Sports News

"Rudi" Skacel sets new goal-scoring record in Scottish league

Rudolf Skacel Rudolf Skacel has set a new Scottish Premier League record, with a goal a game in Hearts' first seven matches this season. The 26-year-old has naturally become the idol of the club's fans, who sense their team - who have not dropped a point this season - could break the Rangers-Celtic stranglehold on the Scottish title. "Rudi" Skacel, as the Scots call him, says the club's success means more than any personal achievements.

"For us it's more important that we are leading the league. Maybe we'll set a record for the number of games won - that's would mean more for the whole team. As for my own record, it's nice but it's not important."

Rudolf Skacel is actually on loan from France's Marseilles, and says it is not clear where he will be playing next season.

No defeats for Czech clubs in UEFA Cup first round first leg

Skacel's former Czech club Slavia Prague beat Cork City 2:0 at home in the first leg of the UEFA Cup first round last Thursday. Teplice drew 1:1 with Espanyol, while Banik Ostrava beat Heerenveen of Holland 2:0 in the same competition.

Liberec drop first points but still head Czech league

In the Czech league, leaders Liberec remain unbeaten after six rounds. They dropped points for the first time on Sunday, when they drew 1:1 at Ostrava after an own-goal by captain Tomas Janu.

Sparta boss Hrebik under pressure after another poor result...

Sparta Prague - Slovacko, photo: CTK Champions Sparta Prague, meanwhile, were humiliated in a 2:0 defeat at the hands of Slovacko; Sparta have now failed to take a single point away from home since their first game of the season. Manager Jaroslav Hrebik, who has never been accepted by hardcore fans, is under a lot of pressure, though club boss Daniel Kretinsky says he will stand by his man.

...while former coach Straka considers standing for election

Bizarrely, Hrebik's predecessor as Sparta coach, the flamboyant Frantisek Straka, could be about to go into politics; he's considering an offer to stand for the Christian Democrats in the next elections.

Sebrle ends season with first place in decathlon Grand Prix

Roman Sebrle Athletics now and Roman Sebrle's season has ended with first place in the decathlon Grand Prix, after he came first at a meeting in Talence, France at the weekend. He finished ahead of his rival Brian Clay, who beat Sebrle to gold at this year's World Championships. Fellow Czech Tomas Dvorak finished eighth in Talence, and eighth overall in the Grand Prix.

Zelezny to compete in javelin again next season - his twentieth

Jan Zelezny The great Jan Zelezny has indicated he will continue to compete in the javelin next year, in what will be his 20th season in senior athletics. World record holder Zelezny, who is now 39, has won three Olympic and three World Championship gold medals in an unparalleled career in the javelin.