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Swiss handball players lost their first two qualifying matches for the European Championship and spent a lot of money.
Michael Suter doesn’t beat around the bush: “That was the craziest week of my coaching career. And I have been a handball coach for almost 20 years ”, said the national team coach.
In fact: due to a crown case in the area, some players had to be evaluated up to four times, the EM qualification game in Denmark was postponed on short notice due to waiting for the results, the arrival was only on the day of the match, received two days later Nati North Macedonia – and now has 0 points in 2 games.
“Getting points is our job”
Suter does not want to accept circumstances as an excuse: “We have to be prepared, we have to score points here, that is our job,” he said after 11:25 pm against North Macedonia in Schaffhausen.
Not only in sports, but also economically it was a lost week for the national team. The shortfall in revenue due to the lack of a local audience and the additional expenses add up to a deficit of 100,000 francs, as confirmed by Ingo Meckes, the association’s head of competitive sports.
Expensive charter flight
The charter flight to Denmark was particularly significant. Hardly any other solution was possible, says Meckes. A scheduled flight was out of the question, on the one hand due to the concept of protection, on the other hand because the game was postponed and the additional 300km bus ride from Copenhagen to Aarhus.
Meckes believes that the deficit can be covered, either within the framework of the competitive sports budget of the Swiss Association (SHV), through stabilization contributions from the federal government or through a contribution from the European handball association, which insisted on holding ranking games. “We are not left alone,” said Meckes, who also highlighted the “incredible solidarity of the sponsors.”
SHV representatives also see positive things in the last week: “At this gloomy time, it is even more important that the flagship national team can play and show itself at SRF,” says coach Suter. Meckes added. «The presence on television is very important to us. We have gained the public’s attention in recent years. “
