02.06.2016, 04:20
Dujshebaev full of pride for all 16 sons

INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK: Kielce coach reflects on an unforgettable weekend at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and speaks about his side's unlikely path to glory

Dujshebaev full of pride for all 16 sons

Vive Tauron Kielce coach Talant Dujshebaev still cannot believe in what happened last Sunday. Just days after an incredible comeback from 19:28 down to draw and then win on penalties, his voice remains full of emotions and he barely can hide his pride.

Even though Taland Dujsheabev already won many titles, including four previous EHF Champions League trophies, he admits that the historical success of Kielce remains on top of achievements.

In the Interview of the Week, the coach tells ehfCL.com of his quiet Sunday party, the decision that turned around the course of final against MVM Veszprem, the touching celebration of the club’s historical success with a sea of fans crowded at the main square and about his gift for Children’s Day.

ehfCL.com: What feelings accompanied you during Tuesday’s celebration?

Talant Dujshebaev: In my head there was a picture of our ten-goal failure in Skopje, when we all were boiling. After that our fans visited us at our training in Kielce (the fans wanted to show that they are still with the team after the loss and spontaneously organised themselves online – ed.) and then supported us like never against Plock. They gave us so much strength.

I always say that the club will be solid only then when there is a connection between the players, management and the fans. And fans are our reason to fight; I want to thank those who came that special evening to the hall and everyone who supported us in the battle for the FINAL4. This is also their success.

ehfCL.com: Were you able to sleep after such experience?

Talant Dujshebaev: Now it’s a bit better, but I’m still tired. There are many emotions around me, we still can’t imagine what we did together. Maybe in a few months we will understand it better. There were many incredible victories in my life but definitely this one I rank very high among my happiest events.

ehfCL.com: How did you celebrate it?

Talant Dujshebaev: I had no power to celebrate. I drank two beers and they hit me, so I just went to sleep. I was so tired.

ehfCL.com: Are you happy more about winning the next Champions League trophy or about that particular match against Veszprem in which your boys did the impossible?

Talant Dujshebaev: Actually, I’m the most proud about the two matches against Flensburg that saw us qualify. Then we played against probably the best team of the world, Paris Saint-Germain, and then in the final we defeated the team that is among the three best teams of the world. The way we did it will stay forever in my heart.

ehfCL.com: Are such games are won by tactics or heart and character?

Talant Dujshebaev: Definitely heart and character. When you play two matches in a row at such a high level, it’s hard to prepare the team tactically. Maybe in the first game we had a week to fix some tactics, but in the second one heart and character were all we had.

ehfCL.com: When Kielce was losing by nine goals you took a brave decision to give your players free rein. How did you know it would work?

Talant Dujshebaev: It was not a brave decision; it was the only one I could have taken. Actually we didn’t play that poorly in that moment, our opponent was just incredible. Their goalkeeper, Palmarsson, Ilic, Ugalde, Nilsson, Nagy – they destroyed us.

Then I told my players they should start from the defence and then just run forward, I wanted to reduce the loss and thus the shame and they did even more than this.

ehfCL.com: At the press conference after the match you said that the Hungarian handball is still a part of your heart and that’s why you can’t be 100% happy. Did you talk to the Hungarian players afterwards?

Talant Dujshebaev: Of course, I talked to them yet on the court and then I went to their changing room. It was an honour to work with them in the national team. I was lucky to meet excellent athletes and true friends. I was unhappy to have to stand in front of these boys, that’s why I’m very proud of my players from Kielce but also sad about the boys from Veszprem.

ehfCL.com: How do you set new goals for the team that has just won the most important trophy in club handball?

Talant Dujshebaev: The first goal is to rest. Then I want them to focus on the national team and after that we have our first goal on the Super Globe in Doha. First we need to focus on defending domestic titles and then we want to be in the FINAL4 again. Only when we achieve that, we can think about being the first team to win it two times in a row.

ehfCL.com: Grzegorz Tkaczyk, Denis Buntic, Marin Sego and Ivan Cupic are leaving the club. Patryk Walczak, Darko Djukic, Dean Bombac and Filip Ivic are joining – so the balance of Polish and Balkan nationalities remains the same. Was that an intentional step?

Talant Dujshebaev: We want to have more Polish players in the club, but it’s not always possible to keep the level. But in fact, different players adapt to Poland differently and Balkan players do it much easier than Frenchmen, Germans or Spaniards.

ehfCL.com: In a year we will have the Dujshebaev duet in Kielce. Are you looking forward to work with your son?

Talant Dujshebaev: Of course, I’m very happy. We already wanted to work together in 2013 in Atletico Madrid, before the club’s demise. Now we will have a chance in Kielce, but I want to underline that it was a decision of Bertus Servaas, not mine. He negotiated; I just gave my son the green light to talk to Bert, but as a father I didn’t want to be the factor deciding about his arrival.

ehfCL.com: Will it be easy for you to treat Alex the same as other players?

Talant Dujshebaev: On the court I have 16 sons. Each of them is treated equally and can receive a hard word or a chocolate. Alex will mean as much as Mateusz Jachlewski, Karol Bielecki or Krzysztof Lijewski.

ehfCL.com: Did you give each of them a chocolate on Children’s Day?

Talant Dujshebaev: No, they all gave me the best chocolate in the shape of hand, 12kg of pure chocolate. I still can’t believe it.

ehfCL.com: What will be the most important in preparing Poland to Rio and World Championship play-offs against Netherlands?

Talant Dujshebaev: The most important will be to use these eight, nine days we will have ahead of the game against Netherlands and exploit them as a preparation to Rio. We don’t have much time, Talant Dujshebaev has been the coach of the Polish national team only ten days – I didn’t spend more time on working with the players. So we really need to work, work and work.

ehfCL.com: Will you give your boys in the national team a free rein as well?

Talant Dujshebaev: No, the free rein only happens in such accidents like the 46th minute against Veszprem.

TEXT: Magda Pluszewska / cor