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Al-Ahram Weekly 18 - 24 March 1999 Issue No. 421 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 18 - 24 March 1999 Issue No. 421
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Features Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Handball, naturally
By Inas MazharEgypt's new handball coach, Prinslav Pokrajac, hired just days before the World Cup in Norway, faces his first big test as Egypt meets some of the world's top handball nations. But the Yugoslav, who prefers to use his nickname 'Kraia', relishes the challenge and comes to the job with new ideas and a new philosophy.
"I have a certain vision," Pokrajac, in Oslo for cup play, told the Weekly. "In my opinion, handball has to be useful and interesting. In this case if the players can accept [my methods], it will not be my vision but their vision and, therefore, they can and will fight for it better than me."
Pokrajac, who has coached Yugoslavia, Spain and the US, took over from Spaniard Javier Cuesta late last month. During his four-year tenure, Cuesta took Egypt to sixth place in the world rankings, but fell out of favour with management when the country could manage only third place in the African championship in November.
Pokrajac, 52, says he wants to break the mould when it comes to practice sessions. "If you use a stereotyped technique, there will not be any creation. It's okay for schoolboys, not top-flight players," he said.
"I'm not teaching them handball technique, but the techniques of a handball player -- and it is different. I want them to use their minds and body at the same time," Pokrajac said, adding that exercises for passing and catching are different in modern handball. Pokrajac says that so far his players have accepted his training methods and are following his instructions to the letter. "I'm not asking for too much but what I need from the players is natural movement which I want to develop."
Pokrajac's training basically depends on speed, concentration, motion, catching and passing the ball and a 3-2-1 defence. "It will certainly develop their individuality in the service of the team and its quality," he added.
Will Egypt's new coach, Yugoslav Prinslav Pokrajac, be able to inspire our national handball team into surprising victories?
photo: Khaled El-Fiqi
"I need to prepare them to think with their heads because there is little time to think in a quick game like handball. They have to find the best solution at the right time. I can't do it for them from the bench. It's inside the court and everything is going very fast," he explained.
Pokrajac had the opportunity to test out his new vision when the team met and beat two Norwegian clubs in pre-tournament friendlies. Egypt first downed Vestilli 33-23 then overcame Runar, currently in second place in the league, 27-21. In both games, the Norwegian coaches were in full praise of Egypt's stalwart defence. "Egypt has one of the best defensive lines I have ever seen," Vestilli coach Per Braathen said, adding that the team could go a long way in the world cup. Leif Gautestad, head coach of Runar and assistant coach of Norway's national team, said Egypt deserved the win. "You were better," he told the Weekly. "You have an aggressive defence that makes it difficult for any opponent to penetrate. From my previous knowledge of your team, I can see that you are trying to apply a new technique in defence, 3-2-1 created by the new Yugoslav coach. I think it is useful but still I can see that the Egyptians need more time to adjust to this new system."
In the eight-nation world cup Egypt has Russia, Germany, and Norway to contend with in its group but faces an even bigger test come June when the country hosts the world handball championship -- the equivalent of football's world cup. Pokrajac said the tournament currently being played will help him make the final preparations for the team in the coming two months before the world championship. "Here, we are playing very strong teams like Russia and Germany. I will see how good the players can understand me. Following the tournament, we can continue our full programme in Cairo," he said.
Pokrajac said that after 10 practice sessions and two friendlies, he had a better picture and more information about the team. But he added that while the world cup made for strong competition, it cannot guarantee anything. "This tournament will only give information that will help in future work. Every coach will take home with him information about his players and about other teams as well."
Pokrajac promises serious and scientific professional work. "We must cooperate for the sake of the team." .
