Team supervisor with cult status | Local sport

“HSG Wetzlar is my life, my family. This association means everything to me. I am happy to still be there.” This was said by Horst Theiß, who achieved cult status as a team supervisor for the Green and White, in the summer of 2009. The Atzbach native was 52 years old at the time, but now his (handball) heart has stopped beating at the age of 63.

The eternal bachelor had been in poor health for years, severe diabetes and a stroke suffered in 2008 meant that Horst Theiss’s 2013/14 Bundesliga season was the last on the supervisory staff under the direction of coach Kai Wandschneider. When the women’s team played in the 3rd division in 2014/15, he stepped in to support the bench, but then his health no longer allowed such engagement.

From 1979 onwards, Horst Theiß – TSV Dutenhofen, HSG Dutenhofen / Münchholzhausen, HSG Wetzlar – dedicated his life to Dutenhofen handball, he worked alongside Rainer Dotzauer, Velimir Petkovic and Ghennadij Chalepo and made countless player and handball friendships. Conversely, handball has given him a purpose in life for over four decades, travels from Lisbon to the Urals and always allows him to gain new experiences.

“Hackele” was a prime example of reliability, he was there for everyone and whenever it was necessary – and he stood like no other for solidarity and sociability. Green and white blood flowed in his veins. Men like Horst Theiss have given handball in the region a special note. RA

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