Iranian players in action during a training session at the Duhail Sports Hall yesterday. (EPA)
Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympic Games, once said that “the important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle, the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well”.
This might be a convenient argument for the Iranian team at the 24th Men’s Handball World Championship.
But as the American saying goes in such cases: “Thanks, but no thanks!”
The Asian team, which represents a large nation of 78 million made history by taking part in their first Handball World Championship here in Doha, but they didn’t come here only to compete and get experience.
“We were aiming to get some good results, including victories, but it hasn’t happened until now, and we have postponed this target to be accomplished in the President’s Cup,” said the 26-year-old right wing Omid Sekenari.
The Iranians showed up on the international stage back in 1986 when they took part at the Asian Games, but they came up big in the last decade to capture four medals: a silver at the 2005 West Asian Games, a bronze at the 2006 Asian Games, a silver at the 2010 Asian Games and most recently a bronze at the 2014 Asian Championships, held at Manama, Bahrain.
Slovenian coach Borut Macek took over the team for the first time in 2010 and led them to the runner-up spot at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. He has a deep knowledge of Asian Handball, not only because of his previous stint with the Iranians, but also due to those he had with Qatar and Bahrain.
“Iran has talent, passion and the desire to do it well, but they miss good organisation and consistent structure,” Macek said. “The president of the National Handball Federation has been changed three times in the last five months and they are now going for new elections.
“As a result of these consecutive changes the national team didn’t have the preparation needed for a World Championship. We came here after only 20 days of training, including three friendly games we played in Italy, and that’s all,” Macek added.
The Iranians went 0-5 in the Qatar 2015 Group B after they lost to another newcomer, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYRO Macedonia, Croatia, Austria and Tunisia with a total negative margin of 45 goals.
“We enjoyed our participation, but it is not enough for us to return to our country with only losses,” said goalkeeper Renani Mohsen Babasafari, one of the three Iranians who playing outside the country
“There is no doubt that we got great experiences and had a flavour of what a great competition is all about, but you never play a game just for fun. The positive thing is that we have a young team composed of players who are eager to learn.”
He and pivot Seyed Alireza Mousavi play for the Hungarian club Grundfos Tatabanya, while their teammate, left back Mohammadreza Rajabi, plays for Naft Al Jonoob, in Iraq. Seven players from the Iranian side are members of the country’s biggest club, Samen-e-Sabzevar, while three others play for their big rival, Magnesium Ferdows.
In a nation where football dominates in popularity but where freestyle wrestling is always considered as the national sport, handball is trying hard to find some space.
“They are young and ambitious to have success and, to be honest, the can have it, but only if the Federation will provide them with the support needed,” Macek said.
The Iranian team is one of the youngest in Qatar 2015, with an average of 25.4 years, tying with Chile and only behind Saudi Arabia (24.4).
“Look, here is Jaleleddine Touati who has more international games and goals than all of the Iranians,” Macek said with laugh during the Press Conference after Tunisia edged his side.
“I am neither excessive, nor crazy, but I strongly believe that if we should have been able to make a better preparation, we could have won over Bosnia Herzegovina and maybe Tunisia and get at least three points.
“The players have strength and will, but they miss self-confidence and they don’t know how to deal with the crucial moments in a game.
“Against the Tunisians they were shocked when they tied the game in the first half, were unable to manage their feelings and made funny turnovers. At the end of the day I feel proud of them, but I am still wondering what we could succeed here if the team had better preparation.”
