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Last week, the executive of the federation presented the ideal future timeline . “In 2020 we want to qualify
for the EHF EURO, in 2022 we want to co-host the EHF EURO with France and Spain, in 2025 we want to be
make it to the World Championship and at the latest in 2032 we want to qualify for the Olympic Games,”
said Piet Moons, the new President of the Belgian Handball Federation.
On the more immediate level, Damian Kedziora looks without fear at the upcoming qualifiers.
“We are not afraid of Nikola Karabatic and his teammates, even though we usually only watch Olympic
Games or Champions League matches on TV,” says Kedziora.
“We are almost all amateurs, with some exceptions of players who play for French clubs. However, we are
highly motivated after we have reached our first goal, being part of this qualification stage.
“We have nothing to lose against Norway and France, but those teams need to win as they are aiming for
the EURO tickets.”
Thomas Cauwenberghs (US Ivry), Jef Lettens (Cesson-Rennes Mêtropole Handball) and Thomas Bolaers (BHB
Handball) are the only professional players, the rest of the Belgian team plays for domestic clubs; the
majority for national champions Achilles Bocholt, like Damian Kedziora and his brother Bartosz.
“It is not that easy for all of us to be part of the national team as we have to combine handball with our jobs.
“I take one week of unpaid leave for the EURO qualification, but as the success is visible now, all players love
to join the team again,” says Kedziora who works for a bank.
He has recognised himself that all players have been putting in extra shifts themselves to be in top form for
the matches, and the public interest is already huge. More than 3,000 of the 4,200 tickets available have
been sold.
“We never had such an interest before, usually about 500 fans attended our international matches. But this
is another sign that handball is growing in Belgium,” says Kedziora.
“We will not be the mouse that is afraid of the snake,” said Piet Moons about the match against France. “And
we are optimistic to set a new spectators record for handball matches in Belgium with 4,200 fans in Liège.”
written by Björn Pazen / ts