The selector of the women’s national team of Serbia, Ljubomir Obradović, commented on the current situation related to the preparations and the organization of the European Championship 2020 (December 3-20). Norway withdrew from the organization of EURO 2020 due to the situation with the coronary virus pandemic, and it remains to be seen whether the EHF, in cooperation with Denmark, will make a decision to move the entire tournament to that country.
A week before the start of the final preparations for the European Championship 2020, there is uncertainty whether there will be a tournament at all. Sport has not found itself in such a situation yet …
– This was not the situation and God forbid it would ever happen again. Next Monday, we should start working, practically, a year after the World Cup in Japan. The girls have two more games in their clubs. That is something that worries us, not only because of COVID-19, but also because of the injuries. Dragana Cvijić needs surgery, she will not play in the European Championship. We have two returnees, two mothers, Kaća Krpež started playing in Rostov, while I still need to talk to Tamara (Radojević). This is left there, to be healthy, to be without sports injuries, and after those tests go, you never know. In Norway, it would not look like the European Championship. I am in favor of postponing the competition to March, April, maybe even June. The European Championships used to be played in June. Now the borders are closing, air traffic is in trouble, we have a week to wait. It is uncertain, but it will be what it will be.
In Hungary, where a large number of ours come from, as well as the national teams of other countries, practically 80% of league matches have been postponed in the last month. How to assess the current condition and form of players in such a situation?
– Not only Hungary, but also Romania has a lot of foreign players. I’m sorry we didn’t get together once after Japan. There we came to a certain level of play in attack and defense, levels as far as everything is concerned. There were a lot of things to do for what awaits us, qualifications for Tokyo and the Championship. Now that schedule has reversed, because the qualifications are waiting for us in March. Where we left off, we will continue. We canceled the tournament in Poland. We will see if it is feasible to play two matches with Romania, knowing what the situation is there with them. You see a large number of injuries in all selections. Now there are also Russian Sen, Barbosa, in addition to the previous ones. COVID-19 took its toll. The question is whether the preparations and trainings are adequately adjusted to the given situation. All this is for deep analysis, we must not play or gamble. We will try to get the best possible result from the lineup we will have.
Preparatory matches all over Europe are being canceled. Practically without national team checks, they will travel to EURO 2020 …
– A lot of national teams gathered in the last EHF week. Our players were threatened that if they came they would have problems with contracts, so I had no right to call them. You see also football, Inter threatened Kolarova. If that is not resolved in football, then it is difficult in handball. The obligations and the relationship between clubs and national teams must be known. If EHF is a week for everyone, then it is for everyone, if not it is not. It is impossible not to let the Serbian national team player go. We are not allowed to gather. It would be good to sit down and make arrangements. Politics must be led by the EHF and the Federations, not the clubs.
HELP OF THE STATE PRECIOUS
– I read the statement and I was happy because handball was emphasized by the President that he would get great help. We need that injection very, very much. He noticed well that the profession is not at the level it should be. It is not a small job and it should be paid attention to. It is necessary, not only to help the clubs, but also to see where those funds go. Oblige club leaders to be responsible for these funds if they do not go for the development of handball, the costs of players, coaches, transportation and other necessary things. To bring order. If that doesn’t happen, we haven’t done anything again. If there is a one-time help, we have not done anything again, but I am very happy with that incentive and I hope that we will return handball to where it belongs.
