Austria’s squad nomination for the upcoming men’s handball championship is causing a stir. Bob Hanning, managing director of Füchse Berlin and coach of second division club VfL Potsdam, is angry because one of his protégés was not taken into account.
Elias Kofler from VfL Potsdam is not part of Austria’s 17-man squad for the European Championships in Germany. A circumstance that Hanning cannot understand.
“Elias Kofler – what can I say. I’m sure that Austria will be European champions,” the 55-year-old joked on the club’s homepage about the team that goes into the tournament as underdogs.
“I’m going to commit to that now, because if you can do without Elias Kofler, then you have to have such a good team that you have to become European champions,” Hanning continued.
Kofler is Austria’s handball player of the year
The 23-year-old Kofler moved from Austria to VfL Potsdam in the summer. He had previously been voted handball player of the year in his home country.
With the Potsdam team, Kofler consolidated second place in the 2nd Bundesliga (equal on points with leaders SG BBM Bietigheim) with the recent 32:23 win against TV Hüttenberg. With eight goals, the development player played a major role in his club’s victory.
“He coped well with not being nominated and did very well today,” praised coach Hanning.
Kofler himself said: “I don’t think I put any pressure on myself today. I knew I had what it took and stayed relaxed, and then everything will happen on its own. I’m glad I was able to help the team today. “
At the European Handball Championships in Germany, Austria is no longer an outsider. The Alpine republic’s best result at a European Championship is eighth place in 2020. The team reached 14th place at the 1993 World Cup. You couldn’t qualify for the Olympic Games yet.