SK Slavia Prague coach Tomáš Procházka says that while the Czech club has some inside knowledge on EHL FINAL12 opponents Surbiton, it will still be a big challenge when they meet in Den Bosch at Easter.
The two clubs were in Hamburg at the EuroHockey Club Trophy where the English side emerged victorious while the Czechs ended in sixth spot.
For Slavia, the expansion of EHL Women to 12 teams has opened the opportunity for the club to make its debut in this level of competition.
Indeed, it is their first appearance in the highest level on the continent since the old Club Cup in 2002 in Terrassa when they finished in seventh place.
With that in mind, the club always knew it would be a tough challenge but one they are embracing following the announcement of the draw.
“Even before yesterday’s EHL team draw, it was clear to us that there was no easy opponent for us,” said Procházka who previously played in the EHL with Mannheimer HC in 2010, 2011 and 2017.
“Whether it was Mannheim from Germany, SCHC from the Netherlands, Club de Campo, Braxgata or Surbiton, who was drawn for us, they are all great teams with professional players who often form the cornerstones of national teams.
“A certain advantage for us is that we were able to see Surbiton at the Club Trophy in Hamburg last year, so we have at least basic information about them. But now we will have to find out how their team has changed.
“The tournament is a huge challenge for us. After all, it is a tournament of the best clubs in Europe and a team from Czechia will play in it for the first time in history.
“We are among the outsiders of the tournament but the KO system is helping us and we will try to surprise, even if it will be extremely difficult.”
His side are currently second in the Czech women’s Extraliga at the winter break with six wins from eight games so far. Their more immediate focus, however, is on the indoor boards.
“We started preparing in the autumn and are continuing now, where we are mainly focusing on physical preparation, which will be one of the decisive factors.
“A traditional complication for us is indoor hockey because, in addition to the league, we also want to succeed in the indoor EuroHockey Club Cup in Lithuania [in February] and we have to prepare well.”
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