 Will Dujshebaev head to Skopje as a world champion?
It was one of the most spectacular transfer news in international handball this week: Vardar PRO Skopje, an up and coming club from the Macedonian capital and participant of the VELUX EHF Champions League, signed one of the “hottest” talents in the world of handball Alex Dujshebaev.
The son of Talant Dujshebaev (twice World Handball Player of the Year, world, European and Olympic champion as a player, three times EHF Champions League winner as coach of Ciudad Real) agreed a two-year contract at Vardar, with the option for another season.
Before moving to FYR Macedonia, Alex Dujshebaev has a mission to fulfill: becoming world champion with the Spanish junior team in Bosnia Herzegovina.
On Friday evening the 20-year-old right back was again one of the keys for the Iberians to reach the final against Sweden on Sunday, by beating Croatia 36:35 after extra-time in a thrilling semi-final.
Spain and Dujshebaev can make history on Sunday by becoming the first Spanish side to take gold at this level and Alex can emulate the feat completed by his father Talant, who started his incredible career by leading Soviet Union to the junior world championship title 24 years ago – in Spain, in the final against Spain.
In this interview with ehfCL.com.com Alex Dujshebaev talks about his big dream with Spanish juniors and his transfer to Vardar.
Dujshebaev was the top scorer in the Spanish Asobal league with former club BM Aragon and was supposed to play in his father’s team at Atletico Madrid, before their widely reported downfall. The rumour mill linked the left hander with a move to France or Germany, but Vardar were the winners in the race for his signiture
ehfCL.com: When did you realise that you have reached the World Championship final?
Alex Dujshebaev: I think it was one second before the final whistle, when all of my teammates started jumping on the court. It was a thrilling game; both teams could have made it to the final. Croatia played brilliant in the second half, but we were efficient in shooting and in extra-time we were strong in defence. So we still can live our dream.
ehfCL.com: You have reached the fourth final with this team in four years – is this a team to make history?
Alex Dujshebaev: We are the reigning U20 European champions and we won the silver medals in both youth competitions on European and world stage.
Only one team had reached all four finals in the history of younger age category handball before: the Danes including Mikkel Hansen. So we can be absolutely proud, but of course we still want more. Now we are going for gold.
ehfCL.com: Right before the semi-final against Croatia Vardar Skopje had announced your transfer. Did this mean additional pressure for you or – in contrast did the pressure decrease after all speculations about your future had come to an end?
Alex Dujshebaev: To be honest: I am here in Bosnia-Herzegovina to have the optimum success with the Spanish team and until Sunday I only focus on my dream to become world champion.
The world championship final is the most important match of my life so far. When we have finished in Sarajevo, I can think about the rest.
ehfCL.com: Why did you choose Vardar Skopje over them offers from many other clubs?
Alex Dujshebaev: It is a very good team and an interesting project. I want to be part of the VELUX EHF Champions League and I want to play as much as possible, with Vardar I can do both and therefore I chose them.
ehfCL.com: If you finish on top of the podium on Sunday, you will have repeated one of your father’s earliest successes.
Alex Dujshebaev: Yes, Talant became junior world champion in Spain with the Soviet Union in the final against Spain and I now dream to finish this mission with Spain.
ehfCL.com: The logical next step would be to be part of the Spanish men’s team, are you thinking about that?
Alex Dujshebaev: Yes, of course. It is the dream of every player to wear the shirt of his country in the senior national team. However, as I said, I focus on the juniors right now, but later-on hopefully I will get my chance in the men’s team.
TEXT: Björn Pazen / cor
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