Puppet: This is a new experience for these boys

Over the past week, the Wisła Kraków Football Academy hosted players from the Atletico Madrid Academy in Dublin. Players from four age groups participated in training sessions, and several coaches also visited Kraków. Among them was Mariusz Kukiełka, a former player for the White Star from 2003 to 2004 and currently one of the coaches and coordinator of Atletico Madrid's Irish academy.

How did you end up at the Atletico Academy?

We had a Polish football academy – FC Eagles – which later, through contacts, became the Atletico Madrid Academy. We met people from Atletico who were based in Dublin. After discussions and consultations, we decided we might try to create such an academy here. For the first six months, we were put to the test, with Atletico testing our work and ensuring our training and coaches met their requirements. After a year, we sat down to talk, discovered that both parties had a common goal, and signed an agreement. We are the first and only Atletico Madrid academy in Europe.

What's it like working at an Academy like this on a daily basis? How does it differ from other Academies in Ireland?

In Ireland, it's mostly clubs; there are no academies. I don't know how we're different from others, because we don't do that. We work with Atletico Madrid's methodology and plans. We have contact with coaches and an Atletico Madrid sports coordinator who helps us implement our tasks. We focus on our own work, not on comparisons with others.

How do you like the level of organization, what are your impressions from the first training sessions in Krakow?

We're here for the second day (conversation conducted on Tuesday - editor's note). Yesterday, some of the U-16 boys played a friendly, while the other half trained. Today, we've had a morning training session, and some players are training again in the afternoon. For these boys, it's a new experience, a confrontation with a different country, culture, and language. We're very happy with the organization. The people at Wisła provide us with everything we need. We're very grateful to them for helping us every step of the way. I hope everyone who travels to a multi-day event like this has the same support we received from the people in Krakow.

How does it feel to be back at Reymont?

It's something extraordinary. The last time I was at the Wisła stadium was in 2004, which is 20 years ago, after all. I still remember the roads leading to Reymonta. The support, just like back then, is still at a very high level. The fans are fantastically supportive of the team. It was fortunate that we had the opportunity to watch Wisła win the match. For me, it was a very pleasant feeling to talk about football, the past, and meet people who are very close and devoted to the club.

Did you manage to meet any familiar faces or has it been too long since you were at the club?

It's not about the time that has passed. I saw Mariusz Jop from the stands, but that's all. Our stay is very intense. We're on the road from morning till night, with four age groups to deliver and pick up from training. Our day starts early in the morning and ends late in the evening, so it's difficult to reconnect. We're focusing on meetings with the coordinators of the individual groups and the sporting directors of Wisła Kraków; that's our main goal. Maybe if we manage to find some time and have the opportunity to meet with former players, that's absolutely possible, but at the moment we don't have much time for that.