Hear from Raptors Head Coach, Luis Pereira.
Reflecting on the last three games, what do you think has been the key to maintaining your unbeaten streak?
I was away for some months due to different commitments, so I might not be the best person to answer this. However, from my outside perspective, it seems that the continuity of the good work the coaches had been doing before the winter break played a significant role. They introduced a new way of playing that has clearly benefited the team. Additionally, the fact that the last three matches were against the most accessible teams in the league also helped us maintain our unbeaten streak.
The team is currently 7th in the league, just 4 points off the promotion group. How do you plan to close that gap in the second half of the season?
Our plan is to keep working hard and encourage the players to give their best. I believe we have a talented squad, and we are very close to reaching the promotion group. The arrival of new, talented players will certainly help us achieve our goal, and we are doing our best to retain our players with the goal of staying out of the relegation zone. Coach Pauleta has been tirelessly working on everything from tactical preparations to implementing new training methods and conducting thorough analyses. His efforts have been invaluable in improving the team's performance. As well as the collaboration between me and Pauleta is still recent we are still working on what is the best for us to work together, so im sure soon we will be able to give the players our best and that will influence positively as well.
Are there any young or emerging players in the squad who you believe will play a key role in the second half of the season?
Yes, we have some promising young players. Eliska Remesova, at just 16 years old, has been surprising us all with her work rate and determination. She continues to develop and improve week by week. Sasa Kolowrat, at 18, has shown remarkable maturity and intelligence on the field. She can step up whenever needed and play in several positions. I see both of them becoming crucial players for the team, and it's a positive sign that such young talents are emerging.
What has been the biggest challenge this season, and how have you and the team overcome it?
Our biggest challenge has been maintaining consistency in player attendance. Many of our players have other commitments, such as jobs or studies, and some are here temporarily for school or on Erasmus programs. This makes it difficult for them to commit fully. However, I can't complain, as we now have training sessions with over 20 players, and everyone seems excited and ready for the challenge. We've managed to keep the team motivated and focused despite these obstacles. Additionally, being in the second league, bigger clubs from the first league often try to poach our players. While we can't blame the players for wanting to play in the first league with more successful clubs, we are doing our best to provide an environment that encourages them to stay with us and help the club move forward.
What steps are being taken to develop women’s football in Prague and attract more talent to the club?
In Prague, new women's clubs are being created every year, which is a positive development. It means that when players reach the age of 18 and don't find space in the two big clubs (Slavia and Sparta), they have more options. For our academy, we are actively looking for more girls to join our ranks. We've even offered free academy memberships to attract more girls to football and help them develop in the sport they love. Additionally, we have a collaboration with Bohemians 1905, focused on our women's team. We are excited about the potential of this partnership to help us develop further, find talent faster, and become a club of choice for talented players in Prague.
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