After starting the season slow out of the gates Corona Brasov picked up six points this past week, a 3-1 win over fourth place Debrecen and a 1-0 win on the road against their rivals HSC Csíkszereda. One of the biggest reasons, if not the biggest for the two wins was Brasov goalie Zoltán Tőke and because of this he is this week’s Player of the Week.
The 21 year old goalie who was born and raised in Csíkszereda stopped 27 out of 28 shots against Debrecen and then he followed that up with a 41 shot shutout against his former team. Tőke came up through the SC Csíkszereda youth system and was part of the very talented 1994 age that has already provided players for both the Hungarian and Romanian national teams. At the age of 18 moved across the border to Debrecen where he played the past three seasons. Tőke played for the club in both the Hungarian and Slovak U20, the Hungarian 2nd division and last season played 18 games for the MOL League side as the back up to Savva Borodin. This past offseason he signed with the other Romanian team in the MOL League, Brasov where he has been the starting goal. Zoltán was nice enough to take time out of his schedule to answer some questions.
What can you say about the past two games, allowing one goal in two games is a hard task in the MOL League?
The past two games were great, everyone was on the same page and they gave it all. We stuck to the game plan what the coaching staff came up with and we were disciplined. I needed the team for me to play well.
Last season in Debrecen you played less, what is it like to have more playing time this season in Brasov at such a young age in the MOL League and the Romanian League?
I am happy that I decided to sign here, it was a good decision despite Brasov not being the best team or being in the top half of the league. Like a lot of guys I’m getting a lot of playing time and we are picking up game experience which is great in the long run.
What was the biggest reason that you left Debrecen for Brasov?
The opportunity to play more and the coach, I have worked with Ottó Keresztes in the youth national teams for four years so he knew what kind of player I am. This is why I chose to sign with Brasov.
What is it like that you and a number of teammates came up through the Csíkszereda youth program but now play for the rivals Brasov?
I like being here, the city is great, and so are the fans and the team. I don’t think it matters that we are from Csíkszereda now we are here in Brasov and this is our workplace, this is where we have to give 100%. I was a member of HSC up until U18 and they have not tried to sign me since I left, so the senior HSC squad was never an option for me.