Viola... In English!

Meet Papa Waigo

Papa Waigo N'Diayè

Papa Waigo was born in the city Saint-Louis, Senegal (pop. 171,000) January 20, 1984. 

He is considered to be very gifted technically and blessed with great speed that allows him to play on either wing.

In the 2006-2007 season Papa Waigo scored 15 goals with Cesena making him the highest scoring non-Italian in Serie B that season.

Position - Attacker
Height - 6' (1.85m)
Weight - 154 lbs (70kg)
Foot - Left
Ownership - Co-owned with FC Genoa
Contract Expiry - 2012
Acquired - Jan/18/2008 from FC Genoa in a co-ownership switch for the co-ownership of Anthony Vanden Borre.

Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2002-2005 2005-2007 2007-	Verona Cesena Genoa	65 (11) 73 (20) 7 (0)

 

Note -- It is my goal to make a similar fact sheet on every Fiorentina first team player, eventually.  If you click on 'Viola First Team' in the right column and then click on Papa Waigo's name it will link to this article.  This information was compiled through the use of firenzeviola.it, calciatori.com and wikipedia.

Hable Interview: Translated from Czech

Thanks again to Pavel who provides another nice interview on our other Czech starlet....  Midfield playmaker, Jan Hable.


Let's start with your summer transfer. When did Fiorentina contact you for the first time?
To be honest I don't know. At first they contacted my club after that match in Barcelona. (in Barcelona Hable led a European youth selection as their captain and gave a  very good performance.)

How long did it take you to decide to transfer?  And why was your former club - Hradec Kralove - willing to let their huge talent go?
I just quickly discussed it with my parents and decided to go. The clubs agreed after short negotiations, and it was too important of an offer for my former club to refuse it.

Who did you negotiate with?
I didn't do anything at all.  My agent, Zika, led the negotiations.  Every time there was something new he would call me.

And were there also other clubs interested in signing you?  Or was Fiorentina the one and only interested club?
To be honest I don't know, there were probably other clubs interested, however the only serious contender was Fiorentina. My agent did everything he could to protect me from the pressure of transfer rumors.

Are you content in your club now?
I still have to settle in, learn the language, etc...  Everything is fantastic, however. Much better than I had hoped and imagined!

Can you describe it better?
I can't. I don't know how to explain it exactly. Trainings are much different here, much harder and longer than I was used to.

Do you train with the first team or the Primavera?
I started the pre-season with the first team, but since the Primavera league season began I have been training with them.

What is coach Prandelli like?
He's a very interesting person, to be sure. It's clear that every one of his decisions is wise and acknowledged. And the players adore him.

How would you compare Hradec (Czech 2nd division) matches, with the Primavera ones?
It's hard to compare.  In the Primavera everyone is the same age as me, it's clear that everyone is still improving and needs to learn, but everyone lacks experience and maturity.

And how is the quality of Primavera league? Can you compare it to Czech football?
As I said, it's hard to compare.  It's probably similar in level to our 3rd division, however.

Where is the difference between Czech and Italian football?
Probably tactically. Matches are always very tactically hard, and we also spend huge amounts of time in tactical trainings.

And what about the other Czechs, Ujfalusi and Mazuch? Do you spend time together?
Yes, we go out often, for dinner and such. And I live with Ondrej Mazuch.

And what about the girls?  What are they like there?
Very interesting.  They are a bit darker skinned, and very nice.  However, nowhere else are they as beautiful as the girls at home!

Are you still learning Italian? Can you understand it?
I always attend lessons, together with Mazuch.  We have improved a lot, but it takes a lot of time and hard work.

And your understanding of Italian?
We have basic knowledge.  It's hard, however, to understand the coaches.  During trainings it's a problem.

What is your goal for this season? Enter the first team?
Above all to settle in here. Settle, and learn the language. Without that it's impossible to go on here.  When I manage to do that, I can aim higher.

And other goals for the future?
I don't like to reveal my goals, however the Primavera is an important competition, so I hope to do well there.  There is also the European U-19 Championship.

My take -- Good work again, Pavel.  He needs to get physically stronger before Prandelli gives him a chance.  How popular would you say Fiorentina is in the Czech Republic?

Lupoli To Be Loaned Out?

Fiorentina: Lupoli's agent at Viola HQ

Andrea D'Amico, agent for Arturo Lupoli, visited Fiorentina's headquarters Monday morning.  It is likely that D'Amico and the Viola society are working on a deal that would send the player out on loan in January to a club that would better allow him to showcase his abilities. 

My take -- Let's hope so.  He is a talent and could use the playing time.

Mazuch Interview (translated from Czech)

Thank you Pavel!

ViolaIE.com reader Pavel has been good enough to allow me to use an interview with Ondrej Mazuch that he has translated into English.  Pavel is a Czech national who has a Czech Viola fansite and a Czech Ujfalusi fansite.  Both can be found on my Links page.  Mazuch was in the Czech Republic with the Czech National U-21 team but had some time to spare as he was suspended for their match with Armenia .

I have tweaked it a bit as my English is better than Pavel's. ;)

What did you do on this day off?
Nothing at all, I just visited a few mates, did some shopping and tomorrow I must go back. (To Firenze)

Have you met any of your ex-teammates from Brno?
Yes, i just met with the goalkeeper Lejsal, we went to sit awhile for a cup of coffee.

Do you follow the results of your former club?
Yes i do, they just lost against Mlada Boleslav, before that they won, so it's a bit up and down.  They are inconsistent but I hope it'll get better soon.

And now how about you, your new city, since summer you are living in Italy, do you like it?
Surely i can't complain. A lot depends on the language, once I learn everything all will be much much better and easier, but already I can say that living in Italy is fantastic.

And how is your Italian? Could you order dinner at a restaurant?
Yes, surely I could order something to eat. But I can't understand that well yet, when Italians speak, they are terribly quick, and it's hard to understand what they say.

And how is Firenze?  Do you have your own house there?
I have a small apartment with Jan Hable, we are the two young Czechs here, so we live together and help each other.

What is your squad status at Fiorentina? You have not yet played for the senior team.
For now I'm training daily with the senior squad, but for matches I play with the Primavera.  It's a kind of a B team, but it's for young players.  Every team in Serie A and B has one.

Do you feel you have learned anything new there, in soccer terms?
I'm growing, above all, physically there.  We train a lot here, and we train very hard. We run very very much.  I really feel it.

You have gotten to meet huge football stars. Would, for example, Christian Vieri know who is Ondrej Mazuch?
Now for sure yes, but before definitely not. And by the way, in the dressing room I sit right next to him.

How does it feel to share the team with all these stars?  You used to play with unknown (internationally-speaking) players in our division, now there are all of these great players.  Is it different?
At first it was, all of these stars; Vieri, Mutu and others. But now it's normal for me.  They are my teammates, and they consider me the same.  And the older and more experienced ones are the best and finest of the bunch.

For now, you are following the matches from the stands only, but how is it, the match?
It's unbelievable here. Almost every match is attended by 40 thousand people, the atmosphere is fantastic, it's impossible to compare with Czech matches.  Here the match day is a feast for the whole city!

Not too long time ago, your Fiorentina faced Juventus. Have you met Pavel Nedved?
Yes, and also Grygera. Every time we face a team with a Czech player, we talk a bit.

And when will you face them also on the pitch?
Hard to say.  Our coach Prandelli cares a lot about communication, so unless one can speak Italian very well, there is no chance to see any playing time.

So how do you see the future, do you  think you could play a bit in the second half of the season?
It's hard to say.  As I said, it depends a lot on the language. But I have a feeling that I won't play senior matches this season.

How would you compare the Primavera league to the Czech 1st Division?
It's different.  The guys there are 18, 19 years old.  It's not bad, but it's slow and not mature football.

So surely you are happy to play a bit for Czech U21 side?
Yes, the football there is much better, much more matured, and more tactical. As I said, the Primavera league is "baby" football.

How do you spend your free time in Italy?
We often train in the morning, so we have free afternoons. We go around for shopping, or with Tomas Ujfalusi for dinner, we also have Playstation, so we play that.

You care a lot about fashion, so you must like Italy then?
Yes, it's fantastic here.  I like to buy new clothes.  But I'm not spending huge money for it, definitely not.

And your teammates, are they crazy for fashion?
Often you can see them walking around in some easy clothes, but then, if we go for a team dinner, they are completely different.  Like models.

Can we ask you for a few closing words about Italy?
I must say that living in Italy is fantastic, and even more in Firenze which is a truly wonderful city!  I will never regret I went there, even if I failed to make it into the first team.

My take -- I must say that that is the best player interview yet on ViolaIE.com.  Thank you again, Pavel, very much.  I really got a sense of who the kid is.  How awesome that must be for him to practice with Ujfalusi.  Very cool.  That was the first time I ever heard that about Prandelli and the language thing.  Some things are making a bit more sense now.

Montolivo Through 2012

Montolivo renews; Viola through 2012

Fiorentina has announced that the agreement prolonging Riccardo Montolivo's contract through the 2011/2012 season was officially signed late Thursday morning.  The midfielder, who played in his full national debut a day earlier, had this to say...

"This has always been my intention and it's too bad I could not renew it through the 2013 season.  I am truly happy for this agreement with the society and the squad.  I feel at home in Firenze and I want to do well for the fans.  Even on the streets I am never far from a smile or a word of encouragement.  We are growing as a team and aiming for important things."

My take -- I don't know how we do it, sometimes...  Anyway, if someone finds out the details of the contract point me in that direction, please.

 

Mazuch Turning Heads

Mazuch a youngster to watch.  He scored for his national side.

One player to watch for the future?  There are many young talents wearing the Viola shirt but one of the most important could end up being central defender Ondrej Mazuch.  In the two matches he has played with the Fiorentina Primavera it is obvious that he is a grade above the rest of the squad.  Some of that could be because he is used to playing against bigger players and competing in high level international tournaments, like the U-20 World Cup.

Mazuch is blessed with great physical attributes that make him seemingly unbeatable for opposing attackers, these same attributes also make him dangerous on the attacking end. It is not surprising that he was able to score in the Czech U-21 side's most recent match against Liechtenstein.  For all of these reasons we believe that Prandelli could give him a chance with the first team.

Ufo To Stay?

De Giorgis: "95% chance Ufo will stay because of Prandelli."

Giorgio De Giorgis, Tomas Ujfalusi's agent, spoke of his client's future and the optimism that Ufo will prolong his contract. 

"There is a 95% chance that Tomas will stay in Firenze, the player wants Firenze and Firenze wants him.  It is true that there were many requests for him this past summer.  Requests came in from Italian, English and Spanish clubs, Sevilla in particular but for Ufo Firenze is a life choice."

"He would never go to Juventus, for example, due to the respect he has for the Viola fanbase."

The agent was asked if Ujfalusi had a poor relationship with Corvino.  "No.  They have a good rapport.   There is only the shortfall in our wage requests but I am sure that this can be resolved.  I would say that Tomas wanted to leave Fiorentina the year that Prandelli arrived but the coach saw that Ujfalusi could become one of the greatest fullbacks in Europe and so he remained.  The contract renewal is close, indeed very close."

My take -- So, what does Pavel (our Ujfalusi expert) think?  What are you hearing over there?  Honestly, I can hardly imagine him staying.  He does only make €800k per season so there is some room for improvement there.

Viola Youth Movement

Growing the youngsters: From Kuzma to Hable, and all the rest

The seedlings are growing.  With the requisite calm.  Without the pressure of being thrown to the wolves in situations where the team is reliant upon them.  With sound judgment and patience.  The clutch of young men who arrived in Firenze last season are steadily working to make space for themselves.  Osvaldo, Vanden Borre, Kuzmanovic, Lupoli, Hable, Mazuch and so on.  All are preparing to play an important role, sooner or later, in Fiorentina's future.

Kuzmanovic

He is the symbol of the Viola youth project.  The 20-year-old is becoming a regular in the Viola tactical schemes due to his strength and character and is evolving into one of the most important components of Fiorentina's plan.  Last season he was used only sparingly, similar to how Montolivo was used two seasons ago.  Now he sometimes starts, even in important matches.  Despite some errors that are expected due to his youth, he has shown great ability and the kind of potential to make the home fans hopeful.

Osvaldo

The big surprise.  Made his debut with a bang at Livorno, scoring two fine goals.  Since then some muscular problems have kept him from playing in the following matches.  Prandelli is known to rate the Argentine attacker very highly and the fact that he chose to start him in an important away derby (an out of character move for Prandelli) is clear evidence of that.  The youngster smashed his way into the side with the magical number 9 on his back.

Vanden Borre

Just a taste in one match, in a surprising role, against none other than Juventus.  At this time it is too early to judge him, obviously.  He still must learn to defend, as Prandelli has admitted, but the Belgian wingback is immensely talented and there are many in Firenze ready to bet on young Anthony having a very bright future.

Lupoli

The Italian U-21 attacker's situation is a delicate one.   He has been unable to find space in the first team with so many players ahead of him in the pecking order.  He seems a bit frustrated that he has been unable to show off his great potential but he also seems determined to struggle through and make his mark.

Mazuch

Corvino has said it in clear terms,  "he will be the next one to break through."   He has an imposing physique for an 18-year-old.  His positioning is spot on and the staff of the Viola youth sector continues to heap praise on him.  Could it be that, in Mazuch, Fiorentina has already landed their highly-sought-after central defender?

Hable

He is slight of frame but possesses great tactical instincts.  Still, he has a long way to go to prepare his body for the physical rigors of the game.  The simple fact that Fiorentina battled with two great clubs like Inter and Celtic to get him shows that the player has all the makings of becoming a great champion.  He has plenty of time to grow and improve and with a teacher like Prandelli, so adept at raising the youth players, he can rest easy.

Donadel On Juve

Donadel: If Juve are title contenders then so are we.

Marco Donadel spoke of the draw against Juventus.  "Juventus has a fine team, with clear ideas.   Their attackers played deep and humbly helped out further down the field."

"We gave all we had but we were a bit tired and they closed us down and defended from the first minute forcing us to try too many long balls.  We suffered a lot but did not lose our heads.  We were organized Sunday as well as we were on Thursday.  Even though we attack a lot we also recover well and that is an indication that we are truly evolving into a great team."

"The Azzurri? I'm not thinking about that right now.  I'm only thinking about spending the international break resting and spending time with my daughter.  The offsides goal?  It's embarrassing, as were the two penalty kicks not given.  The Scudetto?  Beh...  If Juventus are Scudetto contenders then so are we."

My take -- Finally a guy who shoots from the hip!

Jorgensen Gaining Fitness

Fiorentina: Jorgensen resumes training with his teammates

Monday's training session at Campini, ahead of Thursday's match against against Groningen, saw the return of Martin Jorgensen among the squad.  It is hard to imagine that the Dane could be ready to play again before the end of October but his return to team training bodes well for his eventual re-entry.

My take -- I like the guy.  I think he loves the club.  The tifosi love him.  He is a positive influence on the squad.  He's past it, though.  I can't see him factoring in much ever again even though Prandelli obviously considers him to be one of "his guys" and the Mister obviously loves having some veterans around.