Hi lads, Michał here. I’m back with another weekly interview, but this time I’m chatting with my fellow Polish natives: Bohemians goalkeeper Kacper Chorążka and former Bohemians right-back Bartłomiej Kukułowicz. First, you’ll hear my conversation with Kacper, followed by my interview with Bartłomiej. Let’s get started!
Michał: What goals would you like to achieve with Bohemians this season?
Kacper Chorążka: I think that, looking at the course of the entire season, and also at the results of all three matches against Shamrock this year, any other result than the championship would have been met with a certain dissatisfaction in our dressing room. Obviously, the benchmark is recent years, and we’re in a better position now than we were then, but a club like Bohemians should always be fighting for the highest goals.
Michał: How would you describe the atmosphere in the team and your relationship with your teammates and the coaching staff?
Kacper Chorążka: This year, the team is very close-knit. The start of the season didn’t go as we expected, but that meant we had to stick together to turn things around. The coaching staff and I realize the potential we have in the locker room, and we all know the direction we want to go.
Michał: What differences have you noticed between the league in Ireland and the league in Poland?
Kacper Chorążka: It’s hard for me to comment on the differences, as I last played in Poland almost five years ago, but the greater intensity and aggressiveness of the game in Ireland is certainly noticeable. This doesn’t always translate into better quality matches, but it’s something I noticed immediately. These leagues are also at a different level. In Poland, clubs have significantly larger budgets and, by default, bring in higher-quality players. The fact that Ekstraklasa clubs spent a combined total of over €40 million on transfers during the summer transfer window demonstrates the scale of the difference.
Michał: Is there any match this season that you particularly remember?
Kacper Chorążka: When you ask this question, you’re probably expecting the answer to be Shamrock away or St. Patrick’s at home. The truth is, however, that after the 2-3 win against Shamrock, we realized that if we play our games according to our rules, no one can beat us. Of course, there are weaker matches, or matches where we don’t have full control over what happens on the pitch, but we always have a benchmark that shows what we’re capable of, and we strive to achieve that in every match.
Michał: Who or what motivates you most to achieve the best results on the pitch?
Kacper Chorążka: There’s no one person or thing that motivates me. I’m not a fan of extrinsic motivation either, because it only works for a short time. I believe in discipline and achieving my goals step by step. I have goals written down in my notebook for this year – some of them I’ve already achieved, but there are others I know I won’t achieve this year. Whenever I veer off course, I look at this list and get back on track. The support of my fiancée, who is a role model in her own right, is also invaluable.
Michał: What advice would you give to young goalkeepers who dream of a professional career in Ireland or Poland?
Kacper Chorążka: It’s hard to convey this to young players because they won’t fully understand the meaning of these words yet, but the key to goalkeeping is the mind. If you know what you want and how you want to achieve it, everything becomes easier. At the same time, I also believe that a goalkeeper can’t be a perfectionist. In our position, we’re bound to make mistakes, and how we respond to them is crucial. A perfectionist might have trouble accepting mistakes.
Next up, my interview with Bartłomiej Kukułowicz.
Michał: What goals would you like to achieve with Stal Stalowa Wola this season?
Bartłomiej Kukułowicz: This season, we’re focused on each match, with three points as our goal every week. That’s the only thing on our minds in the dressing room. I hope this mentality will propel us to the top of the table and end the season with promotion to the First Division. However, we realize the season is long and demanding, so we’re focused primarily on what’s ahead.
Michał: How would you rate the team atmosphere and relationships with your teammates and the coaching staff when you played for Bohemians?
Bartłomiej Kukułowicz: At Bohemians, I had excellent relationships with both the coaching staff and the players, some of whom I still keep in touch with. We had a good team and a great atmosphere, and I have very fond memories of that time. Assistant coaches are on first-name terms, which also changes attitudes and shortens the distance.
Michał: What differences have you noticed between the league in Ireland and the league in Poland?
Bartłomiej Kukułowicz: The league in Ireland is more physical than in Poland, with teams focused on fighting for every inch of the pitch and never losing a ball. There’s a bit less emphasis on tactical play than in our league, but combined with the high technical skills of the players there, it creates a truly strong and demanding league.
Michał: Is there a match from your time at Bohemians that you particularly remember?
Bartłomiej Kukułowicz: Definitely the FAI Cup final at the Aviva Stadium. With 44,000 fans in the stands, most of them Bohemians fanatics, the atmosphere was unique. I love how the Irish fans experience every action during the match and react to what’s happening on the pitch. I’ll never forget when I made a tackle in my first game for Bohemians, and the crowd went wild as if I’d just scored a goal. The passion of the fans there is incredible.
Michał: Who or what motivates you most to achieve the best results on the pitch?
Bartłomiej Kukułowicz: My greatest motivation is my wife and achieving the goals I set for myself at a given time – they are what give direction to my actions, give me the feeling that I am developing and going in the right direction.
Michał: What advice would you give to young goalkeepers who dream of a professional career in Ireland or Poland?
Bartłomiej Kukułowicz: The only thing I would tell young footballers is that time flies so quickly that they should dedicate themselves to football, remember their passion for this beautiful sport and enjoy every moment spent on the pitch.
I would like to thank both Kacper Chorążka and Bartłomiej Kukułowicz for taking the time to answer my questions and do these interviews with me. I wish them the very best of luck in their careers, both personally and with their team. I would also like to thank everyone for reading this article — I hope you enjoyed it!
Dziękuję wam bardzo, chłopaki, za te wspaniałe odpowiedzi i życzę wam powodzenia!