Preparations

Preparations for the new, first division season are in full swing on both fronts - team preparations and stadium (Ďolíček) preparations. Since the second division season ended much later than the first division, the team did not have nearly as much time for rest and preparations.  Coach Busta compressed the team preparation into an available time slot hoping that everything will work out in the end.  The last few preparation matches showed that players were tired from demanding physical conditioning, but there is still some time to shake it off left before the first game of the first division season against Baník Ostrava.

Bohemians have made so far only three acquisitions in the off-season.  They brought in very experienced defender/midfielder Šmarda from Hradec Králové, another defender Turtenwald (currently  injured) from Trnava and a little known, but very promising midfielder Kunášek from Čáslav.  Coach Busta does not make any secrets about his desire to bring in also one experienced striker.

Bohemians had played six preparation games, mostly during their conditioning stint in Germany.

VFB Fortuna Chemnitz - Bohemians 1905 0:5 (0:1)

First game was played two hours after arriving in Germany by bus.

Date: 18.7.2007
Place: Germany
Goals: 13. Bálek, 57. Kotyza, 63. Lukáš, 66. Kulvajt, 70. Škoda
Bohemians 1905: Sňozík - Marek (60. Růžička), Rada, Lukáš, Šmarda - Kunášek (46. Kotyza), Adam (46. Vágner), I.Hašek, Rychlík - Bálek (46. Kulvajt), Bartek (60. Škoda)

FV Dresden 06 - Bohemians 1905 3:1 (0:0)

One goal from a penalty kick and one from a free kick tilted the score in favour of the German team.

Date: 20.7.2007
Place: Germany
Goals: 52. Eißrich (penalty), 70. Seifert, 83. Eißrich - 56. Bálek
Bohemians 1905: Havránek - Císař (46. Sirový), Pecinovský, Škoda, Růžička - Moravec, Vágner, Slezák, Matůš - Formáček (46. Kotyza), Kulvajt (46. Bálek)

Energie Cottbus - Bohemians 1905 0:0 (0:0)

Bohemians played a very strong game against the team from the first Bundesliga.  The team’s line-up in this game was probably close to the starting line-up against Ostrava.

Date: 21.7.2007
Place: Germany
Bohemians 1905: Sňozík - Marek, Rada, Lukáš, Šmarda - Kunášek (59. Kotyza), Adam, Hašek (72. Slezák), Rychlík - Bálek (77. Škoda), Bartek

Carl Zeiss Jena - Bohemians 1905 2:0 (1:0)

Very tired Kangaroos did not play well against the German second division team.

Date: 24.7.2007
Place: Germany
Goals: 32. Ziegner, 72. Rada (own)
Bohemians 1905: Sňozík - Marek (65. Růžička), Rada, Lukáš (46. Pávek), Šmarda - Kotyza, Adam, Slezák, Kunášek (46. Rychlík) - Škoda (77. Cirhan), Bálek (46. Matůš)

Slavia Praha - Bohemians 1905 1:0 (1:0)

Overnight return to Prague followed by the following day game with Slavia left Kangaroos heavy footed in comparison to Slavia.  This was the first opportunity for fans to see Bohemians in a game situation in Prague and they came away rather disappointed.

Date: 25.7.2007
Place: Prague (Strahov)
Goals: 32.Brabec
Bohemians 1905: Havránek - Marek, Lukáš, Rada (46. Pávek), Šmarda (46. Růžička) - Kunášek, Hašek, Slezák (46. Adam), Rychlík - Matůš, Bálek (62. Škoda)

Erzgebirge Aue - Bohemians 1905 2:1 (2:1)

A quick bus trip to Germany for a game against the team from the second German division revealed that Kangaroos still have not recovered from the heavy loads of physical training prescribed by coach Busta.

Date: 24.7.2007
Place: Germany
Goals: 27. Kaufman, 33. Kurth (penalty) - 34. Kotyza
Bohemians 1905: Sňozík - Marek, Rada, Pávek, Šmarda - Kotyza (70. Růžička), Adam (38. Hašek), Slezák (74. Vágner), Kunášek - Bálek (60. Kulvajt), Škoda (46. Matůš)

As far as the stadium is concerned, preparations for the first game continue with the help of fans who continue to show their support for the club by wielding different tools of the trade while sprucing up Ďolíček.  New roof over the main seating section is almost finished, new seats are being installed all over the place and the new seating section for visiting fans (behind a goal towards the main street) is also close to being ready.

For those who want to have a better idea how Ďolíček is shaping up, there are a few pictures taken by one of the fans-helpers on July 22:  http://flippy.rajce.idnes.cz/27.7/