Captain of the golden ball hockey National Team from Plzeň: We've been waiting a long time for the moment to overthrow Canada from the throne

First and foremost, they should believe in themselves - those who believe, succeed. Secondly, they should be a team.

Mr. Novák, you were a long-standing pillar of the Czech senior national team, and as captain, you led them to gold in 2009. How do you remember that? Can you describe the feeling when you conquer the world championship?

We had been waiting for a long time to overthrow Canada from the throne. We knew we had a strong team both on the field and on the bench. The coaches put a lot of thought into assembling the team and, in addition to tactical preparation, they emphasized team bonding. That's why we put pressure on ourselves and knew that we had what it takes to win the tournament. And with the tournament being held at home, there was naturally pressure from the surroundings as well. We went through a long journey with the core of that team, and therefore, the success was a huge vindication that we achieved it, that we achieved it together, and received the desired reward for years of hard work. For most of us, the home environment was associated with the dream fulfilled by winning the title. It was the goal for which we had been doing this sport since we were little. So, in one word - euphoria.

I like Liberec, it's a beautiful city.

The World Junior Championship is approaching in Liberec, where Czech hopes will compete for various medals. What advice would you give them as an experienced player who represented the country? What will matter?

First and foremost, they should believe in themselves - those who believe, succeed. Secondly, they should be a team. It's a tournament of ten days, and if one player doesn't automatically work for the other and correct the mistakes of others, success won't come. Each player should take responsibility for themselves. All the representatives are selected because they have the quality, and they must show it. Don't wait for someone else to decide. Confidence and self-assurance should radiate from every sprint, every shot, and every block. It's not an achievement to get a chance; scoring a goal is the achievement. Humility, how a representative should behave, and the path to success lies in hard work, movement, and effort. Not in how someone looks, what they wear, or how they appear in a photo. And finally, accepting their role - everyone plays a leading role in their teams, and here, every player must put their ego aside. If they want to claim the gold medal, they must work for the team in the position assigned to them by the coach.

Will you be following the Czech World Junior Championship? Do you think Liberec is a good place for the World Championship?

I like Liberec, it's a beautiful city, easily accessible from all over the country, and it has a great sports tradition, so the choice is definitely a good one, and I will definitely be watching the results.

Could you please say a few words as an invitation to the fans of Czech ball hockey?

I have recently watched several playoff matches of the Extraliga, and I must say that I enjoyed it a lot. The game is played very athletically, fast, and attractive, which confirms the trend. I believe that the young players will only enhance this.