Vladislav Palša is the new manager of 1. FK Svidník

After a disastrous first part of the season, 1. FK Svidník desperately needed a change and this come in the form of a new manager: Vladislav Palša. While the former Polish manager, Lech Czaja, tried hard but unfortunately succeeded nothing, the new manager reached an agreement with the club management to bring a number of experienced players to the team, which now sits bottom of the table in the Slovak Third League - East Group, with no points whatsoever.

Vladislav Palša played at Tatran Prešov, FK Poprad, Trenčin and Partizan Bardejov, and not long ago he gave up the playing career, and embraced a new job as a manager. In autumn, he was manager of FK Gerlachov, in the Slovak Fourth League - North, where he led the team into second place at winter break. He had the courage to come to Svidník, a team that is in a very difficult situation, more so taking into account the changes which will be made to the football pyramid in Slovakia in the upcoming season. Only the top 9 teams of the East Group will survive in the new Third League, while the other will be relegated to the new Fourth League, and the last one will be relegated even to the Fifth League. So, the primary objective of the new manager is to avoid the last place at all costs.

Vladislav Palša is the new manager of 1. FK Svidník. Source: sportnet.sme.sk

1. FK Svidník still has to play three matches from the first half of the season, when the players were affected by the pandemic, and some matches had to be postponed. Two of these matches will be played at the end of February and the beginning of March, right before the start of the second half of the season.

The new manager also brought new players. Striker Oliver Špilár came from Prešov and will also act as assistant manager. Goalkeeper Milan Vinclér was brought from MFK ADV Stará L'ubovňa, leaders of the Fourth League - North. Jozef Sova was brought back to the club after a spell at Tvrdošovice. Other players are also carefully monitored, and some foreign players might arrive as well. Two Japanese players are already at the club (Koszhi and Mogi), training and participating in friendly matches.

Regarding those who might leave, for the moment, the Russian Aleksei Shliakhov is training with Second League Dubnica. However, nothing is yet settled. It would be a great loss for the team, but other solutions should be found in case he leaves.

1. FK Svidník already played a couple of friendly matches. The first one was played in Bardejov, on 22 January 2022, against Fourth League OcFK Marhaň. Svidník won 4-3 (2-2) in difficult weather, snowing all the time. The match had to be interrupted three times for the pitch to be cleared of the snow. The four Svidník goals were scored by Guman, Špilár, Koszhi and Hubis. 

Svidník starting line-up was: Rusinko - T. Čabala, D. Čabala, Jucha, Makara - Koszhi, Mogi, Bialoginiewicz, Oravec - Guman, Špilár. The following came on as substitutes: Dzupina - Kubis, Haňak, and Bartoš. Ducár, Sova, Haško and Wszola could not attend for various reasons. Manager Vladislav Palša was satisfied with the game, given the improper conditions.

A week later, they crossed the border in Poland, to play a friendly game against the Polish team Dukla. The weather was again inadequate, the artificial pitch was full of water, which caused many difficulties. Svidník led 2-0 and 3-2 but eventually lost 5-4 (2-2). The Svidník goals were scored by Špilár (2) and Kubis (2).

Svidník starting line-up: Vinclér - Bartoš, D. Čabala, Jucha, Oravec, Ducár, Sova, Guman, Gajdoš, Špilár, Kubis. Goalkeeper Dzupina came on in the second half, as Rusinko could not attend the game. T. Čabala and Wszola were also absent due to injury, while the two Japanese players did not travel to Dukla, and is yet to be decided if they stay or not at 1. FK Svidník.

Several other friendly matches are scheduled before the first official game which is scheduled on 27 February 2022 in Svidník, against OFK-SIM Raslavice. The next friendly match would be on Sunday, 6 February, away at Bardejovská Nová Ves. Games against Stará L'ubovňa, Medzilaborce and another Polish team have been also scheduled in the next weeks.

Vladislav Palša is the fifth manager of 1. FK Svidník in about one year and a half. He has a very difficult task, but there are legitimate hopes that results will improve in the second half of the season.