Talant’s dream: First Cologne, then Rio

He was named as the best coach of the VELUX EHF Champions League by his fellow coaches and he just can’t get enough of handball: Talant Dujshebaev is a jack-of-­all-trades in handball.

To coach Polish powerhouse Vive Tauron Kielce was not enough for the 47-years-old Kyrgyz born Spaniard, seven months later,in October 2014, the two-time World Handball Player of the Year and only Champions League winner as a player (Santander) and a coach (Ciudad Real) took over the Hungarian national team.

“It’s great fun to have both jobs,” says Dujshebaev in this ehfCL.com Interview of the Week, in which he explains his high goals with both teams and the craziness of the handball family Dujshebaev, as his two sons Alex (Vardar) and Daniel (Barcelona) are also contracted by Champions League clubs - and all meet in Group B.

ehfCL.com: It seems you are enjoying yourself in Kielce as you just extended your contract until 2019. How do you feel about your role there?

Talant Dujshebaev: I like to work with a long-term plan and vision - this is how I already worked at Ciudad Real and Atletico Madrid. When Kielce’s president asked me to extend the contract, it was easy for me to say yes. Kielce is a handball-crazy city, and we have so many common goals for the future.

ehfCL.com: The present did not look that good, as Kielce had a shaky start in the Polish league and the VELUX EHF Champions League. What happened?

Talant Dujshebaev: Originally, we had a very good preparation for the season, then players like Chrapkowski or Rosinski got injured, and we had to change and adapt our system. But in the meantime things are getting better and better, proven by our draw at Rhein-Neckar Löwen. This point can be important at the end in terms of the final ranking in our group. Our team still has a lot of room for improvement in all departments, but the players are eager to become better and there’s a huge potential in the team.

ehfCL.com: But what is Kielce lacking compared for example to a team like Barcelona, who beat you in the semi-final of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne in June?

Talant Dujshebaev: It was simply the power, which was missing due to the playing system of the Polish league. We had the most important matches of the season - the final series against Plock - right before the FINAL4. Uros Zorman and Julen Aguinagalde were injured, otherwise we might have had a chance against Barcelona. But to be honest: Their victories against us and Veszprem and to win the trophy again were absolutely deserved.

ehfCL.com: On 17 October Kielce will face Barcelona again already in the group phase - what’s your opinion on the new playing system?

Talant Dujshebaev: In general, it means a lot of fun and great action for all fans. This is one side, on the other hand to have four more group matches means a hard additional burden for the players. They do not have any time to rest and recover anymore. You have national league, Champions League and then either EURO or World Championship every year, in 2016 Olympic qualification tournaments and Olympic Games are added - this is too much for the players.

ehfCL.com: Despite the increased number of matches - Cologne is again the dream destination for you and Kielce?

Talant Dujshebaev: Indeed! Our first goals are defending our domestic titles and then the third qualification for the FINAL4 in our club history would be the icing on the cake for this season. But so many other teams hope and fight for the tickets to Cologne - just look in our group: Barcelona, Löwen, Vardar and Kielce are aiming to go all the way. This season will definitely be one of the most exciting of all time.

ehfCL.com: Also, Group B is not only composed by four powerhouses of European club handball, but also includes three family members of the Dujshebaevs - you and your sons Alex and Daniel.

Talant Dujshebaev: Daniel is too young to play in the Champions League this season, he is only 18 and he has to learn so much to become a big player. Currently it is perfect for him to be key player in Barca’s second team, there is where he can develop and improve. He has got talent, but he has also got a long way ahead. Alex really impresses me how he makes his way at Vardar and in the Spanish national team. Last season, he really played at the highest level.

ehfCL.com: Like in the previous season, when Papa Dujshebaev eliminated his son in the quarter-finals, you face Alex again in the group phase. Are those duels routine already or still something special?

Talant Dujshebaev: We are used to those matches now, as we already faced in the Spanish league, when Alex played in Logrono and I was the coach of Ciudad Real or Atletico. But those duels in the Champions League are of a higher level.

ehfCL.com: Do you dream of a family reunion with both sons in the same club, coached by you?

Talant Dujshebaev: I have an even better idea. All Dujshebaevs qualify with their respective clubs for the FINAL4 in Cologne and then we have a big family party, this would be perfect!

ehfCL.com: Since one year you are also coach of the Hungarian national team. How can you cope with this double burden?

Talant Dujshebaev: It is fun, not a burden, and it definitely is not at all stress for me. As my boys are also in the handball business there would be no time for family during World or European Championship, so I can do my job without having negative thought not being there for my boys. And I am truly thankful that Kielce and the Hungarian Federation enable me to coach both teams.

ehfCL.com: The Men’s EHF EURO 2016 in Poland will be your first major tournament as a national team coach. Hungary, 2012 Olympic Games semi-finalists, missed qualification for the 2015 World Championships, so the pressure must be high regarding the last exit on the way to Rio?

Talant Dujshebaev: An EHF EURO final tournament is the toughest event in the world of handball. There is no easy match, not even in the preliminary round. Hence you cannot predict anything or how your team will rank in the end, or so. Until the throw-off of the first match, we only focus on our opponent Montenegro. Then we focus on Russia and Denmark - and then we will see, how far we can come.

ehfCL.com: Is Rio another personal dream destination for 2016?

Talant Dujshebaev: Olympic Games are the biggest event in a career of any sportsman. I was so lucky that I could play at four Olympic Games and I want to enjoy those emotions, this incredible atmosphere again as a coach.

ehfCL.com: So what do you prefer: Cologne or Rio? Or Cologne and Rio?

Talant Dujshebaev: It’s very simple: Until our next international week with the Hungarian national team in November, only Kielce counts. Then Hungary, counts, then again Kielce. It’s easy to switch for me and it is great if you have goals like those I have with my teams. But to answer your question: A perfect scenario would include Cologne and Rio.