Learning from Lekic

One of many top players to enjoy their summer break with the younger generation of handball is Andrea Lekic, who organised the second edition of her “Andrea Lekic Camp”. 

The World Handball Player of the Year 2013 spent a week with the young girls and boys in the beautiful spa resort of “Vrnjacka Banja” in central Serbia, where she and her team pulled out all the stops to give the young participants important handball and life lessons. 

The Serbian, who is one of the most popular athletes in a country which hosted two unforgettable major events recently – the Women’s EHF EURO 2012 and 2013 World Championship, welcomed 65 kids from 11 countries from Norway, Finland and Sweden to Romania and Greece.

“I would like to show with my own example, how professional athletes have to work with the kids. Every single day in a camp is valuable. My team are trying to make progress in all the elements of one young athlete, from education to the sports skills, nutrition, etc. 

“We had sports psychologist and different types of specialists, who had the mission to teach them to socialise, to respect each other and that they can only work together as a team. We are also trying to evoke a world off the handball court,” explained Lekic. 

“It is a huge pleasure to watch how kids absorb everything of their story, to recognise desire in their eyes and their efforts to fulfil all the coaches’ tasks. 

“It was a real source of energy to work for me and my team. Seeing joy and creativity in kids is one of the most beautiful things in the world,” concluded the back court player.

The Vardar star was not the only international to work with the kids during the camp. Her friends from the Serbian national team, finalist at last year’s World Championship, goalkeeper Katarina Tomasevic and left back Sanja Damnjanovic, also spent some unforgettable days in the camp, which in just its second year has established itself as one of the most popular summer handball events. 

Photos: Vladimir Markovic