Szymkowiak sidelined for Wisla

UEFA Cup run
The 26-year-old has been a key figure behind the club's passage to the Ekstraklasa summit and the fourth round of the UEFA Cup, where Wisla will meet S.S. Lazio. It appears certain they will have to do without Szymkowiak for the two-legged meeting with the Roman club as the player is undergoing tests in Krakow to determine the extent of his injury, which he picked up on Monday.

Coach's hope
A member of the Poland side which won the UEFA European Under-16 Championship in 1993, Szymkowiak has been one of the most consistent performers in Polish football this term. The new coach of Poland, Pawel Janas, recently said he wanted Szymkowiak to be the leader of the national team, but injury will seemingly rob him of the chance to feature in UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying Group 4 this season.

Kosowski staying
There was some cheer for Wisla, however, when coach Henryk Kasperczak announced that Kamil Kosowski will not be leaving the club for Club Atlético Osasuna. The Spanish side's offer of €2.5m, following a six-month loan trial, was deemed insufficient for a player who destroyed FC Schalke 04 at the Arena AufSchalke in the third round of the UEFA Cup.

'Do my best'
Kosowski's contract expires in 2004, and although he has not signed a new one, the player has pledged to continue giving his all to the Wisla cause. "I have closed the mouths of everyone who said that I only think about money," he said. "I will do my best - I want to win everything we can in Poland and in Europe with Wisla."

Friendly matches
Another player staying at the Wisla Kraków SSA stadium is goalkeeper Angelo Hugues. The 36-year-old custodian's loan from French champions Olympique Lyonnais has been extended until the end of the season after a series of impressive displays. Wisla are to play friendlies against Roda JC on 24 January and RBC Roosendaal two days' later.