Day 8 Boys and Girls - Coach Dacey

Following three consecutive days of games, Friday was a day of rejuvenation, light training and packing for our departure to Vienna on Saturday.

We awoke to weather we erroneously expected for the majority of the trip - gray, cloudy and the constant threat of rain. There we're a few drops, but the sun broke out in the afternoon to return to the same glorious weather we have enjoyed the whole trip.

Our delegation was invited to meet with the Kyov city officials in the morning. The Vice Mayor and his team received our Managers, Coaches, Team Captains, Delegates, and President. We were invited into city hall were a breakfast reception was set out, with coffee, water, wine and pastries. They wished us the best of luck in our games (unless we were playing the local team) and travels. Denise presented the Vice Mayor with a very well received VYSA desktop pen set and clock. In return, we were each presented with a DVD on Kyov and the local history and culture.

City Hall sits at the end of the city square (well, it is really a rectangle), which has a small outdoor farmer's market surrounded by small shops of all sorts and the requisite Gothic church.

Back at The Compound, the boys had free time and study time in the morning. After lunch we all headed to Uherské Hradiště, hometown of FC Slovacko, for some shopping downtown.

Later in the afternoon, we went to FC Slovacko's facility for training and a rejuvenation session in the spa. The girls had a mini-tournament (won by the staff). The boys session was short and light, with fun games like soccer tennis and dodgeball. After training we went into spa for rejuvenation in the steam rooms, pool and hot tubs. Dr Dan spent some time explaining the process and great benefits to this sort of rejuvenation.

An outdoor barbecue was hosted by FC Slovacko. The FC Slovacko Women's team joined us after training and we all ate and danced then prepared for the Czech Idol Rematch, hosted by MC Badiee. Despite all the preparation and rehearsal, the girls fell to the crowd pleasing comedic performance of Noah, who earned the Czech Idol Title for the boys side with a monotonous rendition of the classic, "She Got It Me!"

After MC Badiee awarded Noah the title, we had a brief ceremony, where our host, and logistics coordinator, Jitka, was presented with a small gift of appreciation on behalf of the players, staff and VYSA as a whole.

The boys returned to The Compound, the girls to Hotel Club, to pack and prepare for an early departure to Vienna. We are currently headed south through the rolling, green fields of Southern Moravia for Vienna, where we will spend some time sightseeing prior to watching FK Austria Wien (Vienna) in a top division league game. After the game we head to Bratislava to check into the hotel.

Amazingly, we are all healthy and injury free. Any homesickness and apprehension has given way to excitement, growing relationships, a fledgling cultural appreciation and an increasing love for the Czech Republic . We will likely struggle to return all players to the States.

It was difficult to get some of the staff to board the bus this morning (with two begging Mr Miller to get fired), as we have all taken to the food, weather and Moravian people.

Our brilliant journey is quickly coming to a close.

Until Tomorrow ...