Although Ruch Chorzow currently occupy second spot in the Ekstraklasa, they are not really regarded as a member of the exclusive ‘Big’ group, yet. The Wisla Krakow v Legia Warszawa clash, or first against third, was the game of round 13, but because of the stadium-rebuilding programme which is affecting all ‘Big 3’ clubs, this was not reflected by the 3,500 gate. The Krakowianie are having to play their home matches in Sosnowiec, 40 miles away. Miroslav Radovic scored the 34th minute winner for Legia just two minutes after coming on for Sebastian Szalachowski.
A similar situation will occur this weekend when the other ‘Big 3’ club Lech Poznan entertain Ruch Chorzow in Wronki, not Poznan, for exactly the same reason.
Even though Legia Warszawa are still using Lazienki during their stadium rebuilding, most of it is closed to the public and so not many Warszawianie will be able to witness their derby clash against Polonia, in the flesh. Pity that, because the black shirts will probably be playing under a new coach – and one with quite a pedigree as a footballer. Jose Maria Bakero is expected to be in charge by the time the game kicks off As a player his record is very impressive – he won two Spanish titles with Real Sociedad and then topped that with four Spanish titles and the European crown when he helped Barcelona win the 1992 European Champions Cup. He also played 29 times for Spain. The present Ekstraklasa basement-dwellers are obviously very desperate not to go down because President Wojciechowski is going to have to dig deep down into his pockets to land someone like Bakero.
There will be two derbies taking place this weekend as Wisla take on Cracovia, but again, this will be in Sosnowiec.
Before he’s even taken charge of his first game, national coach Franciszek Smuda is talking like the no-nonsense man he is reputed to be. He has laid into the Cypriot club APOEL for refusing to release Kamil Kosowski, while he’s also blasted his predecessor Leo Beenhakker. In an interview with Przeglad Sportowy, Smuda accuses the Dutchman of having preferred to watch league matches in his native Holland, rather than ones where Poles were playing in.
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