What a sport? Footbal of all!

17. 02. 2010 00:51:14
  

From the childhood she was led by her father and grandfather to practice a sport. She has tried almost all kinds of sports but the football became the most favourite. An ambition of Petra Chudá, 28 years old graduate of the University of Economics, is to work in sport area even she works as a personnel clerk nowadays.

Women want to rival men in all social activities, sport including. What is your point of view on women boxer, women weight – lifter, women football and hockeyplayers and the other sports where the power is necessary?

I have tried several kinds of sports in which the power is very important but at the same time I can say the way of power utilisation does not connect with a gender. I prefer an opinion that the character, disposition and other factors determine if somebody do sports or does not. There are still a lot of people who can not understand why women play football but I do not care about this. I am addicted to football because i love it.

What does the sport mean for you? Do you still do sport or did you use to do sport?

As I have already mentioned I can not imagine my life without sport. During my school age I practised judo, volleyball, skiing etc. Of course ice hockey and football used to be my favourite sports during the weekends. My favourite subject at school was a physical education and I represented our school at all sport events. After the grammar school I intented to continue my study at Faculty of Physical Education and  Sports but I did not pass an English test.

Please tell us when the football came into the way of your life?

I can say that everything has changed in my life when we moved. At a new place I met a lot of new people amongst them were a lot of football players. I got to know there is also a women football and I started to play in Slovan Bratislava. As a striker I had an opportunity to play for Slovak national team U -18. 
   
Do you like football because of this game or because of young handsome football players?

Football is a fascinating game for me. I can not describe it exactly but I love this combination of green grass and 22 harmoniously moving players. Seriously now. During my stay in Slovan I felt very frustreted because the quality of women football was very weak. I was dreaming to become a professional football player who handles all tricks with the ball but the conditions in Slovakia did not allow me to meet my expectations. Furthermore I was injured and I had to quit my career so I decided to be just a football fan.

When did an idea to run out among 22 gladiators with a whistle occur?

I missed a football. Even I tried to do not think about a football I felt it is not over of my football activities. One day I went to the Slovak Football Association and I asked if I can become a football referee. Once we had a woman football referee at the match. As I got to know later that woman football referee was Alexandra Ihringova who became my big idol.

   
The referee has to pass a long journey to become a top referee. How was your journey?

It was in Autumn 2000 I dressed and run out as a referee for the first time. At the beginning I did not realize what does it mean to be a referee. I was happy I can be a part of the game again. Later when I obtained several appreciations from my colleagues, referee observers and from the players I started to think about that my dream can become a true. Referee Committee has been supporting me and I have moved from the regional league to the second national league where I am second season. But I really enjoy the confidence that I can be a FIFA referee from 2007 and represent my country.

What do you think what is the biggest award for the referee?

I do not know what is it for my colleagues but for me the biggest award means when I can see satisfied teams after the match, when the players shake the hands and thank even though one team lost the game. It can sound very trivial for the people who do not care about the sport but I know how difficult is to gain a respect and credit. And this is a motive force for the next match.

There are still people who envy a success of somebody. For the Slovaks it is not unknown quality. Have you already had any experience with this fact?

I agree there are envious people but I have to say I have met just a few of them. Most of the time I felt a support from my neighbourhood and even though somebody made me angry I have my family next to me.

 


Football has the Laws of the game and the referee has to apply them. But there are also situations that are not black and white and you have to make a decision. What is your point of view?

Difficult question. I know some decisions are really challenging. I do my best to respect the Laws of the game but at the same time I have to respect „Spirit of the game“. The referee is just a human who makes a mistakes. Once I awarded a penalty kick but I did not send off the player because I was sorry do this. I did not receive a good evaluation from the observer because of it. Next match the same player made almost similar problem to my colleague. It was a very good experience for me. I try to make a best decisions even if the situations are not black and white.

Who was or still who is your mentor? Who shares the experience with you?

I met a lot of nice people who helped me and still do it. From the other side I try to learn from each match. I very appreciate an oppinion of my colleagues and observers. I take notes from the matches and the videoanalysis is also good help for me. I would like to remember my mother and deceased father who were always my support when I was loosing an energy to go further.

How many countries have you already visited as a referee and which spectators made best impression upon you?
   
I have visited 8 countries as a referee yet and I already know I am travelling to Cyprus and to Sweeden soon. Each country is very interesting and I met a lot of nice people there. The most favourite places I have been are Turkey and Macedonia. I saw also very nice atmosphere in Austria last year.
   
How do you assess your present career? Have you already fulfilled your aims?

I can say my career goes very well so far and I have fulfilled a lot of aims I was dreaming about. But there are of course some of them I want to achieve. I would like to move ahead to the 1st national league and there is a EURO 2013 and I wish to be involved in this event.

What do you consider as the most difficult on the way on top level?

In my view the way on top level demands a lot of hard work, sweat and tears. It also requieres a lot of self-renunciation. But I have to add that I am worth the effort. I am happy when I stand with a whistle on the field of play.


(rt)