The 23rd German Handball Championship of THW Kiel was not only difficult to win on the field, patience was also required when celebrating. It took a long time before the bowl could be presented to the home fans.
The THW Kiel championship celebration was actually supposed to start around 9 p.m. in the Kiel Arena, but what was normal and planned this season for the record champions? Complications and strong nerves just somehow belonged to the title this year. And so hardly anyone was surprised when it became clear that the professionals would be delayed in landing at Holtenau Airport. The plane then landed in Kiel around 9.30 p.m. to the applause of the fans present. The players only briefly greeted their families and then drove on to the hall. They had been eagerly awaited there for hours.
Zebra herd shows party animal qualities
Arrived in the arena, the players first disappeared into the catacombs, only to show themselves to the audience in zebra looks around 10:40 p.m. The two left wingers Magnus Landin and Rune Dahmke were the first professionals on stage. The latter proved that he not only had the opponents on the plate under control, but also the fans in the hall. The first “Deutscher Meister wird nur der THW” chants were intoned by him. He had previously announced that he really wanted to party.
After all, the season was anything but easy for the people of Kiel: “There were moments when nobody really believed in us anymore, now we’re standing here with the bowl soaked in beer and we want to celebrate that,” he said. “A season is ten, eleven months of work and then you have a night to celebrate and we want to enjoy that to the full.”
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THW Kiel celebrates the championship in its own living room
Emotional farewell for two big ones
It was also time to enjoy and say goodbye to Danish world star Niklas Landin. Probably the best keeper in the world does not leave THW without feeling wistful: “I played for THW for the biggest club in the world. That was the best championship of the three that I won here”. The Norwegian Sander Sagosen, who is also drawn back home, sees it similarly: “It’s a dream finish and with this team it’s something special.” His singing, which can often be heard in the hall during the party, is also special. The record champions will miss both players in the coming season – on the record, but not on the microphone.
For Niklas Landin it is the best championship of his THW time. After eight years, Kiel leaves.
Last highlight is written and not sung
The last highlight of the evening, however, does not belong to anyone who leaves, but rather stays longer. Between two songs, a table is cleared onto the stage and Eric Johansson signs something. It’s the Swede’s contract extension. The backcourt player will stay with THW until 2028. He will probably experience one or the other championship there. But then hopefully again on the town hall balcony and without major delays.
This topic in the program:
NDR 1 Wave North | Hello Schleswig-Holstein – with Mandy Schmidt and Horst Hoof | 06/12/2023 | 5:40 a.m
