A single moment. A sharp pop. A whole season rewritten.
Most people measure a match in 90 minutes.
For Szekszárd FC’s team captain, Viki Vári, the May fixture against Szent Mihály changed the calendar for months.
It was a routine defensive challenge — a quick turn, a planted knee — and suddenly, a painful pop. It didn’t seem serious at first.
“It hurt, but not enough to stop playing,” she recalls. But the next day her knee had swelled significantly. The MRI? Nothing major. At that point, it all still seemed manageable.
When your decision isn’t just about you
At the time, Szekszárd FC was fighting to stay in the league. The coaching staff left the decision to Viki: rest or play. She chose to fight.
“I knew I wasn’t at 100%, but I felt I could still help the team. I wanted to be on the field — with them.”
And it paid off — the team stayed up. But the real battle was just beginning.
Another MRI. A new diagnosis. A different reality.
Rehabilitation started off well… until it didn’t. Sharp pain returned, signaling something deeper was wrong.
That’s when she turned to her trusted doctor, Dr. Zsolt Jórász — someone who had helped her through past injuries.
“I showed him the original MRI, and right away he said it wasn’t clear enough. We did a new scan, and unfortunately, his suspicions were confirmed: a torn medial meniscus.”
The solution? Surgery.
The painful reality? This would be Viki’s fifth knee surgery.
“Honestly? I was scared. I had spent over two months preparing for the new season with a new coach, new goals — and suddenly, everything came to a halt.”
Two weeks of total stillness. And after that… cautiously forward.
The surgery was successful — but the recovery would be long. For the first two weeks, her knee was completely immobilized. For six weeks, it couldn’t bear any weight.
Now, three weeks post-op, Viki can bend her knee to 30 degrees.
“It’s strange, but I’ve learned to celebrate the little things. A slightly deeper bend, a better night’s sleep — those are my daily wins. The hardest part was the stillness… and not being around the team as much.”
She’s back on the sidelines now, even if not yet on the pitch.
“Just being there, watching the girls train, gives me energy. It motivates me to get back.”
This path takes patience, effort — and belief.
Rehabilitation is expected to take around six months. Viki is committed to making every day count.
“But I won’t rush it. Right now, the priority is to recover fully — both physically and mentally.”
The club has been by her side every step of the way, providing medical support, encouragement, and presence.
“That means a lot. I’m so grateful for that.”
The goal: to return — and rise even higher
“I want to play again. That’s the main goal. But since I already know the ins and outs of rehab, I try to set small, measurable goals to stay focused.”
The bigger picture? A stronger season ahead.
“Staying in the league is our main target, but I believe a 7th or 8th place finish is realistic. You can already see the work paying off — and the new coaching philosophy is working.”
A new direction for the club — and new motivation
“The vision I see now in this club is totally different from before. We have full support — but the effort still has to come from us.”
The team’s motto now is: ‘Trust the process.’
And for Viki, that’s not just a catchy phrase.
“If you don’t believe in what you’re doing, it won’t work. But here, everyone believes: the coach, the players, the management — and that brings real change.”
A message to the fans
“I want to reassure our supporters and those who might still have doubts about this new direction: come to our first match and see for yourself the transformation this team has gone through.
You’ll see how much we’ve grown in every area of the game.”
“Our playing style has changed — and it had to. If we want better results, we need to play differently. The club is doing everything it can, and we’re working toward achievements that the club has rarely seen in its history.”
“This entire team is hungry for success. We can’t wait for the season opener to finally show what we’re capable of.”
Viki Vári is still on the sidelines for now — but soon, she’ll be back where she belongs: on the pitch. Until then, one thing is certain: her heart is always with the team.
Follow the Szekszárd FC Women’s team this season on Instagram, Facebook, and live at the matches!
