Honvéd hopeful of ending title wait

Budapest Honvéd FC's dreams of capturing the 1. Liga title for the first time in 15 years are very much alive at the midway point in the Hungarian championship.

Halfway there
Honvéd last triumphed in 1992/93 when they finished one point clear of Vác FC, under their former guise of Kispest Honvéd FC. At the halfway stage this time around, Attila Supka's side are second, four points behind city rivals MTK Budapest. That gap could have been smaller but for a disappointing set of results in November. Having started the month with victory at Vasas SC, Honvéd then drew at home to Nyíregyházi FC before suffering a surprise 4-3 defeat at FC Tatabánya, giving the bottom club their first seasonal win at the 15th attempt.

Prize coach
Nonetheless, with Supka at the helm, Honvéd have a coach with a history of success. The 45-year-old led Debreceni VSC to two titles in three years before guiding his current employers to Hungarian Cup glory at the expense of his old team last season. To aid their quest for further honours, Honvéd have also been busy in the transfer market, agreeing a deal to sign defender Ákos Takács from Danish side Vejle BK.

Twin goals
"Of course, I want to get back into the Hungary team but the first thing on my mind is winning the title with Honvéd," said Takács, who had moved to Denmark from Ferenvárosi TC. The arrival of the 25-year-old adds to the captures of striker Róbert Zsolnai from Debrecen and of another defender, Tatabánya's Tamás Filó, as Honvéd pursue their ambition of a 14th championship.