Wojtek Zimerman is a former BKS Bolesławiec player who currently lives in Switzerland. He often visits our city. "Bolesławiec is still close to my heart," says the footballer, coach, football manager and archivist for a Swiss media corporation. He comes from Pabianice (the former Łódź Voivodeship), but his football career began only at BKS Bolesławiec. He started playing football in primary school. At that time, a palant ball served as his football. "During breaks, I would set my slippers up as goalposts and play in the corridor with my friends," Zimerman recalls with a laugh. Playing with a small ball taught young Wojtek precision. He put this skill to use when playing with a regulation-size ball.
From Bolesławiec to Głogów
Wojtek Zimerman began his adventure with club football at BKS Bolesławiec. He played in the junior team and then in the senior team (1976–1977) as a midfielder. He fondly remembers his coaches, including Marian Szewerda, Seweryn Zieliński and Mieczysław Jednoróg. "When I played for the senior team, 5,000–6,000 people would come to the stadium," Zimerman recalls. "BKS were playing in the third division at the time. It was a strong league, at the level of today's second division," the footballer recalls.
After Bolesławiec came a spell with Unia Racibórz, followed by Chrobry Głogów. Wojtek was an invaluable player for both teams. With the latter, he even reached the semi-finals of the Polish Cup.
Destination: Switzerland
In 1982, Wojtek Zimerman left for Switzerland. "I ended up at FC Luzern," he says. "I trained with the team, but ultimately began playing in the second division and then the third division," he adds. At first, life in Switzerland was not easy. "I didn't know the language at all. I felt like a child of mime who, upon entering a shop, had to point with a finger at what he wanted to buy." Persistence and determination enabled Wojtek to cope in a foreign country. He completed coaching courses and began working professionally. He met many people from the world of football. One of them was Johan Neeskens—the current manager of FC Barcelona (in the photograph, top row, second from the left). He also helped Ryszard Komornicki coach Swiss youth teams. He organised stays for Polish teams that played their matches in Switzerland. These included Amica Wronki, Wisła Płock, Legia Warszawa and, most recently, Lech Poznań.
He proved to be such a good organiser that teams recommend him to one another.
The city should invest in educating young people through sport
The former BKS player follows the fortunes of his former club with interest. He does not hide his disappointment with the football situation in Bolesławiec. In his view, the city invests too little in sport and football. "There was already one moment when everyone turned away from BKS. The city completely cut itself off," Zimerman says. The club was at risk of being dissolved. Fortunately, a few people who cared about BKS continuing to exist came forward. "Together with Edward Kaput, Piotr Bieńkowski and Zbigniew Laska, we tried to save the club. We succeeded. We organised a match with Górski's Eagles. BKS survived," he adds.
Today, BKS is known as BKS Bobrzanie Bolesławiec. Zimerman views the merger of BKS with MKS Bobrzanie negatively. In his opinion, BKS—a multi-section club with a long tradition—was historically wronged by the merger: "If someone decides to merge clubs and declares that they will help, then they have to help. They have to keep their word." According to Wojtek Zimerman, it is the city that should help the club. "Private sponsors are additional support," he stresses. The city authorities should realise that by spending money on sport, they are investing.
People devoted to sport are also needed. According to Zimerman, Robert Tomczyk, president of TOP Bolesławiec, is such a person. "If we do not help young people and provide constructive ways for them to spend their time, then we should not be surprised when there are more and more criminal incidents, assaults and so on. Young people may say: this is the future you have created for us. We must help and educate young people. Later it will be too late," Zimerman warns. As an example to follow, he cites Switzerland, where the municipalities from which criminals come pay for their citizens' criminal offences.
Wojtek Zimerman often thinks about returning home: "I miss Poland and see my future in Poland, in Bolesławiec. I feel best here." Asked whether he would like to coach BKS if he were to return to Bolesławiec, Zimerman replies: "Probably not. That stage is already behind me. I am someone who has experienced a great deal in football—as both a player and a coach. I would gladly help the club, but as an outsider."
(MZ report)