For the past five years, the Slovak Handball Federation (SZH) has been trying to improve the level of handball in the country, on both the men’s and women’s sides.

The first step was made five years ago, when Fernando Gurich Mina was named in the technical director position of the SZH. Gurich Mina, who also serves as the Slovakia men’s junior national team coach, also helped unlock the door for one of the most surprising appointments in European handball in the past year.

Three weeks before the double-header against Portugal in the Women’s EHF EURO 2022 Qualifiers, Slovakia announced that Jorge Duenas will be the new coach of the women’s national team, bringing plenty of experience and knowhow into the position.