Nigerian winger Ubong Ekpai has described Jindřich Trpišovský as a father figure who made him feel at home at Slavia Prague, while revealing that he remains disappointed by the circumstances surrounding his departure from the Czech club.
Ekpai, who also played for Slovan Liberec, Zlín and Viktoria Plzeň during his career in the Czech Republic, said his relationship with Trpišovský was built on trust, understanding and a sense of belonging that extended beyond the pitch.
In an interview with Czech outlet eFotbal, the Nigerian explained why he was eager to reunite with the coach at Slavia, having previously worked under him at Liberec.
“Playing under this man is like living with your own dad. When he tells you to do something, you do it with all your heart,” Ekpai said.
He added that Trpišovský had a particular ability to help African players adapt to life in the Czech Republic, making them feel welcome even when communication presented challenges.
“When I went to Slavia to play under him again, there was nothing to think about. He knows how to make you feel at home,” Ekpai said.
“Even though he was not fluent in English, he came to you and made you feel welcome. So why not leave 120 per cent on the pitch for such a person? He’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever played under.”
The family culture at Slavia
Ekpai joined Slavia Prague in June 2021 on a three-year contract after leaving Viktoria Plzeň. The move reunited him with coach Jindřich Trpišovský, whom he had previously worked under at Liberec and later described as a father figure. Photocredit: Imago
Ekpai also highlighted the importance of Slavia’s dressing-room culture, describing the club as a family in which individual talent alone was not enough to guarantee success.
According to the winger, players had to build relationships with teammates and coaches, adapt to the group and contribute to the collective environment.
“It’s like a family there. To succeed in Slavia, you have to become part of that family. An individual will not survive there,” he said.
He argued that some talented players struggled at the club not necessarily because they lacked ability, but because they found it difficult to adapt to the team’s culture.
Ekpai stressed that the challenge was not limited to foreign players, adding that Czech players could also struggle if they failed to fit into the dressing room.
His comments underline the importance he places on the relationship between a coach, the players and the wider team environment.
However, despite his close relationship with Trpišovský, Ekpai’s time at Slavia ended in circumstances that he says he still does not fully understand.
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Ekpai said he returned from a loan spell for pre-season and featured in almost all the matches before being informed that he would have to leave on another loan.
What hurt him most, he explained, was the absence of a direct explanation from the club.
“To this day, I am sad about it, because I had a good relationship with the coaches. No one said anything to my face, I started reading about my guest appearance on Instagram,” he said.
Ekpai added that he did not want to discuss the club’s internal affairs in detail, but maintained that he received no satisfactory explanation for the decision.
He also suggested that Trpišovský was not responsible for the move, saying the coach was sorry about the outcome and that the decision appeared to have come from the club’s management.
The winger subsequently had a short spell in Kosovo before returning to the Czech Republic with Dynamo České Budějovice.
He described arriving at Dynamo during a difficult period and expressed frustration with what he considered a lack of professionalism and commitment within the club.
He said some players appeared to have accepted the prospect of relegation rather than fighting against it.
After joining Maccabi Haifa in 2016, Ekpai moved on loan to Slovan Liberec before spells at Zlín and Viktoria Plzen. Photocredit: Imago
From a failed Dubai move to Zápy
Ekpai’s career has since taken another turn. After spending months without playing, he joined third-tier Czech side Zápy on a short term contract to regain match fitness and maintain his involvement in competitive football.
He explained that a proposed move to Dubai had been close to completion, but the deal collapsed after the player he was expected to replace remained at his club.
Rather than continue waiting for another opportunity, Ekpai decided to return to action in the Czech lower leagues.
“I didn’t want to just sit and wait without football anymore. When you don’t play for a long time, people think you’re injured or that you’re not in the country at all,” he said.
He took a contract running until December, with the intention of staying fit, playing regularly and helping his new team before becoming available for another move.
The decision reflects a career that has moved through contrasting stages, from playing in the Champions League with Viktoria Plzen to facing uncertainty over his next destination.
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In the meantime, Ekpai’s priority is to regain regular playing time and put himself in a position to secure another opportunity.
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