Handball training goes to outstations

Ranjan Anandappa

Handball, an emerging sport in Sri Lanka will get a vigourous twist, when a training program launched for coaches, patronised by the German Olympic Sports Confederation from October 19 to 31 in different parts of the Island.

A German handball coach Helmet Michael Duell who has represented his country as a goal-keeper from 1966 to 1970 at national level has been bestowed with the job of training coaches, and who will in return impart their knowledge to the beginners.

The German coach Duell said that he had lot of important things to offer and hoped to introduce modern methods of coaching like in Europe as the game has changed drastically since 1970, during his playing days.

The coaching program is organised by the Handball Federation of Sri Lanka in the quest of popularising the game islandwide as the medal winning prospect at Asian or world level looks brighter.

The Secretary General of the Sri Lanka Handball Federation Brigadier Dampath Fernando said at a press briefing at the Olympic House Auditorium, at Reid Avenue, that through the coaching program he expected to train around 150 coaches, so that they could be utilised to coach and promote the game specially in the rural areas.

"To play handball you only need a space of 40x20, a handball and two goal posts. So the game could be easily taken to the village, as we know in some schools the space is very limited, but it won't be difficult to find space to play handball." said the Secretary of the HFSL.

" Like any other sport, handball too, should be taken out of Colombo at grass roots level as the sport does not need a lot of materials or facilities. This is where the trained coaches will come in handy, introducing the sport in schools will also play a vital role in promoting the game. It is also important training referees, and people with the technical knowledge to run tournaments," said Brigadier Dampath Fernando.

The training programs will be held in Colombo, Maduru Oya and Galle.

Mrs Heiki Widmer, Third Secretary, German Embassy was the chief guest.