Irish passion for handball

Irish passion for handball

The voice of the VELUX EHF Champions League, Tom O’Brannagain, talks to Eurohandball.com. The Irish commentator brings us live all the best games of each round, the Match of the Week.

The former player and handball coach tells us how he got involved in handball and what experiences he has so far.

Eurohandball.com: One would believe that Irish know little about handball. How did you meet this game?

Tom O’Brannagain: In 1986 I attended the Teachers’ Training College. We tried a number of sports there such as basketball and others. One day Lindsey Pennycook came to us, who was the goalkeeper of the British team back then.

He had an old-fashioned 8mm film with him with games from the Bundesliga on it. I remember all the players wore moustache, it was really funny. But as soon as he showed us the game, I immediately knew that this was the best game that I had ever seen. I couldn’t wait to try it myself.

So I started in a local team and made it to the Irish national team later.

Eurohandball.com: When you tell people that you are a handball coach, how do they react in Ireland?

Tom O’Brannagain: Long time ago, they believed that handball was a game similar to squash where you have to hit the ball against a wall using your hand. We used to call our game ‘Olympic Handball’. I always had to explain it like waterpolo without water or ‘handball: no balls but big balls’.

Now the younger generation know handball. They see it on TV and it is also part of the PE classes in Ireland. Handball is also played at the Community Games, which is a big step because it takes place every year for kids under 14.

Eurohandball.com: You had significant experience in TV shows, but you never commentated sports before. How did you find your way to the EHF Champions League?

Tom O’Brannagain: In the past I had TV shows in Ireland. I never felt comfortable with doing the same shows for a longer time, so I had many of them. But I always did live shows on TV and also on the radio.

I was working for the Irish national team when I was contacted by the EHF to make commentaries for them from the Champions League finals in Kiel and Ciudad Real. They asked me how I would do it and as a reply I just shouted ‘gooooooaaaaal’ on the telephone. This was my job interview…

The games in Germany and Spain were the first real tests for me. I had to learn using the monitor and not just commentating as you do it on the radio. But anyway, I always tried to transport the dynamism of the game.

Eurohandball.com: Apparently you passed the test as later you were once again invited to commentate the games of the EHF FINAL4…

Tom O’Brannagain: Which was a great opportunity to make progress and find my style of commentating. What I want to achieve is to show people how quick this game is and get the passion for handball through. At the same time, commentating just a few games each season is not enough. It is therefore my pleasure that I am involved in the Champions League on a weekly basis.

Being there every week helps a lot. We need to get people to know the players, their names and also explain them as many English speakers do not understand it completely.

Also, we need to create a story around handball. Girls watch sports because the players are so good looking, boys want to become like them. But it is fundamental that they know the players. So if we want to have a good product that people follow than we need a storyline. Then people start to follow a team.

Eurohandball.com: You travel around Europe and you are there at the greatest games. What does it feel like for you?

Tom O’Brannagain: Personally, I find it fantastic. Last week I went to Montpellier where the French national coach greeted me and I also had a chat to Martin Schwalb, the Hamburg coach. The ‘Blue Foxes’, the fans of Montpellier wanted to invite me for a wine, a whiskey or a coffee at least. I chose coffee because it was still before the game. It is great to be part of the show and meet really lovely people.

Eurohandball.com: What’s coming up for you?

Tom O’Brannagain: The Match of the Week will be now played in Kiel, then I go to Veszprém and then to Kielce. Those will be some great matches!

Match of the Week Schedule

Round 1
26.09.2010, Sunday, 15:00 GMT
Montpellier Agglomeration HB VS. HSV Hamburg

Round 2
03.10.2010, Sunday, 14:45 GMT
THW Kiel VS. FC Barcelona Borges

Round 3
9.10.2010, Saturday, 15:25 GMT
MKB Veszprem VS. Montpellier Agglomeration HB

Round 4
17.10.2010, Saturday, 13:00 GMT
KS Vive Targi Kielce VS. Rhein Neckar Löwen

Round 5
21.11.2010, Sunday, 14:30 GMT
SG Flensburg-Handewitt VS. HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb

Round 6
28.11.2010, Sunday, 17:30 GMT
HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb VS. SG Flensburg-Handewitt

Round 7
05.12.2010, Sunday, 16:15 GMT
FC Barcelona VS. THW Kiel