Czech mate

A goalless draw between the Czech Republic and Peru in a friendly wouldn’t usually attract too much attention, but the Kirin Cup game in Nagano, Japan, last year marks a significant date in Czech football history: the first time the national side had been represented by a black player — Theodor Gebre Selassie.

The Slovan Liberec right-back is clearly used to discussing the issue. “For me, this topic is not interesting at all,” he said. “On the other hand, I could understand why people were talking about it. But maybe I am used to the colour of my skin. As I once said, there is a black man at the highest position in the most powerful country in the world so I do not think me playing for the Czech national team should be such a topic.”

For some right-wing fans, though, it is a major issue. When Emmanuel Olisadebe became the first black player to play for Poland, some of the opposition was understandable given he was a Nigerian who had taken a passport of convenience after playing in Poland for three years and so completing the residency requirement. With Gebre Selassie though, the protests are rooted purely in racism. “I feel sorry about that,” he said. “I can’t see what they’re talking about. I was born in the Czech Republic and have been living here ever since. Last time I was in Ethiopia was when I was two years old. I don’t speak Amharic, I feel Czech, so what is the fuss about? If I came here aged 15, I could maybe understand their reasons, but still I would have a choice.

“Ethiopia is the country my father [a doctor] comes from. I don’t want to say I don’t feel anything about the country, but I am Czech. On the other hand, my father’s sister and his brother still live there and I would like to go there sometime and meet them.”

The other question Gebre Selassie is clearly used to answering is about his name and its similarity to that of the double Olympic champion Haile Gebrselassie.

“I never had any problem running long distances,” he said. “I would rather not, though; I always preferred sprints. But when we ran a mile at school, in the end I thought I could do it once more while the others were exhausted. Maybe it’s in the genes.”