Former world champion Holger Glandorf called for a rethink in terms of load control among handball players. “If national players draw positive conclusions from the corona crisis that the end of the season is the best thing that could have happened to their bodies, then one can already guess what the years of multiple strains can do to the athletes,” said the 37-year-old in an interview with Funke Media group.
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According to Glandorf, the sport “has to find a reasonable balance. Switching between the Bundesliga and the Champions League, ie traveling and playing in a 48-hour cycle, is difficult.” He sees at least one possible solution for the Bundesliga: “Combined match days with opponents from one region in order to keep travel burdens low.”
Glandorf was last under contract with SG Flensburg-Handewitt. With the end of the season due to the coronavirus pandemic, the back player had ended his career after 19 professional years. In a conversation with SPIEGEL, he recently indicated what stress he was experiencing during this time. “My body will be happy that it’s over now. I won’t miss the many duels,” he said. Glandorf suffered serious injuries, he broke his midfoot, had problems with the inner meniscus, tore his Achilles tendon.
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After the end of the season and the associated increase in the men’s Bundesliga to 20 teams, the handball players face an even greater burden in the 2020/2021 season. The two best-placed Bundesliga teams are currently qualifying for the Champions League. The table positions three to five entitle to participate in the Euro League. The international players of the top teams also face a large workload due to international matches. The World Cup in Egypt is on the agenda in January, followed in summer by the Olympic Games in Tokyo, which have been rescheduled for one year.
In the future, Glandorf, world champion from 2007, will work in the office of the German runner-up from Flensburg. He wishes the entire industry to return to the floor soon. “What we need is a start and a destination,” said Glandorf. “An answer to when contact sport is possible again in the federal states so that preparation for the season can begin.”
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In addition to football, which was allowed to resume playing in the men’s leagues last weekend, decision-makers would also have to consider other sports. “Even among handball clubs, there are those that are commercial companies and employ athletes as well as office workers,” said Glandorf.
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