Extra week break for Ekstraklasa
Monday, March 3, 2003
Article summary
The return of Polish football from its winter break has been delayed due to bad weather.
Article body
The Polish Football Federation (PZPN) have delayed the return of the Ekstraklasa from its winter break due to bad weather.
Icy weather
A full calendar of top-flight games was due to be played in Poland this weekend but with many pitches remaining frozen because of a cold winter in the country, the PZPN has been forced to delay the restart after consultation with clubs, the Polish league (PLP), national team coach Pawel Janas and Canal Plus, who televise Ekstraklasa games.
Wisla challenge
With the home leg of Wisla Kraków's UEFA Cup fourth-round game against S.S. Lazio having been cancelled due to a frozen pitch last Thursday, the state of Poland's playing surfaces has been a major issue this week. Having drawn 3-3 in Rome in the first leg, Wisla are now due to play Lazio on Wednesday at 18:30CET.
Strenuous efforts
The current Ekstraklasa leaders are the only club who stand a chance of playing at the weekend, after making strenuous efforts to fully defrost the pitch at the SSA Wisla Kraków stadium for Wednesday's game. If Henryk Kasperczak's side are successful against Lazio, they will try to honour their fixture against Garbarnia Szczakowianka Jaworzno on Saturday.
Rescheduled games
If Wisla manage to win against Lazio or earn a draw while conceding less than three goals, they will be in action in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals against Besiktas JK, with the first leg being played at home on Thursday 13 March. The remaining league fixtures for the coming weekend have been rescheduled for Tuesday 18 March and the following day.
