Viktorka from Pilsen paid tribute to war veterans with the Fight for Freedom

Author: From KV KaNGŠ

This year, the freedom celebrations in Pilsen were unusually supplemented by the “Freedom Match” between the home club FC Viktoria and FK Boleslav. The Pilsen football club, as the third in the order, thus joined the cooperation with the army, which was signed by the Ministry of Defense and the Liga Football Association in November last year. The program presenting the Army of the Czech Republic in the club’s fan zone for football fans and visitors to Štruncový Sady started already at noon and was not missed by over five thousand visitors. The match itself, with a ceremonial opening and a tribute to war veterans, attracted eight thousand spectators.

“Armies have been linked to sports since time immemorial, and it is great that the Army of the Czech Republic has been linked to football since last year. And especially these days and in Pilsen, where we commemorate the end of World War II. Our military is being modernized and it is good that it is visible so that those who pay for it know that it has its heroes. It is important for them to know that it is ready to defend them if necessary,” said 1st Deputy Minister of Defense František Šulc.

For the third time, after Slavia and Sparta, soldiers appeared on the pitch before the start of a football match. This time, three war veterans – Captain Tomáš Mikulec from the 41st Mechanized Battalion Žatec, Sergeant Major Miroslav Němeček from the 42nd Mechanized Battalion Tábor, Sergeant Major Ladislav Novotný from the 13th Artillery Regiment Jince and, as the fourth legend of the air rescue service, the army and that in the Pilsen Region, Colonel retired Michal Mareček.

“It’s not just about today’s exceptional match, which is meant to remind and underline the Freedom Celebrations in Pilsen, but also about the principles of fair play and an active and healthy lifestyle that unites the army and professional football. It is also about national pride, respect for long-standing traditions and, in general, about the achievements of past generations, which both the army and professional football in the Czech Republic have a number of,” said the 1st Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Army of the Czech Republic, Lieutenant General Miroslav Hlaváč.

During the ceremony before the start of the football match, three war veterans and retired colonel Mareček were awarded not only the applause of Viktorka fans, but also the team’s jerseys. Two flyovers over the Doosan Arena were then provided by helicopters of the Líně Air Rescue Service, W3A Sokol from the 24th base of the transport air force in Kbela and two Viper helicopters from the 22nd base of the Náměšť nad Oslavou helicopter air force, which historically and symbolically flew over the home base for the first time in public, and just above Pilsen, which is currently celebrating its 79th anniversary of liberation by the Americans.

“We appreciate the fact that together with the Army of the Czech Republic we managed to organize such an event for the fans and we would like to thank everyone who participated in it. We believe that our cooperation can continue in the future and that today’s Freedom Match was the first of many events , which we will organize together,” said Adolf Šádek, general manager of the Pilsen club FC Viktoria.

Demonstrations in the pre-match fan zone were prepared by soldiers with equipment from the 13th Artillery Regiment, the 14th Logistics Regiment Pardubice, the 41st and 42nd Mechanized Battalions, the 43rd Parachute Battalion and the Military Police. In the center of the fan zone was the W3A Sokol helicopter from the 24th base of the Kbely transport air force, which provides the Air Rescue Service in the Pilsen region. The field kitchen next to the football stadium was developed by the deployment force support battalion from Rakovník. Representatives of the Regional Military Command, the department for war veterans and war graves and the local recruitment center also presented themselves on the spot. Dynamic demonstrations were provided by gunners from Jince with examples of close combat and dog handlers with Military Police dogs. Musical accompaniment was then provided both in the fan zone and on the field by the Central Music of the Army of the Czech Republic from the Garrison Headquarters in Prague.