Chapter 8 - A repeat performance?
<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI> David Trezuget of Juventus wins World Player of the Year, with fellow Frenchman Slyvan Distin of Real Madrid second, and AC Milan's Gattuso third.
<LI> Gianluca Zambrotta of Juventus wins World Footballer of the year, with English based duo Gallas (Chelsea) and Silvestre (Man Utd) second and third respectivley
<LI> Bac midfielder David Mukeba picks up his 7th cap for Democratic Republic of Congo in their 1-1 draw with Morocco
<LI> Zoran Strakl, on loan from Ruzemberok, picks up a torn groin muscle in training, ruling him out for around 2 months
<LI> Bac Under 19's finish the year on top of their league after a 2-0 win over Hronom
</UL>
With Fairway arriving back in Slovakia as planned on New Year's Day, his first duty would be one of upmost importance. With seven players out of contract at the end of the season, action would have to be taken. By the end of his first day back, five had been offered new deals.
Vladimir Suchy offered a deal until the end of next season, with
Andrej Masarovic, Tomas Albert, Glen Kaveney and
Ladislav Szijjarto all offered contracts until the summer of 2009 - two and a half year contracts. For Kaveney, the offer was a pleasant suprise - hit by injury this season, but still a popular player since his arrival from Hull - and one he snapped up, accepting in hours.
By the middle of the next week, all five had accepted the deals - signing on to give Fairway just two names to ponder.
Robert Patras hadn't played since promotion to the First Division, and would not be offered a contract - but the second would give Fairway plenty to think about.
Ernest Lopu is nothing short of a legend at Bac - with 20 goals in his first season under the Englishman, and a further 12 as Bac raced to the Divison Two title.
Tuesday - and with the transfer window opening at the same time,
Ernest Lopu put pen to paper on that one-year extension. Immediatley Fairway looked to the market - with a young winger long in his sights targeted as an immediate capture. With the league tight - and Bac's European adventures continuing - Fairway would surely be looking to strengthen with a crucial second half of the season coming up. By Saturday, those hopes would take a blow -
Peter Durica agreeing a new deal with home club Trencin.
Wednesday 24th - and while no new signings have arrived, one player has returned to the fold.
Michal Filo , a 22-year old striker who has struggled for form at Bac, spent the first part of the season out on loan at Humenne - and failed to impress there either, not involved at all whilst at the Second Division outfit.
Meanwhile in Kinshasa
David Mukeba not only played as the Democratic Republic of Congo thrashed Chad 4-0 - but scored the opening goal - his first at international level - with a pinpoint header from an early corner.
With the end of January passing without a signing, Fairway took time out to see what had been happening elsewhere in Europe. While the Slovakian transfer window would close a week into February the Transfer window for the majority of Europe closed at midnight - with the Months' biggest deal having serious interest for Bac. UEFA Cup opponents Marseille had been busy, with the £13.25 Million sale of Egyptian international striker
Mido to Arsenal. Several English clubs used the window to offload, rather than add, talent - Newcastle striker Lewis Guy becoming one of the rapidly increasing English players abroad with a move to 1.FC Koln of Germany, while Micheal Lamey and Hitoeshi Nakata both made the move out of the Premiership to join AC Milan. As ever though, imports would be both predictable and suprising. Chelsea's long-rumoured move for
Ousmane Dabo suprised nobody - but a £4.1 million move for
Stephen Clemence from Derby to Man Utd? - now that was a shock. At the other end of the table, bottom of the pile Wigan - who need a miracle to stay up - added four to their squad.
A week later, on deadline day itself, Fairway would get his man.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
www.bac-online.sk - Football - Wednesday 7/2/07
'Midfielder signs as Fairway plans English trip'
"Bac have completed the signing of 31-year old midfield man
Jozef Rybinkar from Second Division side Podbrezova. The playmaker - signed for a nominal fee - has signed a contract until the summer of 2009. Speaking exclusivley to BO.sk, manager Stuart Fairway said; "Jozef is a good player, and when he became available I moved quickly to secure the signing. I think he will add another option for the remaining months of the season, and although he's not the youngest, will certainly have the skills for a couple of years yet".
For his part, Rybinkar is also delighted to be joining the Champions - telling reporters that he is delighted to be playing in the top flight - his only other spell at this level a short loan period with AS Trencin before their relegation. Rybinkar will be able to play in Bac's UEFA Cup matches against Marseille, after Fairway used his option to make up to three changes to his squad - replacing backup player
Erik Takac with the new signing.
On that note, Fairway has arranged Bac's traditional February friendly game away - in England. With the first UEFA Cup match in France, Fairway will be taking his squad away for a training camp ahead of the match, also taking in a warmup game away at English Non-League side
Leatherhead - the game to be played on Saturday 24th, with the trip to Marseille on March 1st.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
On Thursday morning - with new boy Rybinkar settling in to his first training session, Fairway was able to tell
Pavol Majernik that his form had been noted. A first call-up to the international game, with Slovakia manager Ladislav Jurkemik for a freindly game against Holland. Delighted for his player, Fairway phoned the international boss to thank him - and to urge him to hand Majernik his debut in the Wednesday night game. He wouldn't be the only Bac man to get the call -
Pavol Petras, Jozef Adamik and
Jozef Hrivnak all on Under 21 duty.
Come Wednesday morning, Fairway could see how his young guns got on. Although defeat for Slovakia - 3-2 in Hasselt - all three of his players started the game, with Petras and Hrivnak both replaced in the Second half. One further incident of note - a goal for Gyor striker
Tamas Priskin - a player whom Fairway publically admitted interest in last year.
A day later - and a first cap for
Pavol Majernik . Although Slovakia were beaten 2-0 by Holland in the Amsterdam ArenA, the Bac man came on for the second half, and aquitted himself well. On a slippery pitch, he aquitted himself well - and would be offered a new contract. Partly a reward for a fine season - but more than likely due to the current £500,000 release clause in his contract - a fee Fairway considered derisory for a player of his talents.
On Friday morning, Majernik would put pen to paper on a new deal - with the contract running until 2010, taking him up to at least his 32nd birthday. It would prove a pleasant conclusion to the Winter break - with Fairway and his squad boarding a plane to England hours later.
After looking a little rusty earlier in the week back at home, the trip had clearly done Bac good - with Fairway having a fully fit squad to choose for the game against Leatherhead.
Leatherhead v Bac - Friendly
In the pleasant surroundings of Leatherhead's Fetcham Grove stadium - off a quiet road near the Station and Lesiure Centre - Fairway named a strong, full-strength side - with new boy Rybinkar amongst the 10 substitutes. A token small crowd turned out to watch the game - but saw very little early on. However after 24 came just what Fairway didn't need - an injury to Pavol Majernik, which would see the defender taken off in some discomfort. By 35 though things had got better -
Andrej Cisar running almost from half way before slotting home in style. After almost wholesale changes at the interval Bac stepped up a gear -
Mihal Balaz scoring after a wonderful pass from Nurdinatoro. On the hour the former Hannover man slammed home his second and Bac's third - Glen Kaveney crafting an opportunity out of very little to prove his fitness having come on at the break. New boy Rybinkar looked busy - having one wayward chance - and Leatherhead too had a part to play, Palmer's header ruled out for a push - before Bac wrapped things up on 82. A well-worked corner completed an easy win - Kaveney and Hrivnak linking up well, with the latter crossing for
Seto Nurdinatoro to nip in for a near-post header.
Leatherhead 0 - Bac 4 (Cisar, Balaz 2, Nurdinatoro)
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