9 years ago, 7 April of 2015, Sergey Nikolaevich Shishkarev headed the Handball Federation of Russia. The founder of the Delo Group received unanimous support from delegates of the extraordinary conference of the HFR.
Over the years, the women’s national team of Russia won the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, won silver medals of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, won prizes at the World and European Championships. New clubs and arenas appeared on the handball map, the HFR structure was reformed.
Handballfast asked Yevgeni Trefilov, the legendary coach and one of the authors of the main success of the Russian national team in its history, to tell about that time.
— These were uncertain times in our handball. There was no driving force of such level in our sport after Aleksandr Borisovich Kozhukhov, who raised the Union of Handball Players of Russia. Football, hockey, basketball, volleyball gained popularity, and handball, being much more medal-generating, including the history of Olympic Games, remained in the backyards.
Handball required its own man, able to raise its level and make it more popular.
I didn’t know Sergey Nikolaevich before assuming office. I also don’t remember the first meeting with the new head, it seems that we got acquainted during one of the training sessions of the national team in Novogorsk. Now, while thinking back, it looks like he was constantly present in the life of the national team.
If you remember, at that time I had troubles with several clubs, but with the arrival of Sergey Shishkarev the relations began normalizing and conflicts were settled.
Probably, the most important thing is that thanks to his work handball appeared on screens, in the media. Handball courts are being built in different regions of the country with his direct participation, we will not hide the fact that he helps clubs as well. And how much funds are spent on the maintenance of the Federation itself? After all, public organizations and the state are separated now. Of course, his most important achievement is establishing contacts with international federations. Both the EHF and the IHF came to Russia, our position has always had a significant role in the international arena, we even managed to win the right to host the European Championship in 2026, but, unfortunately, this opportunity was taken away from us. But until now, the world handball counted on Russia.
It is difficult to keep the sport afloat now. Keep in mind that Sergey Nikolaevich is a major businessman, who is also under serious pressure, but still he spends a lot of time on handball.
I remember, that as soon as he took the heading position of the HFR, he gave everyone his number for direct communication and to solve the issues quickly. Handball guys are casual, so sometimes they called at night (laughing). He said later, that he didn’t expect such an active communication.
I recalled Gennady Khazanov’s act «A letter» about a fighter of the invisible front, where a husband asked his wife through a letter three rubles to bribe the president (smiling). I thought at that moment: Sergey Nikolaevich, you threw a yoke over your neck. However, according to the results of the national team and the results of his work in those nine years on the whole, he definitely coped with it.
Our brightest conversation? No, it wasn’t in Rio, it was when he told me it was time to finish with handball due to health issues (laughing). Actually, we have often stayed in contact, I can't count all our talks, Sergey Nikolaevich is a very sociable person.
It also helps him, because it’s difficult to work with people, it’s like walking on a cliff. I would like to wish health to Sergey Nikolaevich and prosperity to the Handball Federation of Russia, — Yevgeni Vasilyevich said.
The Handball Federation of Russia also congratulated Sergey Shishkarev with a nine-year term as the head of the HFR.
Handballfast joins the congratulations and good wishes for success in development of handball!
Photo: the HFR press
