18.08.2013, 10:03
Camilla Pytlick feels no extra pressure

Being the daughter of Denmark's women's national team coach Jan Pytlick might be a pressure for any 15-year-old handball player, but not for the playmaker in the Danish Women's 17 team at the EHF EURO in Poland

Camilla Pytlick feels no extra pressure

As many people around the Women´s 17 EHF EURO in Gdansk and Gdynia have guessed correctly already, Camilla Pytlick is the daughter of Denmark's senior women's national coach Jan Pytlick.

Carrying that last name simply has to attract attention, and maybe some pressure, too.

But in Pytlick's eyes it is all a bit different.

"Of course, there are many people, who have noticed my name, also here in Poland, but actually I do not feel that it puts any extra pressure on me.

"That pressure was heavier a few years ago, but in the meantime I have learned to put the pressure away," Camilla Pytlick told eurohandball.com.

The 15-year-old middle back comes from GOG, a club famous for producing handball talents of both genders for many years – and it is also the club, where Jan Pytlick has been coach several times, at top level as well as for his own daughter's team.

"I had him as coach, when I played in the under-14 team in GOG, but that was not any more special, than it would always be to have one of your own parents as coach of your team, I think," says Camilla Pytlick.

At 15 she is one of the youngest players in the Danish squad, but has no problems carrying the responsibility of being playmaker.

"I do not think that much about being one of the youngest, even though we are not many players from the 1997 age group in the team.

"Of course, you have to be able to think a lot of handball, when you are the one who organises the attacking play, but I think that we playmakers solve that very well together."

More speed needed

After the Danes started the tournament with two clear wins – 32:21 against the Netherlands and 23:17 against Montenegro – there is understandable happiness in the Danish camp and also with Camilla Pytlick.

However, she still sees room for improvement.

"We have done really well, but we still need some more speed with the ball, and hopefully we will be ready for that, when we meet France on Sunday (18 August).

"Then we will have to see which teams we run into in the following matches, before we can say more about our chances.

"After all, this is our first championship, and everything is really bit and a bit overwhelming," Camilla Pytlick told eurohandball.com.

It probably does not come as a surprise that her personal ambition is getting into the senior national team.

“Of course it is. Having a father who has been in charge of the senior team for so long, it is also natural to have that ambition, but there is still a long way for me to go.

"So for now I focus on enjoying to play in the under-17 team, and it is really a great experience to be at the European Championship here in Poland."

TEXT: Peter Bruun / ts