Lifelong teammates hoping for an exceptional atmosphere

Christan Bock and Jeff Decker both started playing handball in 1992 and are in their 21st season in Esch.

“We have been playing for Esch for over 20 years. We are a bunch of friends who stick together and playing the Challenge Cup final is a great reward for all the hard work,” explains Decker.

“We all feel that this is a unique experience in our career. We have been playing together for many years now but we have never lived something like this.

"After the quarter-final and the semi-final, when we won the game in the last seconds, the emotions were thrilling. That was really amazing,” says Bock.

Both players hope that their achievements contribute to making handball more popular in Luxembourg.

“People that have never been at a handball game, or any other big sports event, suddenly come to our matches. This helps our sport,” explains Bock, who has already many tickets reserved for the big game on Saturday.

“If the event will be well advertised, if many kids come to see the match and they enjoy the game, the clubs will benefit. More kids allow the clubs to form better teams and to be more competitive. If we can contribute to this by playing this final, that would be great for us,” says Decker.

Now, Handball Esch will play in the Coque arena with a capacity of 5200 people. The national handball team has only played twice before in the arena, meaning it will be a whole new experience for most of the players and the officials.

“It is a highlight for a team sport to play at the Coque. We have to enjoy the match and give everything we have,” says Decker.

Bock hopes to fill the arena to its capacity and use the fans as an advantage.

“I hope that we can create an exceptional atmosphere just like at the previous matches. Our fans are at all our matches and they support us all the time.

“They are great, a big thanks to them. They push us and this is why we are so much stronger at home,” Decker agrees that their fans are like an eighth man on the court.

As far as the final is concerned, both players have a simple wish: win the home game against SKA Minsk.

“It is a dream idea, a giant wish. If it is not possible to win, then I hope that the spectators will honour our achieving the final until the last minute, that no matter the result, they will support us 100%,” concludes Decker.