20.05.2014, 11:50
“A fun afternoon for a good cause”

INTERVIEW: Future Rhein-Neckar Löwen coach Nikolaj Jacobsen does not exactly expect to win the VELUX EHF FINAL4 Charity Golf Tournament, a relaxing afternoon is what he is mainly hoping for

“A fun afternoon for a good cause”

Last Friday was Nikolaj Jacobsen’s final match as head coach of Aalborg Handball, as he saw his team lose the Danish championship to KIF Kolding København through a 19:17 away defeat.

This coming Saturday he will be following the last match day of the German Bundesliga closely, as his future team, Rhein-Neckar Löwen is in a close battle with one of his former clubs as a player, THW Kiel, for the German championship.

Compared to those activities, it will be more relaxing for the 43-year-old former Danish international on 30 May, when he takes part in the VELUX EHF FINAL4 Charity Golf Tournament at the Golf & Country Club Velderhof near Cologne.

Jacobsen speaks about his expectations, his skills as a golfer and what he is looking forward to at his first visit to the VELUX EHF FINAL4.

ehfFINAL4.com: What has made you sign up for this tournament?

Nikolaj Jacobsen: First the wish to have a nice and funny afternoon and meet some old and new friends from the handball community. Secondly because I like to support a good cause, like this one is, and I am happy to help where I can.

ehfFINAL4.com: Does it mean something in particular that it is for cancer aid?

Nikolaj Jacobsen: Not in particular. I also take part in various charity activities here in Denmark which serve other purposes, such as children’s welfare, but of course I find it important to support the fight against cancer. Cancer is a terrible disease which kills a lot of people every year, so if I can do my bit to contribute to fighting that, I am happy to do so.

ehfFINAL4.com: So what are your ambitions in the tournament?

Nikolaj Jacobsen: First of all I am looking forward to having a nice and cozy afternoon and meet up with some old friends and talk to a lot of people from the handball environment. I hope to be walking the fairways with some nice people.

ehfFINAL4.com: Your former opponent from the Bundesliga and the German national team Daniel Stephan has stated that he hopes to win the tournament. You do not seem to have the same ambition?

Nikolaj Jacobsen: No, I do not have that kind of ambition. I would like to say that I play good golf, but that is not always the case. As I said, I simply hope for a nice afternoon with some nice people, and furthermore I am looking forward to attending the FINAL4 for the first time in my life and experience that fantastic atmosphere at LANXESS arena.

ehfFINAL4.com: Next year you might have a good chance to be at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in a different role – as a coach. Being a German top team, your future club Rhein-Neckar Löwen should have a fine chance to qualify. How do you feel about that?

Nikolaj Jacobsen: I would like to put it this way: Next year I hope that I will not have time to take part in the golf tournament. Hopefully the reason will be that we have qualified for Cologne with Rhein-Neckar Löwen.

TEXT: Peter Bruun / cor