Poloz keen to end 18-year wait

The Slovakian handball association have named Dušan Poloz as Peter Sabadka’s replacement as the women’s national team coach.

Poloz has signed a contract until the end of September 2016 and his main task will be to end the 18-year long wait for an appearance at a major international tournament.

“To become a national team coach is an honour for any coach in any sport. I appreciate the chance to lead the Slovakian team. It is a new challenge for me and the next step up in my career,” says Poloz.

The 48-year-old Czech won the Women’s Challenge cup with DHK Baník Most last season and will continue at the club alongside the Slovakian national team.

He was also part of the coaching staff under Jan Bašný in the Czech national team participating at the 2012 EHF EURO and qualifying for the upcoming 2013 World Championship in Serbia.

No easy way to Hungary & Croatia

With experience from Norway and the success with the Czech national team and DHK Baník Most, Dušan Poloz now welcomes the new challenge, with EHF EURO 2014 qualification starting in late October.

Slovakia will fight for the right to play in Hungary and Croatia in group 2 with France, Iceland and Finland, with the top two teams going through.

“I believe Slovakia have the chance to qualify, otherwise I would not take the job. I signed the contract for three years and our aim will be to work hard all this time and do everything we can to qualify for a major handball tournament after all these years of waiting,” says an enthusiastic Poloz.

Slovakia pays visit to France in late October (23-24 October), where the campaign will kick off for Dušan Poloz´s girls, with, what could be a crucial match up, waiting for them a few days later at home against Iceland.

As France are the group favourites, Dušan Poloz knows that the Iceland games are important and will not be easy.

“Iceland is comparable team to Romania (the team to eliminate Slovakia in the 2013 World Championship play-offs), but yes, there is a chance, matches with Iceland will be decisive.

“It’s a pity that the home match with Iceland is in October, which does not give us much time to prepare, but we have to accept this challenge,” admits the new coach.

Balancing two systems

The start of the new EHF EURO qualifying campaign is approaching fast and the new coach is aware that he does not have time to completely change the team’s playing style and structure.

“I will need to adapt my concept onto what Peter Sabadka has built up. I cannot change the whole system, with not much time to spare. That would be a highway to hell.

“My main task is to bring new things, new methods and combine them with what has been working well before and to bring success.

“Three years ago, when we took over the Czech national women team, not many people believed in us. Good team work, team spirit, integrity, the dream of the whole team and desire to fight for each other – those have to be the attributes of a national team and all these aspects have a positive effect on the results of a team. This is what I’d like to bring to the Slovakian team,” explains Poloz, when asked about the secret to success for this team.

One of the first tasks for the new coach is to get to know all of his players. 

“I need time to get under the skin of the whole team. From what I know, there is quality in all of the players from the national team.

“The majority of the players are from the Czech-Slovakian league, so I have seen them play.

“The rest are from other European leagues. I have asked for video materials with past matches, which I am planning to study very carefully to get the taste of the team. 

“Especially in attack, there is huge potential. These girls have what it takes to be part of a major handball tournament.”