VfB member in Czech Republic: The start of a love story

He still clearly remembers his first VfB home game. In August 2011, on Matchday 1 of the new Bundesliga season, the boys from Cannstatt hosted FC Schalke 04. Pivonka, who happened to be on holiday in the area at the time, was in the thick of the action.

“It was such an impressive atmosphere,” he recalls. “The fan groups had asked for as many spectators as possible to come wearing white. It was a great game too. VfB won 3-0.” Cacau, Martin Harnik and Shinji Okazaki got the goals in a victory that ultimately helped the team finish the season in sixth place.

For Pivonka, it was the start of a love story – one that has led the Czech native to become a VfB club member. He lives and breathes “Stuttgart international” on a daily basis, keeping up to date with all the latest news.

“I make it to the stadium two or three times a year,” said the 37-year-old, whose son is also a big VfB fan. Pivonka lives in the Czech town of Domazlice, situated close to the border with Bavaria. It takes him approximately four and a half hours to drive to the MHP Arena.

Sparta Praha “Czech equivalent of Bayern Munich”

The fact that VfB will face a team from his homeland in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday (kick-off 18:45 CEST) makes the occasion all the more special for Pivonka: “Sparta Praha are the biggest team in my country and they have the most fans too. Sparta are expected to win the league title every year. They’re the Czech equivalent of Bayern Munich.”

Watching on from home

Pivonka believes that Sparta’s 3-0 win over Salzburg in their Champions League opener was no accident. “They are a good, dangerous team and fight until the end,” he said. “It’ll be tough for VfB.”

He will cheer Sebastian Hoeneß’s team on from home on Tuesday, watching the game on TV alongside his son and a few friends.

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