We have an opportunity to talk with a successful coach and an expert of beach handball known worldwide. So we ask you to introduce yourself and share with us your accomplishments and achievements.
First I have to say thank you, because your request is a very great honour for me. I was born in 1966 and grew up in Tatabánya. In the 70s and 80s handball was played at a high level there and was popular and I was able to to learn from fantastic coaches. I graduated from University in 1990 as a teacher of PE and in 2008 with a post-graduate degree as a professional handball coach. I first saw Beach Handball more than 10 years ago and I immadietely found it very interesting and creative. I wasn't thinking about the future then, I just enjoyed and played the game. Year after year my friends and I improved our Beach handball knowledge and weworked out new strategies and training systems on offence and defence. I'm currently a head coach for AXA Beachstars Budapest and the Italian Women's National Team.
Which achievement is your favorite of the ones mentioned above?
I'm very proud to have gained the Masters titels two times(2006 and 2008) with my men's team, to have won the silver medal with the Hungarian Women's National Team in the World Games in 2005 and of course all the results of my fantastic Italian team. One more important thing that I always emphasize is Fair Play, and my team won the Fair Play title in EC in Cuxhave. My Italian team won this title in Misano, and in Cadiz we had only 2 exclusions during 7 matches!
Where did the idea of taking-over the Italian beach handball national time come form? You've made a respectable selection from an average team and you could notice the improvement already in Misano, while making quite an undertake in Cadiz. What is your succes formula and motto?
The first step is to teach perfect technques and the philophosy of Beach handball. The second is to improve different strategies, and focus on their variations. The third is to play very fast with creative solutions, anticipating on offence and defence.
Lastly to play easily and to smile, always be positive!
Considering that you are one of the first foreign experts in a national team (as far as we know, before you just one Belarus coach lead the Cyprus national team on the European championship in Turkey) was it hard for you to be a coach?
I think I was the first coach who was invited from a foreign country. Mr. Vladimir Kosik was the first, but he was already coaching indoor handball in Cyprus. I learnt so much from him.
I knew the Italian players before I began, because my previous team played against them a few times. All the players were very open-minded and the Federation helped me with everything. To start a new job anywhere is not too easy, but the langauges of Handball and Beach Handball are international.
What do you think are the important matters and criteria (parameters) that make an excellent beach handball player? Could you predict the development of beach handball game and elements that will make the biggest progress in the near future?
The most important point to understand is the substance of Beach Handball, and to have anticipation skills and creativity.
Now we should decide that we won't change the rules in the next few years. Obviously in the next ten years indoor handball players will play Beach handball, and this will require that coaches practise daily with their team, especially with younger players.
Considering the fact that you were a national team coach and a club team coach, could you give us your opinion of club team quality in relation to one of national team?
The national quality is of course higher, because there are more good players. But it is very interesting, because the national teams feature more individual play and the club teams use more collaboration and creative strategies.
There are many national teams and clubs that have various game styles. Which style do you prefer?
In the last few years many styles have been created in Beach handball which have existed in indoor for many years. In beach we can differentiate between South Slavish (Croatian and Serbian), Spanish, Russian, German and Arabic (Egyptian and Bahrein) styles. In Hungary we use elements of all this styles in booth indoor and beach. I learn from all of this styles and try to adapt the best one, for my players, for my team. This is what I do with my Italian players.
By your opinion, what is the future of beach handball ? Is it going to make it to Olympic games and what it takes to achieve that goal?
Certainly the aim is to go to the Olympic Games, but we have to be careful, because we mustn't damage the interests of indoor handball.
Tell us something about beach handball status in Hungary and Italy? Are sufficiant funds invested in its development? Is handball federation interested in beach handball clubs, do you think is it possible to make professional tournaments in the near future like the ones in beach volleyball?
I think the most important thing is that Beach Handball improve step by step continuously. I don't mind if there aren't any professional teams and tournaments, because the sport's development is the most important thing. The EHF Beach Handball committee is working on the new system, and I'm sure with its experience it will be more enyojable and useful for this wonderful sport. They asked the opinions of all the teams, which had a very good and positive effect.
You participated in tournament held in Zalaegerszeg where Guiness world record was set. Do you have information concering that tournament(duration of tournamen-is Guinness record set?)
Unfortunately we don't have any information, but I'm afraid it wasn't set. They refused 90% of the facts without any reason.
Do you know anything about national beach handball championship in Hungary and Italy and what do they look like?
I have no any information about it. I think there is under construction, looking for a new challenges.
We had the honour of translating in more sequences your article about comparison of beach handball and team handball (hope you won't sue us for doing that without your consent ?) which we downloaded from official EHF web pages. Are you going to write any more articles and analyses concering beach handball? We hope you will send us more of your articles because it is always a big pleasure to see various opinions of expert like yourself.
I'm very happy if my article is read widely, because this is only my opinion. It would be good if discussions could start and if a lot of opinions could change. I'm always planning to write new articles and to complete a book about Beach handball, but unfortunately I don't see the time in my schedule for it.
I promise you, if I write something again, you will get a first copy. ?
Just a couple of short questions: - Your favorite male and female beach handball player? Best court on which you've been with one of your national teams? Best beach handball tournament organisation (masters, european, world championship)?
I don't want to nominate only one player, rather I'll describe my favorite type of player. I prefer somebody who always plays fairly, bravely, creatively, spectacularly, but is attentive to the interest of the team and the result. Of course I've had some favorite players from my teams, but that is always the coach's secret. My most important principle is to build a good team, and a wonderful group with a strong team spirit.
Thank you very much your kind request, don't hesitate to contact me in the future, if you like it.
