3rd Hubert Kostka Tournament
A football celebration in Raciborz. On the penultimate Saturday of the holidays the pitch of School Complex No. 1 in Markowice became the arena for the region's best children's teams, competing in the 3rd Hubert Kostka Tournament.
Eight teams took part: hosts LKS 07 Markowice, Odra Opole, Chemik Kedzierzyn-Kozle, Iskra Pszczyna, Rafako Raciborz, Wlokniarz Kietrz, the BVB Academy of Lukasz Piszczek from Goczalkowice — and guests from Czechia, Banik Ostrava. The tournament was organised by the Silesian Football Association, GH Hope & Help Foundation and LKS 07 Markowice.
An Olympic champion as patron
Hubert Kostka — Olympic champion, 8-time Polish champion and 6-time Polish Cup winner, a youth product of LZS Markowice — celebrated his 80th birthday that same year. A goalkeeper, he took his first football steps in Markowice, then played for Unia Raciborz and for 14 seasons for Gornik Zabrze, with whom he reached the Cup Winners' Cup final in 1970. He earned 32 caps for Poland, and later as a coach led both Gornik Zabrze and Szombierki Bytom to the Polish championship.
Mr Hubert himself — a living legend who never forgot he started in a small village — led the opening ceremony of the under-9 tournament at 11:00. The ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Raciborz Dariusz Polowy, Deputy Mayor Michal Fita, GH Hope & Help Foundation President Malgorzata Herman, councillor Justyna Henek-Wypior, director Daniel Siedlok, club president Marek Cyran, Gornik Zabrze president Dariusz Czernik, Silesian FA president Henryk Kula and former Gornik Zabrze stars — Henryk Latocha, Stanislaw Oslizlo and Jan Banas.
Finale
Halfway through the event a Talentiada was held for the youngest players from Markowice and nearby villages, where children could show their skills and win prizes. To close the day, former LKS 07 Markowice players faced the 40+ team of the Silesian FA — the Silesian Stars won 4:3, featuring Jozef Dankowski, Stanislaw Gaweda and Jacek Trzeciak among others.
The determination, cooperation and good organisation of the Markowice club, GH Hope & Help Foundation and the Silesian Football Association proved that even during a pandemic a great and joyful event is possible.