People of Bertrand - I'm kind of a Joker

Jakub Myszka returned to Bertrand after a year-long break. Employees welcomed him like “one of their own.” He returns to us in a new role but remains the same ambitious, smiling, and passionate young man worth getting to know. Join us for our conversation with Jakub Myszka, a wood technologist and… a football announcer.

Why did you return to Bertrand?

I took a year off to explore a different career path. I came back because I value growth. I enjoyed working in production organization. My adventure with Bertrand began in November 2019. I started from scratch, working on the factory floor. After three months in the blinds department, I was offered a promotion to technologist. I decided to give it a try.

How is your return going?

There’s a lot more work in the wood department than in blinds. But that’s good because I want to develop. There are more technical aspects to grasp, but I’m slowly getting the hang of it and I’m optimistic. A significant factor in my decision to return was that I know many people who work here. Even during my year away, I stayed in touch with them and was up to date with what was happening at Bertrand. Besides, I believe I left a good impression, which made returning easier and more welcoming.

What has changed at Bertrand over the year?

There’s now professional onboarding. Today, when you join Bertrand, you get a lot of information right from the company because the introduction is very professional. This is a major improvement.

What do you value most in our company?

The atmosphere and the relationships I’ve built here. They started at work and then extended into my personal life. We meet, talk, and support each other. I liked that upon my return, I heard from several people, “our guy is back.”

You’re an announcer at sports events. How did that hobby start?

Among my friends, I’m known for being a cheerful person who likes to joke. One day, I was cycling through Bożepole and met the president of our club. I asked him how things were, and he mentioned they were building a stand and a commentator’s booth, and they’d send me on a course to commentate matches. I didn’t take it seriously. A couple of months later, a friend contacted me, asking if I planned to attend the course that was happening the following week.

What did you think?

I thought, why not try? If it doesn’t work out, I’ll pay them back for the course, which wasn’t expensive. Due to COVID, the classes were online but still very interesting. The Polish national team’s announcer and Lechia Gdańsk’s announcer, Marcin Gałek, participated. I passed the final exam, received a certificate, and gained qualifications to announce matches up to the third league level.

How do you rate the course?

I learned a lot of things I had no idea about. I attend basketball games regularly, where the announcer is a bit of a showman who boosts the atmosphere. I didn’t know such a person also has responsibilities related to the safety of the event.

Do you see this hobby in your future?

I plan to develop in this direction and have taken some steps, but an illness disrupted my plans. Now, there’s a potential collaboration with the football club Arka Gdynia, so we’ll see how it goes.

How did this contact come about?

I was an announcer for their reserve team in the fourth league. A fellow announcer, now with Stolem Gniewino but formerly with Arka, had to miss a match and asked if I could fill in. Having some experience at this level, I agreed, although I hadn’t worked in such a large and beautiful stadium before. The game was between Gdynia and Gryf Słupsk. After the match, I spoke with the club’s spokesperson, and we exchanged contacts.

What’s the name of the club you regularly announce for?

It’s Sokół Bożepole Wielkie, in the Gdańsk district league. It’s my alma mater. I also announce for Anioły Garczegorze, playing in the fourth league. Interesting teams often visit them, many of whom have played in higher leagues. Once, a team from Kolbudy came, and it poured rain. Most of the fans disappeared, leaving only two die-hard fans who lit flares. As an announcer, I should have reacted, but I figured the rain would put out the flares soon enough and that there were no spectators. After the match, a delegate approached me and asked if I was the announcer and if I had the proper qualifications, which I confirmed.

Do any particular matches stand out in your memory?

Of course. I have a top three. First, Anioły Garczegorze versus Gryf Słupsk, a really high-level game with lots of excitement. Second, Anioły against Pogoń Lębork, a small local derby. And number one, Sokół Bożepole Wielkie versus Zenit Łęczyce, our longtime rival. This match had around five hundred attendees and a fantastic atmosphere. It was real sports, real competition, and Sokół won 4-1, our first derby victory in seven years.

You mentioned you go to basketball games and that the announcer there is like a showman. Do you spice up your announcements?

It depends on the game and the situation on the field. Sometimes I’ll call out a player’s first name, and the fans shout the last name, especially if it’s a club star. Before one match, I arranged with the fans to shout “Sokół” and beat the drums whenever I announced a player’s first name. It turned out great.

Tell us another story.

When I worked on the PVC hall, a colleague next to me once asked, “Hey, does Mateusz Gil play for your team?” I said yes. He replied, “That’s my good buddy.” So I asked where he was from. “Biebrowo,” my colleague said. I decided to use this. During a match, when Mateusz scored, I announced, “Goal for Sokół by player number 9, the ‘Biebrowo bomber,’ Mateusz Gil!” People loved it, and the nickname stuck.

It’s clear you enjoy this.

Announcing is really fun, but I’m not overly optimistic about it growing significantly. We’ll see. I know I need to take steps to get a professional license, but someone will have to recommend me later. There aren’t many announcers, but it’s hard for a new face to break into the field, even with potential. Though, perhaps immodestly, I must admit I’m praised for my work. Many say the announcer at Sokół creates a great atmosphere, often not knowing it’s me. I remember a fellow soldier from the Tri-City area once said, “Your announcer at Sokół really does a great job!” And I replied, “That’s me.”

You’re known for your sense of humor and self-distance. I’ve seen you post funny videos on your social media, playing various roles. Where did this idea come from?

It started by accident. It began with writing. I often have many thoughts in my head, even now, thinking about five things simultaneously. Sometimes I feel the need to express these thoughts. Once, I impulsively wrote a long, slightly humorous, and philosophical post. It garnered a lot of attention, and people liked it. One friend suggested I start recording these thoughts because people might not always read long posts. So, I started recording. Before joining the army, I recorded some silly videos. My girlfriend sometimes feels embarrassed when I say, “Malwina, let’s record!” because she never knows what I’ll come up with! I enjoy such antics. Once, I was at a lookout point in Wieżyca, with snow and a winter scene. I recorded as if I were at a ski jump in Oberstdorf, Germany. People didn’t know if I was actually there or just fooling around.

Do you often do such “actions”?

Another time, while unemployed, we were working a side job in Jastarnia. The seaside weather was unique, with fog, so I recorded a video saying I was in Denmark at a friend’s place, living the high life while others were probably still working regular jobs. A friend who saw it asked what I was talking about, saying, “What Denmark?” Of course, what I record is slightly humorous and ironic. People generally like it, and I try not to offend anyone. These are just jokes I enjoy.