Sparta ready for title defence

By Ladislav Josef

AC Sparta Praha will be aiming for a ninth league title in eleven years when the Czech season kicks off on Saturday.

Seven up
The champions have signed seven players ahead of the new campaign, although influential defender Zdenek Grygera has departed for AFC Ajax in a €3.5m transfer. Leading the influx is former Czech international captain Jirí Nemec, 37, who has returned to the Letná stadium after ten years away.

Johana the key
He is joined by Igor Gluscevic, a striker from FC Utrecht who will bolster coach Jirí Kotrba's attack, and Mirko Poledica, a defensive reinforcement. However, Czech international defender Petr Johana from FC Slovan Liberec could be the key recruit as Sparta bid for the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Striking signings
Last season's runners-up SK Slavia Praha have also been busy in the transfer market drafting in three new forwards - Martin Lukes from FC Baník Ostrava, Czech Under-20 striker Pavel Fort from newly promoted FK Viktoria Plzen, and Hungarian forward Tibor Tokodi from Újpesti TE. However, Stepán Vachousek has left for Olympique de Marseille in a €2.5m deal.

Good start
Liberec, champions in 2001, have acquired Slovakian playmaker Karol Kisel from relegated CU Bohemians Praha, and striker Michal Pospísíl from Sparta in exchange for Johana. Liberec's season started well when they won 1-0 at Real Racing Club Santander in a UEFA Intertoto Cup third round first-leg tie last week.

Missing links
By contrast, Baník Ostrava have been weakened by loss of three strikers, with Václav Sverkos (VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach), Michal Papadopulos (Arsenal FC) and Lukes (Slavia) all moving on. New coach Frantisek Komnacký, who came from Slovakian Cup winners ŠKM Púchov, has signed Marek Heinz from Hamburger SV and Újpest's Radek Sloncík as replacements.

Minor changes
There was one change apiece at fourth-place FK Viktoria Zizkov and Czech Cup winners FK Teplice. Czech Under-19 forward Petr Mikolanda arrived at the former club from Slavia, while defender Petr Gabriel returned to 1. FC Kaiserslautern after a loan spell at the latter.

New coaches
Elsewhere, both promoted sides appointed new coaches, with SFC Opava bringing in Tomás Matejcek, and Viktoria Plzen taking on Frantisek Cipro, who guided Slavia to the title in 1996. Both teams are expected to struggle along with FK Chmel Blšany.

Stadium blow
Blšany finished one position above the relegation zone in 2002/03 and have since lost goalkeeper Ales Chvalovský to French side FC Grand Rouen, defender Karel Tichota to Opava, captain Nemec to Sparta, and striker Jan Zemlík to FC Príbram. In addition, Blšany will have to play their home games in Príbram as their stadium failed to meet league standards.