Gábor Sviatkó’s CEFL kicking career has been put on hold as he has switched teams, leaving the Budapest Wolves and landing with a team from Austria. Like most player transfers in Europe, this one was hardly a glamorous one, with Sviatko opting to change teams because of a new job.
”I got a new job at General Electric; hard to practice three times a week next to work. I’ll only practice before games at the Dragons on Friday nights, [it’s a] perfect solution for me. It’s challenging, just what I’m looking for”, says Sviatkó.
The lure of playing in, at the moment, one of Europe’s premier leagues was also a factor, and although his new team is in Austria, it’s not a problem at all, as it’s just a few hours drive away from home.
Now in Austria, not only is his CEFL kicking career on hold, but his kicking career in general. With the Dragons, Sviatkó will only punt and kickoff, and one has to wonder is it because of his less than perfect finish of the season.
”I went 1/7 in the fall after going 8/10 in the spring, it was a pity. I couldn’t focus; I let the pressure overcome myself. I never enjoyed kicking field goals as much as punting and kicking off and I consider it my weakest skill out of the three. This is why I don’t kick field goals and PATs for the Dragons.”
He missed two potentially game-clinching field goals, hitting the crossbar on the first attempt, in the Wolves 28-27 CEFL Bowl loss to Belgrade. The first extra point attempt was also blocked, although Ivan Ristić of the Vukovi came unblocked to put his hand on the ball.
“I want to be back for the second part of CEFL though, if the team wants me”, he says at the end.
His departure could possibly not be the last one for the 2007 CEFL runner up, the Wolves. It’s still unclear whether he will be the only player to not return to the team in 2008.