Marek Sapara

[Jon Irenicus]

Critisism noted and rejected. It is plenty obvoius the way it is.

[dudinho]

So, what do you say about Marek after his first match?
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RUZOMBEROK

[georgios]

I am verry impressed, after only 4 trainings with the team, he played like he has been in the club for months. Smart passes and briliant ballcontoll. I think he is going to be an important player for RBK.

EDIT: He was also woted Man of the MAtch by the local paper Adressa.

[arnt]

Seems to be a very solid, intelligent player, with good "Football Sense". He seems very promising indeed
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"Engang en ret forvoven Jyde
Med Hagel paa en Thrønder vilde skyde,
Men fik hans Pande ei i sønder,
Nei, der skal Kugle til en Thrønder!"

[2mas]

Sapi had a couple of big chances: Sandefjord - Rosenborg 0-2 [extended highlights]

He is quite happy on his debut: Video interview

[Skotten]

From the Sandefjord highlights he looked very good, nice pass for Storflor goal too.

This is the kind of foreign quality RBK should bring in if they are to invest in bringing in players from abroad.

[2mas]

I love this new focus on researching potential signings. Rosenborg used a year on quality assurance in this case. Buying some flight tickets to Slovakia seems to have been a good investment.

[2mas]

Translation of an Slovak interview with Sapara:

The Newspapers in Norway are extremely interested about your transfer from Ruzomberok to Trondheim. What are they writing about you?

When I was with my girl-friend Lucia on Monday evening in our friends’ house, (Slovak-Norwegian husband-wife pair), the Norwegian man translated some things to me. One newspaper wrote that I am Rosenborg’s new star. And that I played well in my debut. I received a rating of “7�, where “10� is the highest. My other teammates received 5’s and 6’s.

It’s interesting that you have tutors in Trondheim. How did you meet?

When we arrived in Trondheim 2 weeks ago, they greeted us at the airport. Rosenborg found us a Slovak family, so that they could translate things for me. The woman is Slovak, who married a Norwegian, and they’ve lived here for 9 years and they have 3 sons. The husband is an economist and he is some sort of accountant or finance consultant for Rosenborg. He knows the Slovak language well. They’re good people.

What food did they serve you?

Spaghetti, Pizza and pancakes. Yesterday was the first time I came to their house. My girlfriend spends a lot of time with them, when I’m at practice or somewhere else. They take good care of us.

So I assume that their 3 sons are all fans of Rosenborg?

Yes, they are very big fans.

Did you give them your new jersey?

Not yet, but when we visit them next time, I’ll give them one.

After you signed the contract with Rosenborg, you had a press conference like a player of a big caliber. Did you like that feeling?

At the time, not really. When I was signing that contract, I really didn’t even realize that I was going to a big club and that there was great interesting in signing me. But it started to dawn on me before the first match in Sanefjord. The journalists were almost stalking me. They were asking about my feelings before the match, if I was stressed out with all this pressure, and how I can help Rosenborg. When the journalists come to practice personally, because of me, and there are cameras all over the place just following me around, then I begin to understand what a big deal this is. But I guess in Rosenborg, it’s normal.

They bought you to play like a playmaker. How are you doing in the team so far?

It was tough at first, but I’m getting used to it. We play differently then in Ruzomberok. We have 3 midfielders: Riseth is the defensive midfielder, and I have more offensive responsibility, along with Ciljan. There are two attacking midfielders: Solli and Braaten. They have the whole flanks for themselves. They’re not really natural forwards, however. Upfront, we have a typical striker in Iversen.

What do you think about the types of touches you had with the ball against Sandefjord? Did you have as many touches in that game, as you used to have in Ruzomberok?

It’s comparable, even though I was used to a lot of short one-two’s in one area at Ruzomberok. Here, it doesn’t work that way, in that I won’t play 3 short consecutive passes with a teammate in one place. When we exchange the ball, my teammates are already shifting the direction of the play. With my former teammate Igor Zofcak, we used to exchange the ball about 5 times back and forth, until we beat some defenders and prepared a dangerous attacking play. In Rosenborg, it’s not like that, so I have to get used to that. So, in essence, after I exchange a quick one-two with a teammate here, they don’t expect the ball back.

Did you have any goal-scoring chances against Sandefjord?

Yes, I could have scored 2 goals! I had some good chances, just like when I played for Ruzomberok.

Were you told to play the corner-kicks?

I was playing almost all the standard situations. I switch with the lefty Swede Dorsin. He played one corner and one free-kick; I had the others.

Were you afraid that you were going to be a little rusty in your debut, since you haven’t played much before it?

Yes, I was very concerned about it, because I haven’t played since August 23rd- from the home match against CSKA Moscow in the CL qualifying round. Before the game against Sandefjord, I had a bad feeling about it, but when the match began, I felt a lot better. It was like all the anxiety disappeared, and I forgot that I was a bit rusty. I felt good and I played good.

What else interests you about your new club?

They train differently here. It took me a little while to get used to the change. 2 days before the match, we don’t do much. In Slovakia, we practiced standard situations and tactics. And, a day after the match, in Ruzomberok we just kind of took it easy. But in Rosenborg, we had a practice after which I couldn’t move my arms. The fitness coach is helping me out, though. I worked with medicine-balls after the practice, and then she showed me how to lift weights and which types. But I’ll get used to it. Every club practices differently.

Well, Marek, when she saw your body figure…

Haha, no no, there is like 5 or 10 thinner players then me. She explained to me that she doesn’t want me to gain too much muscle. She only wants me to have good strength and balance to win tackles.

What are your first thoughts about the Norwegian league?

In Sandefjord, it was pretty tough. They warned me that the boys from Sandefjord like to play like the English. They fought, kicked and they were going at us like tanks.

And you, in Rosenborg, are not like that?

No, no. We try to play good football, which I personally like. That’s a big reason why I played well, in that everyone in our team doesn’t just hoof the ball up.

Is Rosenborg stronger than Ruzomberok?

Oh, that is a difficult comparison. I guess, from what I’ve seen in the match against Stabaek, I thought that Ruzomberok would be able to beat Rosenborg. But, if Rosenborg played like against Sandefjord, it would probably end up in a draw.

On Wednesday, a plane will arrive in Poprad (Slovak city) with FC Brugge players, before the first leg of the UEFA Cup in Ruzomberok. Are you thinking about your former teammates?

Yes, I think about them often. I call my buddies often. They were supposed to connect the internet today, so I’ll be a little closer to them.

What message would you give to your former teammates before Thursday’s match?

So that they would play their game. I believe in them, that they will beat Bruggy. It’s a very strong opponent, and in Ruzomberok, we always played our best against such strong teams. Even when I left, Ruzomberok’s team didn’t get that much weaker, because Igor Zofcak is a fantastic player, one of the best in the Slovak league. He will take over from me, and lead the team into the group stage of the UEFA Cup. I believe that very firmly.

Parking Fine

In front of his house, which Marek Sapara received from the club, he found a parking fine lodged on his windshield yesterday morning. It surprised Marek, that he has to pay even when his car is in front of his house. Yesterday was a free day, so he bought a parking card, so that, next time, he wouldn’t have to pay 300 norwegian crowns.

[dudinho]

Hello, so how did Sapara play yesterday if he was playing, of course? (because I don`t know nothing about match, I know only result)
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RUZOMBEROK

[2mas]

Sapi was our best player yesterday, and the newspapers gave him 6 of 10 points, while many of his teammates just got 3-4.

But it was not a good game for us: A dark and rainy night

Hopefully the rest of team can increase to his level against Odd on Monday.

[2mas]

"In short, he's a very good fotballer, with skills that fits us perfect. In a short time he has entered the team and strengthened it. He has got the little something that lets him create goal-producing chances," Rosenborg coach Knut Tørum praises.

Read more: Sapara to be midfield general

[2mas]

Someone willing to translate? Oh, ah, Sapara!

[Gerrit]

I know someone who speaks the local language, I'll ask for a quick translation.
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Rosenborg, forever pride of the North!

[slovakfan]

marek sapara was nominated for international match against bulgaria...

http://www.profutbal.sk/s...anok=42778

[2mas]

He didn't play the last Slovakia matches, but this time he will be on the pitch?

By the way, welcome to this forum! Do you mind translating some of the comments/quotes from Sapara in the two last articles? It is not necessary to translate all the writing of the journalists. Thanks in advance!

[slovakfan]

hi i don't have time to translate what exactly he said..
but he said that now he is concetrating on match in national jersey and that he is glad that schalke 04 have interest in him... and he is not considering it for hot news... or how is it in english

btw... we have new national coach... dusan galis (best coach that slovakia ever had... since 1993 ) resign because of big medial pressure.. after loses 0:3 and 1:4 against czech and germany....
and i am glad that fosterling of Kosice (my town ) is in national team again... he is wat better than hodur kozak or e.g. janocko(janocko was way better before knee injuries but... WAS )

ok... now i see that i had enough time to translate whole articlebut... now i have to go

[slovakfan]

wonderfull goal by sapara against bulgary. he begun beautyfull action that he ends with efective slalom and technical goal...
you have to see it !

[2mas]

Yep, thanks for the video clip.

Sapi is great. Hopefully he'll stay with us for many years.

[Bouli]

Hi guys, greets from Slovakia!

As you know, all the Ruza fans love Marek Sapara, and we are still very sad about his leaving to another Rosenborg

I´m writing about, how we supported him by his staying in Slovakia this week. First of all, he was present on weekend match between FC Nitra - MFK Ruzomberok, where he took a look on his former teammates. During his arrival to stadium (we´ve got that information) we began to sing your new support for Marek, I mean "Oh, ah, Sapara". It was quite funny, cause no one expected something like that. Marek has heard it, and therefore he came during the break into our sector to see us and to talk with our fans.

Yesterday we were in Zilina, and I have to tell you one thing - guess why Sapara has scored that beautifull second goal???
We were maybe 15 people by the corner flag, and we were waiting for Marek to take some corner kick. After some ten minutes the corner kick was given and we started "Oh, ah, Sapara", Marek took a look to us, smiled, and took the corner. Then the corner was repeated, and we also repeated the "Oh, ah, Sapara". In one minute Marek scored As I was announced, we should have this also videotaped, so we will have a proof, that Sapara scored because of us singing your chorus
Of course, I´m joking.
Marek Sapara forever!
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[bolgebah]

Great to have you with us, Bouli!

Would you mind telling us a bit more about Marek's performance last night? How is he adapting to a different system again, are you able to point out any differences in his play now, compared to before the move to Rosenborg?

EDIT: Also, I can assure you, Rosenborg fans are proud that you do us the honour of adopting our chant "Oh-Ah Sapara"

[arnt]

Welcome to our forum Bouli!

I'm very pleased to hear about the Sapara chant and how he scored against Bulgaria. A great story and a source of pride for us, as well as you.

Question: What does Ruza Do Toho mean?
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"Engang en ret forvoven Jyde
Med Hagel paa en Thrønder vilde skyde,
Men fik hans Pande ei i sønder,
Nei, der skal Kugle til en Thrønder!"

[Bouli]

It´s also good to see, that you are pleased about the chant for Sapi

[slovakfan]

[longns]

Why have Sapara been sitting on the bench in the whole Euro Qual?

[arnt]