Tarafino on Italian Handball

Alessandro Tarafino, according to many the best Italian player ever, talks with Handball Galore about the current situation of Italian handball. Thanks Alessandro for your time. How do you see the post federal elections in the Italian handball world? "Now, what is done is done .. We need to move on and look at the future.It's going to be up to the relevant authorities to find out if there had been any irregularities during the last federal elections in Naples. We are going through a difficult historical time from where we have to try to get out of in the best possible way. That could be done through: programming and working at grassroots levels. I would expect the elections'winners to come up with an effective plan which can restore confidence and enthusiasm to teams in difficulty.A partnership and technical support to show the right path to teams which run youth league activities. I would also expect to see coaching clinics and a suitable plan which would restore momentum and visibility to the men's national team and the top league." What is your opinion about "The Great Handball Family"? "I do not think we can be happy and satisfied with the current situation of Italian handball. The fact that there have been numerous teams and managers who were in favour of a leadership change at the elections it is in my opinion legitimate and meaningful. There are still those who believe that we can recover from the shameful condition in which we find ourselves when compared to the Italian sport scene and to the International handball world. The Great Handball Family through its initiatives aims to make a contribution towards the relaunching and giving back hope of renewal to teams and fans." What role should former internationals like you have in Italian handball? "It's high time to stop sitting on the fences and jump into action instead. Everyone has to get involved in some of kind of activity which will help handball to recover. Here it is my message to former athletes, national squad players,any players on the territory,qualified coaches who feel to have been left in a corner.Let's go back to work together to revitalise and make our sport more professional. The Great Hnadball Family gives everyone: athletes, coaches, managers, referees or ordinary fans the opportunity for discussion and partnership linked to initiatives which will improve handball." Have you got any "recipe" to save Italian handball? "Each of us must do our part. Mine is to focus on activities at grassroots level by making my own experience available to the youngest generations.Teams should put more effort and energy into developing youth activities in their own territory.Teams should have a first quality squad in any relevant category in order for younger players to view it as a point of reference and a goal to reach.The same goes for senior and junior national squads. The implementation of a specific marketing strategy which would aim at making handball more popular and visible at national level is of paramount importance if we are seriously going to grow and attract new financial resources. There are many initiatives and ideas that we could implement in order to believe again in this sport.As a matter of fact, we have been failing in believing in our sport which is the most negative aspect in my opinion. There are no magical recipes:we have to start with a brand new slate and with the support of all fans".

Let's go back to International handball: have you got any favourite teams at the Spanish World Championship? "Yes I have.My favourite teams are:France, Denmark, Poland, Spain and Hungary."