Bohemian Praha’s kangaroo mascot.Credit:Facebook
An information memorandum on the proposed sale,seen by theHerald,talks of “a perfect nexus between respecting the club’s proud traditions,continuing to build the shared history between Bohemians and Australia and creating an opportunity for shrewd investment within football that can help Bohemians become a regular on the European stage.”
Bohemians have not qualified for European competition for the last 33 years. Their most famous player - and current chairman - is Antonin Panenka,the man credited with inventing the cheeky penalty technique of the same name.
But with two qualifying slots for the UEFA Champions League available in the Czech Republic each season - and only two historically strong clubs,city rivals Slavia Prague and Sparta Prague - the consortium believes it can use Australian football’s human and financial resources to turn Bohemians into a regular contender.
In turn,they also believe they can unlock the hidden value of Australian players on the transfer market,with the Czech Republic having sold close to $100 million in talent to bigger European clubs in recent years.
Bohemians also manage their own 5000-seat stadium,in the heart of Prague,and a training facility which could become a home away from home for the Socceroos,Matildas and other Australian national teams in one of the world’s most popular tourism destinations - an idea which sources say has been put to Football Australia.
The concept of an Australian-owned and controlled club in Europe is not new. A separate group of investors tried it with English club Charlton Athletic several years ago but could not get their takeover across the line,while Popovic’s recent sacking at Greek second-division club Xanthi FC,which was bought last year by Sydney businessman Bill Papas,does not bode well for their plans to become a Socceroos ‘nursery’.
The Bohemians Praha team on tour in Australia in 1927.
What sets Bohemians apart is an existing historical connection to Australia,which remains an intrinsic part of the club’s identity. Early last year,as the bushfires made worldwide headlines,Bohemians responded by encouraging fans to donate to a wildlife rescue fund.
Seven years ago,a group of Bohemians fans flew down under to retrace the famous steps of the team that accepted the overtures of Australian football officials,who wanted a team from Europe to tour the country to help spread the gospel of the sport.
Bohemians’ wallaby logo.Credit:Getty
The club was known at the time as AFK Vrsovice but changed its name to Bohemians,a reference to the Bohemia region of the Czech Republic,to make it easier for Australians to pronounce - although the media generally referred to them as the “Czechoslovakian team” as it travelled through the country,stopping off in all the major capital cities and even Wagga Wagga,Woonona and Cessnock for games against local teams.
The two wallabies - which inspired the team’s nicknameKlokani,the Czech term for kangaroos - were later donated to the Prague Zoo. One is apparently taxidermied and on display at the team’s stadium,and legend has it their descendants still live at the zoo to this day.