From the quarantine almost straight back to the record – amazing, think the handball players at THW Kiel. But a postponement of the Bundesliga game against Magdeburg was rejected. From the point of view of HBL boss Uwe Schwenker, for good reason.
by Jan Neumann and Jan Kirschner
The President of the Handball Bundesliga (HBL) confirmed that he had been involved in the discussion about the THW’s request. “I basically support the decision,” he told the NDR. It is difficult to manage to give every team that has to be quarantined because of a corona infection four or five training units before the next game. “Especially since we decided before the season how to deal with this situation as it has now arisen. And THW was also involved.”
Szilagyi complains about a lack of tact
THW managing director Viktor Szilágyi had sharply criticized the decision: “The boys only trained in the living room for two weeks, were not allowed to run or could only throw a ball. When I decided not to agree to a move, I lack proportionality and the instinct. ” The fear of injuries is great, but giving away the points on the green table was not an option for the players.
The handball players from Kiel are only allowed to train again on Saturday. The Bundesliga game against Magdeburg is on Sunday. more
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The request to postpone the game bounced off the statutes of the league, as Szilágyi confirmed: “The HBL regulations state that a game can only be postponed if more than half of the team are not available due to quarantine or injuries stands.” And that is no longer the case on Sunday. The game management body simply adhered to the applicable rules, said Schwenker. The schedule is now ambitious and the plan to continue the season as planned until the end of June is difficult.
Inequality of treatment compared to football
Everyone is well advised to deal with the situation calmly and to accept it as it is, also in the context of society as a whole: “Basically, we are in the comfortable situation compared to other professions that we can even pursue our profession.” Nevertheless, he had a “certain understanding” of those involved, who of course did not have optimal preparation for the game against Magdeburg.
Also in the sports club: Stephan Schmidt, U19 coach from Hannover 96, who will comment on the corona-related setbacks of football talents. more
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The fact that an entire team has to be quarantined immediately in the event of a corona case is unequal treatment compared to other sports, said Schwenker. “We just need to look in the direction of football.” He also questioned the health department’s approach. The players were tested every two days and were all negative even after ten days. In his opinion, the health department could have reacted more flexibly and at least allowed the players to practice handball-specific training again in a bubble.
Weak record against Magdeburg
For THW trainer Filip Jicha, given these background noises, it will not be easy to focus on the championship race and on getting two important points on Sunday (4 p.m.). The result against the SCM is not exactly encouraging for the THW Kiel. The last four Bundesliga matches against Magdeburg were all lost. Including the so far last home game against the Bördeländer on February 17, 2019. The “Zebras” suffered a 25:28 defeat, which ultimately cost the championship that season.
The CL title followed the last compulsory break
The question of how players compensate for a lengthy, involuntary interruption was answered by them themselves not so long ago. In December, Magnus Landin, Domagoj Duvnjak and Pavel Horak tested positive for the corona virus. Her teammates also had to be quarantined. They returned to the game shortly before Christmas and a few days later they won the Champions League in Cologne.
Seven games through March 6th
In the last two weeks, the THW participants trained exclusively within their own four walls. The individual exercise program is said to have been comparatively more intense than in December home training in order to maintain the fitness level, it said. However, the workload that will now follow is even more extensive this time: After the restart against Magdeburg, six more games will follow until March 6th – three a week. If everything can go as planned.
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