Strasbourg sign second Czech
Thursday, July 18, 2002
Article summary
French club RC Strasbourg have signed David Kobylík from SK Sigma Olomouc on a year's loan.
Article body
French club RC Strasbourg have signed midfield player David Kobylík, a member of the Czech Republic's UEFA European Under-21 Championship-winning team.
Czech exodus
Kobylík joins Strasbourg, coached by his compatriot Ivan Hašek, on a year's loan from SK Sigma Olomouc, where he will link up with fellow victorious Czech U21 squad member Vaclav Drobny, and face new Stade Rennais FC goalkeeper Petr Cech, who also starred in the Swiss-hosted finals. Strasbourg return to the top flight this season after finishing runners-up in the 2001/02 second division.
Foreign signings
There were doubts over the move due to Kobylík's recent achilles injury, but the move has now gone through, leaving UEFA Cup contenders Sigma more reliant on foreign signings like Lithuanian midfield player Vadimas Petrenko, loaned from FBK Kaunas, and Bulgarian goalkeeper Todor Kjucukov from CSKA Sofia. Nigerian brothers Pascal and Martin Ekwuemes are also likely to join with the Czech 1. Liga having increased its overseas team-member quota to four from three players.
