I'LL WILL BE FLYING WHEN MY DAD SEES ME PLAYING IN PRAGUE

MICHAL POSPISIL is on his way home in the UEFA Cup - and delighted his dad will finally see him play for Hearts.

The Jambos were paired with Czech aces Sparta Prague in the first round next month following their midweek exit from the Champions League qualifiers.

Twenty-seven-year-old Pospisil revealed a fear of flying has kept his father, Antonio, from watching him play since he moved to Scotland a year ago.

But he'll have a VIP seat among the Hearts fans when they travel to the Czech Republic for the second leg on Septemb er 28.

The first leg is at Murrayfield on September 14 and although Hearts were originally drawn away from home first, Sparta's city rivals, Slavia, also play at home that night.

The upshot is Slavia have been given preferential treatment on the grounds that they finished higher in the Czech League last season.

Pospisil joined Sparta at the age of 14 and played in the first team between 2002 and 2003 before moving to Slovan Liberec.

He admits it will be an emotional homecoming in four weeks.

Pospisil said: "At last, my father can see me play for Hearts. My mum Hana has been to Scotland to watch me but my dad doesn't like flying so this will give him and opportunity to see me play live.

"I've told him lots of time before, 'Get a ticket and come over here for a game'. But he always replies, 'Not yet, there's still time, maybe later'.

"I appreciated the support I was given by my father as a child. He was busy all week at his work and then spent his weekends driving me and my brother Jan all over the country to play football.

"He's inquisitive about how Hearts play and the qualities of the team and he's looking forward to seeing me in the maroon shirt.

"I'll probably give him a Hearts scarf and get him tickets to sit with our fans when we come to Prague."

Hearts face a tough task to make the group stage but with clubs such as Blackburn Rovers, Schalke and Lokomotiv Moscow also listed as potential opponents, it's as good as they could have hoped for.

Pospisil added: "Sparta have a strong defence with the likes of keeper Petr Kouba and former West Ham player Tomas Repka and in midfield they have a new player, Silvestre, they signed from the Barcelona B team.

"They are shaping up quite well but we're only approaching the third round of the championship so it's too early to say how they are doing.

"Actually, I would have preferred to play Blackburn Rovers above all others as I've never played against an English side competitively.

"They are a very attractive side and perhaps I'd have preferred another football experience at this stage as I know Sparta so well. I joined the club as a 14-year-old and was loaned out for four years before I eventually broke through to the first team in 2002.

"I was actually a Slavia fan as a kid but that changed when I moved to Sparta.

"They are a good team. Our chances of going through probably stand at 50-50 but the draw could have been tougher.

"Their stadium is nice. It holds about 20,000 fans and there will probably be 15,000 for our game.

"The Czech supporters can be crazy like the Greeks and there will be a good atmosphere.

"It won't be difficult emotionally to play against my former club. This is a positive for me to show the Czech supporters we have a good team at Hearts."

Team-mate Roman Bednar is delighted about the trip home. He said: "I'm excited - Sparta were the team I wanted.

"My Hearts team-mates have already asked me if Sparta are good enough and while I told them I don't want to underestimate my countrymen, these are the best opponents we could have faced."

Jambos boss Valdas Ivanauskas said: "I played against Sparta Prague twice when I was at Salzburg eight years ago and they are a club with a strong tradition.

"I like Czech football as it's very technical and strong. The draw is the draw and we'll be ready for these games.

"All the opponents we could have faced were very strong, including the likes of Schalke and Fenerbahce.

"Have we been give the best draw in the circumstances? We'll see on September 28.

"It's very important we continue in Europe this season because of the vast experience that will be gained, especially by the younger players.

"I also think the players deserve so much for the work they did last year and in pre-season training."

Lithuanian winger Saulius Mikoliunas said: "It's a good draw and I think the teams are similar in quality.

"We know Sparta Prague are dangerous opponents because they have played regularly in the Champions League and the Czech national team have enjoyed good success in the past."

Sparta coach Stanislav Griga, a Slovakian, has already changed their 4-4-3 system to 4-4-2 after an unconvincing start in their first three league games.

Skipper Tomas Sivok said: "I can't say I wished to play Hearts but I felt somehow we would be drawn to face them.

"Hearts are a very popular team in the Czech Republic these days thanks to the success of our boys Roman and Michal."

Michel Kadlec, a former Celtic target, said: "I have nothing to prove - Celtic is closed chapter.

"It will be great to play against Roman as we're big pals.

"We used to share a room when we played together for the national Under-21 team."

Taken from the Daily Record