Learning from those who master the know-how. That is just what Brazil did by looking for the Men’s and Women’s National Handball Teams coaches in Europe. From Denmark, the country imported Morten Soubak’s talent and from Spain Jordi Ribera’s knowledge. With the new methodologies, Brazilian Handball is achieving more impressive results every day. But, in order to win a prominent place on the world stage, the sport needs an exclusive venue, so the athletes can think exclusively about training.

Expected to be delivered in the end of June and beginning of August of this year, the National Handball Development Centre, in São Bernardo do Campo (SP), a city which is a reference for the practice of this sport in the country, will fulfill this need.

“Today, to achieve a high performance, every sport needs a training centre. A venue that fulfils all the conditions to apply different forms of work, with dormitories, medical area, gym and video room. In a continent-sized country like Brazil, this need is even greater”, said Jordi Ribera, the Men’s Team coach.

Jordi is currently in Blumenau (SC), leading the National Development and Technical Improvement Camp, with 240 athletes and 24 coaches from all over Brazil. Until the 21st, the coach and his technical commission worked with 120 boys in the cadet category (born in 1996 and 1997) and from 21st February until 2nd March, work is being done with 120 boys in the juvenile category (1994 and 1995). While the Training Centre is not ready, the Brazilian Handball Confederation (CBHb) must bear with a much greater cost.

“It is this new Olympic cycle’s first camp, a project aimed at finding new athletes and forming them. Between 2006 and 2007 we had five similar training camps [Jordi coached the Brazilian National Team until Beijing 2008 and reassumed the position last year]. The idea is to establish a standard of play. We called up players from different competitions, besides athletes recommended by the local federations”, he explained.

Jordi and his staff divide the group of young athletes in eight teams in each category. The training sessions are scheduled in the morning and, two hours after lunch, the eight teams play against each other in some kind of internal competition. Always with his camera and tripod at hand, Jordi films all the matches and in the evenings he analyses the videos in everyone’s presence.

“We always invite 16 goalkeepers, 16 left wingers, 16 centre forwards and so on, in order to form eight teams. From there, we look for the profile that we want. Main Team players also participate in the camp, lecturing, advising and effectively taking part in this process. We hosted Ricky, Japa and Diogo last week and we will receive other interesting visitors this week”, said Jordi, with no intention of anticipating the surprise for the young Brazilian athletes.

Just like Jordi, Morten Soubak, from Denmark, Brazilian National Women’s Team coach, also works hard to develop Handball in the country. “When I arrived here, in 2009, the aim was to play against any team in the world in equal conditions. I believe our performance in the 2012 Olympic Games and in the latest World Championships to be real proof of this evolution”, said Morten.

Mock-up of the Brazilian National Handball Development Centre to be built in São Bernardo do Campo (SP) - Photo: Divulgation

National Handball Development Centre

One of the official Pre-Games Training Sites listed by the Rio 2016™ Organising Committee, the Brazilian National Handball Development Centre will have two official Handball courts (40m x 20m), accommodation for 120 athletes, gyms and fitness rooms, a first aid and medical treatment area, a physiotherapy and massage room, as well as resting sites for the athletes.

The project also includes meeting and lecture rooms, a restaurant and a cafeteria, an auditorium, a launderette, a living area as well as a sports equipment storage area. With the construction of the new centre, the CBHb Headquarters will be transferred from Aracaju (SE) to São Bernardo do Campo (SP).