The star of Russian and world handball Anna Vyakhireva told Handballfast about the play of HC Kristiansand Vipers in the Champions League and in the Norwegian Championship, talk to Lyudmila Bodniyeva and many other things.
— The first question: how is the mood? Though something tells me, that after a successful finish of the Champions League group stage everything is fine, isn’t it?
— Everything is just great. We finished the group stage really successfully. Now we got some rest. So, we are having rest — from handball, in particular. Sometimes you have to shift to something else. And in a week we’ll get back to the fight again. We are having a semi-final match for the Cup of Norway with Byasen HE on February, 24, it is also the top division team.
— In other words, are you having a day off, as it happens on vacation? Or do you, probably, get together once a day?
— Everyone has free time. Though we were provided with a training plan, of course, and we are getting ready on our own. It’s a different matter that we met with girls from the team to have a lunch right now. It wasn’t because a team event is scheduled. We just gathered ourselves.
— It feels like everything goes well not only on the court, but also outside it.
— Yes, now I feel the ease of communication. I would say, in everyday life and on the court. Though, obviously, we have things to work on regarding handball. Of course, we are far from perfection.
— I saw you playing not only on the position of a right back, but also as a playmaker. Isn’t it the idea of Tomas Hlavaty, by the way?
— Yes, I play on this position as well. But I can’t tell, whose this idea was. The coaching staff doesn’t share it with me. The only thing I can say, is that I like playing on both positions — as a right back and in the centre. As you understand, it’s even more creative to play in the centre.
— And what is like to play on the Championship of Norway after the Champions League?
— Of course, I won’t hide that the Champions League and the Norwegian championship are completely different levels. But we try to take each game seriously. Indeed, it’s possible to say that we play more relaxed in the Norwegian League. Not implying that we don’t do our best, but in the sense that sometimes we get more pleasure from the process, the responsibility for the result doesn’t press so much and we can play beautiful. And in general, frankly speaking, I am happy for every opportunity to stay on the court.
— They say, a great football coach Valeriy Lobanovsky at one time used a phrase «a training with increased responsibility». Does it fit the Norwegian Championship?
— My answer is following: sometimes we get prepared to the games of the Champions League through the matches of the Championship of Norway, we work on something. Though, I can’t say we treat the meetings of the Norwegian Championship carelessly. Of course, not! We analyze the competitors meticulously enough. It cannot be otherwise at a serious level.
— The Russian national team is another topic. We won’t see you at the upcoming training session. But is it upon agreement with the coaching staff, as far as I understand?
— Obviously, yes. I never gave up the national team and I don’t refuse now. But it’s another matter that there are some nuances with my health. And it’s important to divide everything correctly. My hip constantly makes itself felt since Rostov-on-Don. And if in some matches, for example, in the same Championship of Norway I can control the situation, avoid falling on it, keep it in a stable condition, but, as you understand, in the Champions League it’s another situation. For this reason it swells after each game, of course. So, I’m suffering with it.
Concerning the nearest training session of the national team, we talked on the phone with Lyudmila Valerievna Bodniyeva. I explained the situation to her. And we came to the conclusion together that it would be better for me to miss this session. For medical and logistical reasons, to sum it all up. It’s understandable, that I wanted to see the girls so much! But taking into account the time required for the road, there would be nothing left for the training camp itself. I would’t have been acclimatized. It’s even dangerous.
I’m sure, Lyudmila Valerievna understood everything correctly. I should try to use such pauses for recovery, sometimes to make additional tests. And in general, the rest itself can help.
Photo: eurohandball.com, fvn.no
