The new majority owner of football Zbrojovka has been talked regarding for some time. The criticized and unsuccessful owner Václav Bartoněk negotiated a change of owner and structure. But the entry of a prominent figure from the hockey environment is a big surprise.
“We have long-standing ties with Václav Bartoňek. Our common goal is for both traditional clubs to be in symbiosis. Vašek helped Komet in the past, and it is logical that I now help Zbrojovce. It is a great honor for me to be able to stand at the head of a traditional club that has represented the city of Brno and the whole of South Moravia for 111 years,” said Zábranský on the Komety website. He gradually built an extra-league colossus from an overlooked and indebted brand, which won two domestic titles under his rule.
According to Václav Bartoňek, the current majority owner of Zbrojovka, this is the best solution. “Libor Zábranský made hockey Kometa a stable and successful club. In the long term, he demonstrates how much he cares regarding Brno sports. That’s why I can hand over Zbrojovka to him with a clear conscience and confidence. I hope that the fans, who are an integral part of the club, will also appreciate it,” says Bartoněk, whose Brno football fans have long been calling for the sale of the majority stake through protest actions.
Zábranský claims that it is extremely important to him that Zbrojovka works as well as possible in all directions. “As Brňák, I wish that the hockey and football clubs are strong and healthy. Now there is an opportunity to directly influence it. I decided to go for it. Fully. As always,” he is clear.
He would like to return football Zbrojovka to the limelight with gradual steps. “No one can expect miracles immediately. It will be primarily regarding hard and systematic work. During the time that I have been in the sports, business and political environment, I have gained enough experience to manage this goal with my team. I am taking over decision-making powers and want to fulfill the potential that lies dormant in Zbrojovka. At the same time, I want to emphasize that absolutely nothing has changed in my relationship with Kometa,” assured Zábranský, who is a Brno representative.
He is also ready for criticism. “It is clear to me that what applies in hockey may not apply in football. Brno’s patriotism decided for me to join Zbrojovka. It is regarding a relationship with the city in which I was born and to which I want to give back as much as possible. Hockey and football in Brno must support each other and make as many fans happy as possible. That’s the engine that drives me forward,” he declared.
Zábranský does not hide the idea of building a joint training center. “This might significantly help young people in particular. However, I don’t want to get ahead of myself, we will go step by step,” he added.
After last year’s relegation from the top league, the footballers of Zbrojovka made no secret of their ambitions to return to the elite following a year. After a not very successful autumn, they entered the spring part of the second league even worse. They scored only two points from the opening six rounds. After four defeats in a row, coach Tomáš Polách left the team, and he was replaced by the current coach of division B, Lukáš Kříž. With him on the bench, Brno defeated Jihlava 1:0 and drew 1:1 in the South Moravian derby in Drnovice with second-placed Vyškov.
Currently, Zbrojovka is in ninth place in the second league table. Six rounds before the end of the competition, they lose eight points to third place. On Saturday, the people of Brno will host the twelfth Opava from 6 p.m.
