One of the best handball players in the world of the XXth century (and of the beginning of the present century, of course) Talant Dujshebaev won the Olympic gold in 1992 in Barcelona with the unified team, involving representatives of 12 out of 15 former Soviet Union states. Then he became a bronze medalist of the Olympics with the national team of Spain.
His sons Alex and Daniel continued the bronze Olympic tradition: both rose to the podium’s third step in Lille, where the Olympic handball tournament ended (by the way, Alex did the same thing in 2020 in Tokyo).
The interview of the legendary handball player and the head coach of Vive Kielce is about the results of the men’s handball tournament of the Olympic Games and not only.
— Talant Ibraimovich, did you congratulate sons? And by the way, did you do it personally or distantly?
— To begin with, I also regularly receive congratulations with medals of Alex and Daniel — in Santander, where we stayed with Kielce on the training session at the moment you called me, people often approach me, say good words, wish luck…
Of course, I congratulated my sons at once, but I went neither to Paris, nor to Lille. For that very reason that the handball tournament of the Olympics was held in two cities — it is not the same! When I heard about it, I entirely lost the desire to go and watch it live. If they had played only in Paris, I would have headed there to breath the Olympic air for sure.
— This air is really special, isn’t it?
— You know, probably, I can say that it has changed a lot since 1992. I witnessed golden times of the Olympism. Because everything had changed dramatically from 1996. When the Games were held not by states and cities, but companies, it became a business, became commercial. According to the principle of business, if you invested — you gain. I wouldn’t say, whether it is good or bad, but it is just different.
— In other words, did the Olympic spirit suffer greatly?
— You told this, not me. Anyway, probably, there is no need to be so categorical. But again, I didn’t like the decision to hold the handball (and basketball, as well) tournament in two cities at all. How does it differ from the World or European Cups?
— The difference is that they played at the football stadium.
— I admit. In itself it’s great, when there are so many spectators. There was a feeling of a holiday. But still, just imagine, how disappointing it was for handball players to stay on the periphery of the Olympic Games, not to participate properly in this Olympic movement! Although, not everything was perfect in Paris as well. For instance, I heard about food shortage for athletes.
So, I stayed in Poland, where we had already started preparing for the season by that time, and now, as I’ve said, we continue it. Besides, we have enough club’s matters.
The Spanish have never been so close to the finals of the Olympic Games
— If you don’t mind, we’ll get back to the topic of Kielce at the end of our conversation. And now let’s talk about the Olympic Games. How do you find the work of the head of the Spanish team Jordi Ribera?
— You know my rule — I never discuss my colleagues in public, unless we are talking about certain curious nuances. But generally, the result defines everything. If there is a result, it means he did everything right.
— But do you agree that the national team of Spain showed its character at least?
— Undoubtedly, they did a great job! The Spanish lost 3 matches in the tournament and won 5, but at the same time all the matches except, probably, a relatively easy victory over Japan and a deserved defeat from Sweden, passed, that is called, back to back.
Overall, Spain was close to the final of the Olympic Games as never before (with an abundance of bronze medals). Unfortunately the German goalkeeper Andreas Wolff made a miracle in the semi-finals.
Pay attention: Wolff played in his two outstanding matches in the form of the national team of Germany against Spain — in the final of the 2016 European Championship, which was held in Poland, and now... I even joked that it was necessary to give Andrey, as I’d called him in Kielce, a pill before the game to make him stay in the toilet, only then we could have won.
But the Germans deserved the final objectively. And getting back to your question, the Spanish pleased with the character in the match for the 3rd place. Though, it was, probably, more difficult for Slovenia to play at 9am on Sunday, since their previous match finished very late on Friday.
At the same time, frankly speaking, I gave preference to Slovenia before the game, though I believed in Spain. I thought they would have more desire to win, they could have won the Olympic medals for the first time in history! Actually, the 4th place in such tournaments with semi-finals is definitely the most offensive thing. Just imagine — you play unbeaten and then you lose twice and stay with nothing.
— Then, continuing your thought, it’s better to be the third than the second — you finish the tournament with the shield, not on top of it.
— Indeed, what is called, at the moment. After a while you certainly understand that silver is also great, but right after the defeat in the final… It’s really better to finish with a victory (smiling). However, when I congratulated sons after the match for the bronze, the conversation was very short: there was not only fatigue in the intonation, but you know, such a splinter. Like they could have achieved more. Oh, if not Wolff…
— But still, bronze is anyway a holiday, especially after the failure on Euro-2024 nobody expected feats from the Spanish. What happened then in your opinion?
— If we recall, many athletes played after injuries. However, there were enough complexities before the Olympic tournament. I know that three or four people had health problems, solved with antibiotics. And again about the character — there’s no way without it! The possibility itself to compete for the Olympic medals implies turning inside out. And these Games look different, and it is experienced differently.
I will even say that the Spanish objectively surpassed only two teams out of 12, participating in Paris, in membership, I suppose. Japan and Argentina. The rest were at least physically better prepared. So, again — honor and praise to the team, which has shown moral and strong-willed qualities. And also to the coach, obviously, the team doesn’t work out without him.
This is sport, and it’s wonderful. After all, people said in Spain after Euro, that it was better not to go to the Olympic Games at all not to be dishonored. And eventually the Spanish found themselves 5 seconds from the final…
— A general question — did you discover something new for yourself? Any new trends?
— No, I will re-emphasize again, that it was more a battle of characters. It was necessary to hold 8 plays in little more than two weeks — this fact alone talks about everything. And in general, I may be criticized for saying this, let them get offended, but I stress that I consider the level of handball with participation of national teams to be lower than involving clubs. It even concerns the world and European championships, and furthermore, the Olympic tournament with lack of time not only to prepare, but simply to recover… Look how Denmark started and finished! Indeed, Denmark confidently won in the final, but the quality of the game got worse, didn’t it? Even Gidsel and Pytlick, by and large, have blown away. And how pleasant it was to watch the Danes in the group!
What to say about the Germans — the right side was exhausted entirely. Uscins, Steinert, as well as pivot Golla actually worked out 60 minutes…
It refers to the question about 8 matches in limited time and 14 people in the application form instead of 16 (though, there were 12 when I played). It is clear, that the IOC thoroughly limits the number of participants and even will tell me: who are you to offer us something? But, probably, the format of the tournament could be thought out. For instance, 3 or 4 groups could be made. If we want to talk about the quality, of course.
— As I’ve promised, let’s finish with the topic of Kielce. Especially when many people in Russia are worried about the team you head. Can you share the latest news?
— There is not much to say yet: the planned preparation for the season is underway, we are forming the team… At the same time we have to stabilize the financial situation.
Next season we will fight to win in decisive matches of the Champions League. I’m not going to hide the fact that there are difficulties. Thus, Nahi is not healthy, Maqueda will miss about three weeks, Sicko is injured, Karacic also has problems, he is taking antibiotics…
But, by and large, it isn’t all right, but it’s a part of a process. Overall, I will repeat it, we have a good working atmosphere. Everyone has an opportunity to recover throughout the season. The main thing is to reach the peak form by April-May-June!
— How do brothers Dujshebaev feel after such an Olympic tournament?
— Clearly, I gave them time to rest. Danya and Alex start training on Monay. And it’s not really my diocese — general physical training coach knows better how to prepare them for the start of the season. Which isn’t going to be easy, as usual, but interesting. As stated in the well-known expression, you need to take two steps forward after a step back.
Photo: ihf.info, HC Kielce press
