Every morning after getting up, the poor sinner Uli Hoeneß looks up with a cup of nettle tea. Far above him, Mr Panenka from Prague hovers through infinity with a glass of beer.
The Czech capital is always worth a visit. I recommend autumn 2021 with wise foresight. Until then, you have to sit on the sofa and spend the free hours studying Czech football.
There are currently three Prague clubs in the top league. In addition to Slavia and Sparta, there are the divine Bohemians. I immediately liked them because of the kangaroo in the coat of arms and the green jersey color, which was not that common in footballers. In addition, the divine Antonin Panenka played until 1981 for the Klokani (kangaroos – and at the same time the club’s nickname), who rose to the football olympics in 1976 on the night of Belgrade in the European Championship final against the FRG thanks to his penalty shot.
After Uli Hoeneß had dumped the ball in the night sky, Antonin Panenka lifted his 911 casually into the middle of the goal, while Sepp Maier was dozing in the left corner of the goal. Unforgettable scenes, I shed tears of joy for my Klokani, while Heinz Florian Oertel maliciously gave the name of the future tax evader Hoeneß the wrong accent on GDR television.
It was the first final of a European championship that was decided on penalties. After a draw there could have been a replay. Shortly before the final, the confident DFB had applied for the penalty shoot-out to give the German players a longer vacation. The players didn’t find out about this excellent idea until they were warming up.
A year after the ČSSR triumph, I stood in amazement in front of the Bohemians Stadium Ďolíček and learned that it translates as Mulde, or better: beloved Mulde. From there in 1981 the path for Panenka led to the west. At that time, Czechoslovak footballers were only allowed to move abroad at the age of 32. Panenka stayed green and moved to Rapid Vienna for four years. Also because there was a Czechoslovak school for his children in Vienna. For this he turned down a higher-endowed Spanish offer. Once green, always green.
»The man with the radar eyes« – that’s what Panenka was called because of his brilliant free kicks, because he found the decisive hole in every opposing wall. The Sympaticus ended his playing career in Austria at the age of 45 and returned to the Mulde. Initially as assistant coach, later as president of Bohemians. He is now honorary president.
In the late summer of 2020, angry Aunt Corona had him cheekily. With a skillful tackle, he freed himself from her grip and will be with us and in Ďolíček in autumn 2021. Before the game we will eat a crispy klobasa and wash it down with Prague beer. We’ll have a second beer at half-time. Meanwhile the last rays of sun warm us in the improvised beer garden in the stadium, we continue to drink beer after the victory. During the beer ceremony, Mr. Ecki Winterberg gives us a lecture lasting several hours about the essence of beer, the Bohemian railway and its Bohemians. Ecki lives in Leipzig and likes the local green club. He loves the Bohemians even more and has been visiting them regularly for decades thanks to a permanentka (season ticket).
Panenka will of course join us for a beer and then set off for Mount Olympus in the Golden Coach. He has to go to bed early. Uli is waiting tomorrow.
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