WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL C - CZECHIA VS JAPAN

March 10, 2026

Pavel Chadim

Tokyo Dome

Team Czechia

Postgame Press Conference

Japan 9, Czech Republic 0

Q. Not what you were looking for, but eight innings, 0-0. Before the game you said Satoria is the past and Kovala is the future. What can you tell us about your performance today and what that says about where the team is going?

PAVEL CHADIM: Great question, thank you very much. I think we can see that past of Czech Baseball is great and Satoria is the famous pitcher. I saw some velocities in WBC, and we are, I think, last. But you can do with this, too.

And I believe that we have bright future with Kovala, with Michal Kovala, and this result may be shows that we need a little bit of time but I want to say that it was my mistake.

I don't know if you realized out on second base, and I didn't ask for -- I didn't ask for challenge. And if I saw that it was out, and use this challenge, no nine runs because we needed one out and sometimes it's so hard to do one run. It means my guys played 0-0 still. I lost the game.

Q. This is your last game as manager for Czech in WBC. What your plan after this?

PAVEL CHADIM: I have special plan. I will finish on Premier12 on qualification or Premier12. I really respect that in Japan, I saw that every manager has one WBC. I am lucky man, very lucky man. I have two WBC. And that's why I don't need other WBC, and I wish to other Czech managers or other managers in Czech team, good luck.

It means my last tournament will be qualification Premier12 in November or Premier12 2027.

Q. What kind of memories will you and the players take from this game, and how will it help Czech Baseball?

PAVEL CHADIM: 0-0 in 8th inning, Samurai team bunting 7th, hit-and-run in 8th, Satoria, Kovala, Tokyo Dome, heaven.

Q. Talk about the standing ovation for Satoria.

PAVEL CHADIM: Everybody saw it. It's a dream for every player to finish in a full house, 45,000 people, so many fans, no Czech fans. I think he has a lot of Japanese fans. I think on field, he feels Japanese like me. I think only ask, we have Bronze Medal on every tournament together, me and him. We have strong relationship and I'm so, so, so happy for him.

Japan 9, Czechia 0

Q. So you broke the news that you're retiring at the end of 2027. So what led you to that decision new said most managers here have one WBC. What are your goals until then?

PAVEL CHADIM: You mean goal on Premier12? First goal is be there. I had three wishes before I became manager. One was medal from European championship, first medal after 30 years for trying. Second, play on WBC. And third, play for Premier12. I am close. I am close.

Q. A lot of the story about Czech Republic is players have jobs and they are not professionals like the other teams, but do you think a night like tonight where you and Japan went toe-to-toe, 0-0 to the end of the game, that you showed that you're not just amateurs, you're baseball players, and you take the game seriously and that message can get through to the people in the Czech Republic when they wake up and see how the game went?

PAVEL CHADIM: Thank you for this question. Before the game I was here and I told everybody that we are not baseball tourist, and I believe that we showed it in this game how many tourist can have so many contacts, and be close with the best team in the world. I think that our play, our games and how we perform here, it wasn't just a dream for Czech Baseball, just not for our players, our fans in check I can't.

I feel that this is hope for Europe, European countries, and maybe all the countries with small baseball countries like we are. And if they saw hope, I am happy. I am proud that we show the distribution that you can play if you think professionally you can play with professionals.