Rosenborg's new midfielder
By Håvard Lindheim, 28 August 2006, 09:46
Marek Sapara signed on Friday a contract ending after the 2010 season. The €1.25 million man is the most expencive foreign player ever in Norwegian football.
Date of birth: 31/07/1982
Place of birth: Kosice, Slovakia Height/weight: 176 cm/67 kg
Position: midfield
Former clubs: VSS Kosice, Krasna nad Hornadom, 1.FC Kosice, Ruzomberok
Caps/goals: 2 / 0
"All players want to take steps in their careers. After many years in Ruzomberok, I felt the time was right to change club. Still, it is an unreal feeling to be sold to such a big club like Rosenborg, with their traditions," Sapara smiled at the press conference at Lerkendal.
RBK has spent a year to check out the 24-year old. Last October, scout Stig Torbjørnsen and junior coach Kåre Ingebrigtsen were in Slovakia and saw the midfielder in a match.
"Bent Skammelsrud and I last saw him in action when they played Djurgården earlier in August," Trond Henriksen tells rosenborg.info.
Ruzomberok beat the swedes 3-1 in a Champions League qualifying match, and captain Sapara was the player of the match.
"He seems to be wise on the field. Obviously he has a great understanding of football, and varies greatly with short and long passes. He moves a lot, and is good to put himself into good positions. And at the same time, he has two good legs, and took all Ruzomberok's set pieces - free kicks and corners. In all, he is a type we have been searching for," Henriksen states.
The player himself is more modest on his own behalf.
"It is hard for me to say much about my own qualities. I most often notice what I do wrong. Still, I hope to be able to help Rosenborg back to the Champions League," the international says.
RBK have so far not been able to find midfield legend Bent Skammelsrud's successor, but now think that Sapara is the man.
"We cannot say at this early stage that there is a 100 % match, but I think it's close. I feel confident that he will be a good man for us," Trond Henriksen ends.
PS! RBK works to get Sapara ready for the Monday match against Stabæk, but it will probably be too soon.
