companies that support the club with smaller amounts. It is a really wide range of sponsors, as we do not have a factory or a large company in the city that would pull it as it is in the case of leading Slovak clubs. ”
You will play home matches at the NTC stadium in Poprad. Will it devour a large part of your budget?
“A fifth of our budget will go to rent the stadium and all the services we have to pay there. In Poprad we will play competitive matches, we will have trainings, including pre-match, at home. ”
Photo gallery
Soccer players MFK Tatran Liptovský Mikuláš
Source: sfz
–
People mockingly comment on the level of Slovak football
The stadium in Liptovský Mikuláš underwent reconstruction. What does he lack so that the highest competition can be played on it?
“Five attributes are missing – lighting, camera system, turnstile system, minimum capacity of 3,500 spectators and lawn heating. However, we are working on it. We are currently doing an investment plan and a technical audit, and we are also making a financial estimate for individual work at the stadium.
When we have the intention ready, we will go with it to the city council, also to the SFZ, or somewhere else where we will be able to apply for financial assistance. We have launched this agenda so that we are clear about what is needed and how much money we need to be able to play the Fortuna League at the stadium in Liptovský Mikuláš. ”
Will fans find their way to home matches in Poprad?
“Unfortunately, at the moment, the capacity is still very limited, but I think that the allowed number of seats will be filled without any problems. People are looking forward to it, and many people from Liptovský Mikuláš are preparing for the opening match against the Bratislava Slavs. But there will definitely be interest in other meetings. After all, the league will be played closest to Michalovce or Ružomberok.
The people of Liptov are not far from Poprad. The villages of Horný Liptov are even closer to Poprad than to Liptovský Mikuláš. We also believe that we will also reach football fans from Poprad, Spišská Nová Ves, Gelnice and other places in this catchment area. Of course, for some people, traveling from Liptovský Mikuláš may be more complicated, but I still believe that spectator visits will be decent. ”
You have already indicated the goals, but what will be most important for you in the premiere season among the elite?
“Many people on social networks list what Liptovský Mikuláš can bring to the league and mockingly comment on the level of Slovak football. I do not agree with these views. The team that wins a demanding long-term competition will get into the first league. I dare say that in the second league, some matches had a higher level than some matches in the Fortuna League. It is not an easy competition. It is no coincidence that someone wins and advances.
Of course, we realize that the highest competition is even higher. We ourselves are curious about how a good second league team will do in the Fortuna League. We want to play attractive, technical football, as we have presented ourselves so far. Who knows, maybe it won’t be enough. We may find that in the highest competition it is necessary to play earlier for the result. However, we want to show our game. It would be bad if we went into it with the fact that we would play and return to the second league in a year. Our goal will be to avoid descent and barrage about staying. ”
