The Czechoslovak Cup final evoked the past – Dukla (Prague) vs Slovan (Bratislava). As if the clock turned back to the 1960s. Dukla prevailed 2-1, one more reminder of the old days. But that was all.
Slovan was pail shadow of the old mighty team. Fighting well at the final was almost playing above the current team ability. If they won, that would have been major and unrealistic surprise. But it did not come to that.
Dukla saved the season, yet leaving some bitter taste in the mouth: weak in the championship and barely overcoming Slovan at the Cup final. Since almost the whole current Czechoslovak national team was here, it was rather strange ending of the season. Crouching from left: J. Borovan – masseur, L. Vizek, O. Rott, J. Fiala, P. Rada, J. Novak, J. Brumovsky – assistant coach.
Standing: B. Minar – team doctor, S. Pelc, F. Stambacher, Kludsky (?), L. Urban, T. Kriz, K. Stromsik, L. Novak – coach.
Ladislav Novak had arguably the best squad in the country – 8 members of the national team, plus assistant coach, who was worthy to coach on his own. But something did not click well. Still, Novak was not blamed and kept his job for another year at least. Perhaps the problem was the general set-up of Dukla – they were the army club and thus able to recruit whoever they wanted. After all, everybody had to go through obligatory military service. Recruitment was easy, keeping players in the team was another matter – many did not want to play for Dukla, leaving as soon as their service was over. For years already – pretty much since the end of the 1960s – Dukla was not exactly desirable club. The result was instability, it was almost impossible to build a strong long-lasting team as they had in the 1950s and 1960s. Times have changed for ever. In the new reality, it was just make the best with the players at hand this year – and this year they were good only for a cup. The 6th for Dukla.