“I’m preparing for my last world competition, now for sure! I spent twenty years in the national team and it’s still an inimitable feeling to be here! This achievement gives my career a framework that cannot be put into words. The match was as fluctuating as once morest the Norwegians. I just kept looking at the clock, oh my God, let the time pass and let the match be over!” he told Nemzeti Sport Roland Mikler.
“I used to get nervous like that, my legs used to shake like that. This match decided many things in my career. This might have been my last national team match, which caused enormous tension in me. Today, my role was to add what I know to success off the field,” declared Roland Mikler, who tried to help his fellow goalkeeper, the sensational defender László Bartucz, in everything.
“Of course I did what I might. If I needed to shout, caress, or encourage, I tried to be there with him. In the last fifteen minutes, he indicated that he was already very tired. I told him that I don’t care, hold on to this, it will be very important! And then he had four or five more saves. Sensational Laci, her performance was amazing!”
According to Mikler, they were not nervous when they were down by three goals.
“With a three-goal deficit, we needed our best form, excitement doesn’t play there. Fortunately, everyone had their hearts in the right place, added theirs, and God took our hands.”
Máté Lékai celebrates with his wife Ramóna Lékai-Kiss (Photo: Csaba Dömötör)
Together with Roland, Mikler is preparing for his last Olympics Máté Lékai.
“The Olympics cannot be compared to any other sporting event. In addition, this will be a European Olympics, which will be closer to the fans. We will be in the same time zone, so many people will see our matches from home. It’s a fantastic experience!” said the controller.
“It added a lot to the success that we played at home. The atmosphere was great, the fans helped us turn the game around, and when it came together, the hall collapsed on the Portuguese! We collected our last reserves of strength and in the end, I feel like we mightn’t have lost anymore.”
Máté Lékai was accompanied to the interview by his five-year-old son Noé.
“When I didn’t have a son, it was my dream that if I had one, he would see him play handball. I’m sure you’ll have memories of this already. I’m glad my family was here. My mother, my father, my wife, my little son. They give me a lot of support in my career.”
The audience in Tatabánya was sensational (Photo: Csaba Dömötör)
Photo: National Sport
MEN’S HANDBALL OLYMPIC QUALIFIER
ROUND 3
GROUP 3 (TATABÁNYA)
HUNGARY-PORTUGAL 30-27 (16-16)
Tatabánya, 6000 viewer. V: Schulze, Tonnies (Germans)
HUNGARY: Mikler – IMRE B. 9 (3), Ancsin G. 2, Lékai 2, BÁNHIDI 4, SZITA 4, Bóka 1. Exchange: BARTUCZ (goalkeeper), Sipos A., Fazekas G. 2, Rosta M. 2, Ligetvári, Bodó 1, Ilic Z. 3. Union captain: Chema Rodríguez
PORTUGAL: Capdeville – PORTELA 6 (2), FRADE 5, Salvador, Cavalcanti 1, Fernandes 3, Martins 2. Exchange: Marques (kapus), M. COSTA 4, F. Costa 1, Borges, Duarte 1, Rui Silva 1, Nazaré, Areira 3, Branquinho. Union captain: Paulo Pereira
Evolution of the result. p. 4: 3–1. 10. p.: 7–4. 14. p.: 8–7. 19. p.: 13–9. 24. p.: 15–12. 28. p.: 15–16. 37. p.: 18–21. 46. p.: 22–22. 50. p.: 22–24. 56. p.: 27–25
Exhibitions: 8, ill. 8 perc
Seven meters long: 3/3, ill. 3/2
1. Norway33––102–7862. HUNGARY 32–188–8043. Portugal31–193–9124. Tunisia3––377–1110 GROUP 3 FINAL RESULT
PARTICIPANTS OF THE MEN’S HANDBALL TOURNAMENT OF THE PARIS OLYMPICS
Argentina, Denmark, Egypt, France, Croatia, Japan, HUNGARYGermany, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Slovenia
