3rd Hubert Kostka Tournament

Football feast in Racibórz. On the penultimate Saturday of summer holidays, the sports field of the School and Kindergarten Complex no. 1 in the Markowice district became the arena of the struggles of the best children's teams of the region, which came to compete in the 3rd Hubert Kostka Tournament.

A total of eight teams participated in the tournament: the hosts LKS 07 Markowice, Odra Opole, Chemik Kędzierzyn-Koźle, Iskra Pszczyna, Rafako Racibórz, Włókniarz Kietrz, Łukasz Piszczek BVB Academy from Goczałkowice and guests from the Czech Republic - Banik Ostrava.

The tournament was organised by the Silesian Football Association, the GH Hope&Help Foundation and the football club - LKS 07 Markowice. It was already the third Hubert Kostka Tournament organised by the local club.

Olympic champion, 8-time Polish champion and 6-time winner of the Polish Cup - the student of LZS Markowice celebrated his 80th anniversary in the same year, so the occasion was special. Hubert was a goalkeeper. He made his first football steps in the aforementioned Markowice, and then in the second-division Unia Racibórz and Górnik Zabrze for 14 seasons with which in 1970 he reached the final of the UEFA Winners' Cup (today's Champions League equivalent). He played 32 matches in the white and red colours with an eagle on his heart. After the end of his football career, he became a coach and he also achieved success in this field, leading Górnik Zabrze and Szombierki Bytom to the Polish championship twice.

Mr. Hubert himself - a living legend of Polish football, who does not forget that he started from a small village to great success - led the opening ceremony of the 9-year-olds’ tournament at 11:00. The opening ceremony and the event were also attended by representatives of the City of Racibórz, Mayor Dariusz Polowy and Deputy Mayor Michał Fita, President of the GH Hope&Help Foundation - Małgorzata Herman, Markowice Councillor Justyna Henek-Wypiór, Headmaster of ZSP1 in Markowice Daniel Siedlok, President of LKS 07 Markowice Marek Cyran, President of Górnik Zabrze Dariusz Czernik, President of ŚZPN Henryk Kula and former stars of Górnik Zabrze and friends of Mr. Kostka, among others - Henryk Latocha, Stanisław Oślizło, Jan Banaś and many others.

Halfway through the event, Talentiada was organised for the youngest players of Markowice and the surrounding towns. Young footballers could show their skills to everyone and win prizes.

At the end of the 3rd Hubert Kostka Tournament former players of LKS 07 Markowice played against the 40+ team of the Silesian Football Association. The match ended with the victory of the Silesian Stars 4:3. The lineup of the Silesian Football Association included among others: Józef Dankowski, Stanisław Gawęda and Jacek Trzeciak. The determination, cooperation and good organisation of the Markowice Club, the GH Hope&Help Foundation and the Silesian Football Association have shown that in times of pandemic, you can organise a large event such as the 3rd Hubert Kostka Tournament.