Brazil eager to perform for ‘torcida’

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In the final days leading up to the 2014 IKF Pan American Korfball Championship the host team has prepared in Americana, Sao Paulo, under Portuguese coach Jorge Alves, with an intensive programme of daily training sessions and a full schedule of promotional activities.

Twenty players, led by Rio de Janeiro State Federation (FECRJ) president Daniel Rivillini and members of Sao Paolo State Federation (FCESP) Luciana Bortoleto and Thiago Barbacena, have undertaken numerous promotions, aiming to encourage school students to support the Brazilian team participating in the event, as well as a large network of physical education teachers in the area. Activities have been held in the Escola Sesi Santa Barbara, Escola Objetivo, ETEC Americana, Esesc Sao Paulo, Metrocamp Campinas, Ses Americana and UNE Sao Paulo

This is a great opportunity for the Brazilian team to perform in front of local supporters, and consolidate progress since their two-week training camp in Portugal in February 2013.

In front of its own ‘torcida’ and determined to put on a great show, the squad is focused on becoming the first continental champion, thereby qualifying for 2015 IKF World Korfball Championship.

Withdrawal of Argentina

Unfortunately, the Argentinean Korfball Association has advised the IKF that, due to the difficult economic situation in its own country, the Argentinean team was not able to raise the funding necessary to participate in the 2014 IKF Pan American Korfball Championship.

The competition committee has decided to maintain the schedule of four teams, including a second team from Brazil to replacing Argentina. Games played by this team will, however, be out of the competition.

Players anxiously awaiting start of first Panamerican

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With less than 7 house to go until the first match, the anxiety is building up in the athlete hotel. Without any exception, this Championship is their first official international experience, albeit that Brazil played a friendly match in Portugal last year. Many have gone through great financial difficulty next to the required many hours of training, to get to Americana and participate in this event. All are extremely proud to be able to represent their country, and we are expecting to see quite a few suppressed tears when the first national anthems will be played at the venue. Emotions are a part of sport in any place, but here in Latin America, “Emotions” need to be written with a capital E.
Having said that, for the korfball watcher the most interesting fact coming out of this tournament will be the answer to the million-dollar question who will be the qualifier for next year’s World Championship. Apart from World Champion The Netherlands and host Belgium, the PanAm14 will decide the third qualified country, and the first-ever Latin American participant.
Since none of these countries have played each other before, it is hard to make a prediction. It is clear Mexico has the shortest history in korfball, and have only very recently been in touch with international coaches to start training to increase playing level. For sure, they are the outsider of the event and tonight’s match against Brazil will show how big the performance gap is with the country that has been the only one to travel to Europe. Brazil had an extensive and focused preparation, with the team spending two full weeks together in the last two weeks, forging a string and unified team with players from both Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro states. Some of the players are local from Americana and for sure will receive wide support from the fans.

Colombia has had the opportunity of training with the best teams in the world around last year’s World Games tournament. The question is to what extent they will be able yo convert this experience into a sound performance on the floor this week. Today, Colombia will play an unofficial match against Brazil B, which has been scheduled in the event due to the inability of the Argentina Federation to overcome the financial problems that the country has been facing in recent weeks.
Tonight we’ll know more. Keep following us on korfball.org for updates, and follow the event on Twitter via #PanAm14!

Mexico set to feature in first ever IKF Pan American Korfball Championship

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As the 2014 IKF Pan American Korfball Championship approaches, the competing teams are finalising their preparations for the continent’s inaugural international tournament, in Americana/Sao Paulo, Brazil, from 31 January to 2 February.

As is usual in international korfball, in addition to technical preparation, the teams have been working hard to raise the funding needed to participate in the event. Players representing host Brazil, and fellow South American international newcomer Colombia, have developed their passion for korfball and their skills in the game through many years of guidance provided by instructors under the IKF Development and Education Committee. They now have the opportunity to test themselves in their first experience of international competition.

Mexico, however, has taken a different path. After some years of self-taught korfball, motivated by the prospect of participating in the IKF Pan American Championship, physical education teacher Alfonso Espinal contacted the IKF to request technical support, therefore maximising the opportunity for the young Mexican players to make the most of their experience at the tournament.

Alfonso Espinal teaches at the high school academy for physical education in Escuela Superior Educación Física (ESEF) Cuautla, 150 kilometres from Mexico City.

“We started regular practice here in Cuautla two months ago, and decided that going to the championship was a good way to consolidate our learning process,” he says.

As a consequence, an IKF Level I course was run in Cuautla from 24 to 26 January, with a group of 35 ESEF students led through the course by DEC director Albert Vidanya and IKF instructor Dick Kalkman, who will advise coach Espinal in an intensive week of training and through the tournament.

Alfonso Espinal expects his team’s experience in Brazil will provide a great boost for the development of Mexican korfball.

“We want to keep progressing during the korfball championship, and bring the best knowledge back to Mexico, therefore maintaining the process of growth. Our main aim is to build up the federation, for which we need six states. While we already have foundations in Estado Morelos, Estado de Guerrero, Estado de México and Distrito Federal, we are also actively looking to establish korfball in two more states, and therefore formalise the statutes for the national organisation,” he said.

Colombia ready for first international korfball experience

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With just a few days to go before the start of the 2014 Pan American Korfball Championship, the Colombian team is ready for its first international experience. Led by Pedro Sanchez, the team had an intense preparation programme over the past few months, comprising four training sessions per week. Colombia trained in the open-air coliseum that served as the successful korfball venue for last year’s World Games: a place with special memories for the players and officials of all eight countries that competed in that tournament in Cali.

Most players set to represent Colombia are students of the university la Escuela Nacional de Deporte. This university supports its students by giving those who made the selection a korfball scholarship, as well as providing the team some financial support. Most of the Colombian players selected for the national team have played korfball seriously for over a year. While some became inspired watching korfball during the World Games, only a few talented players of this new group made it to the final selection.

Every single player is eagerly anticipating the start of the tournament. For each this is their first opportunity to play an official IKF game, and the chance to finally experience the rewards of all the dedication and effort they have put into korfball over the last year.

A few days to vote for the World Games team of the Year Award

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As mentioned before the Dutch korfball team is one of ten nominated for the Team of the Year award 2013 by the International World Games Association (IWGA).

Till January 31, 2014, supporters and friends can cast an online vote for The World Games 2013 top team. One vote per person per day is allowed.

Again we invite you to provide active support for the Dutch korfball team in these last days. Encourage people all over the world in all 60 korfball countries to support them with your votes. Use social media channels as well. To participate in the team vote, please visit the IWGA and vote; click here

The IWGA will announce after January 31 the winners and ranking on their website and launch a press release. The winners will be awarded a trophy.

IKF EShield 2014

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The IKF Europa Shield 2014, like almost every previous editions, is one of the most exciting European tournaments of the year. Due to the absence of Dutch and Belgian clubs, other European nations have the opportunity to compete at an equal level. Even the Hungarian team that ended on the last place gave many opponents a hard time. Undoubtedly , teams from nations with strong competitions, had a clear advantage. This was shown by the teams from the organizing country, or should we say region. However it took a golden goal for the former champion, Vallparadis, to qualify for the final, leaving the German opponent to struggle for bronze.

The Hungarians forced their opponents into a golden goal. They much appreciated the chance they got to play good matches far more interesting than within their own competition. Kingfisher (ENG) ended 7th, Brno (CZE) 6th, Adler Rauxel (GER) 5th.

Because of the close gap of the playing level, because at the end of the tournament players get tired, the play got rough which was more or less the case in the struggle for the third place. Anyway Schweriner (GER) was able to beat a very good team from Portugal coached by the enthusiastic Carla Antunes.

The final game was a thriller in the first half. When former champion Vallparadis forgot to score out of many opportunities it was “golden boy” Sergi Gabriel to lead his team to a well earned victory therefore leaving the Shield in Catalonia.

This was a tremendous tournament again with a grand final. Many thanks too multiple volunteers from IKF and from local bodies.

IKF Europa Shield 2014

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Friday 24, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 January 2014 the next IKF Europa Shield takes place in Vilanova y la Geltru, Catalonia.

Eight teams will compete to become the 2014 IKF Europa Shield winner. The participants and the match schedule are available on line as well. See under Events.

IKF Europa Cup 2014 ranking

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After an exciting event in Papendrecht, The Netherlands, the 48th IKF Europa Cup came to an apotheosis. The final between PKC/Hagero and K.C. Boeckenberg was the best we have seen for ever since the 1st Europa Cup in 1967. Topkorfball of 2 topteams and a very good referee team; Lukas Filip as referee and Steve Jones as assistant referee made a remarkable match.

A record number of 58 goals in the final (31-27). An unpredictable end result till the dying minutes. The PKC venue was sold out. And the over 1,500 enthusiastic supporters created a tremendous atmosphere.

Rank Team Country
1 PKC/Hagero NED
2 Boeckenberg K.C. BEL
3 N.C. Benfica POR
4 VKC Kolin CZE
5 SG Pegasus GER
6 Trojans ENG
7 Barcelona K.C. CAT
8 State University HSS RUS
9 1908 SZAC KSE HUN
10 Zemun SRB
11 Bonson FJEP FRA
12 Edinburgh City Korfball Club SCO

PKC achieved another record. This was in total their 11th IKF Europa Cup. The first was in 1979 and the previous cup – number 10 – was in 2006.

PKC/Hagero wins IKF Europa Cup 2014

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PKC/Hagero has won the IKF Europa Cup 2014. The Dutch champion won the cup by defeating K. Boeckenberg K.C. from Belgium with 31-27, in maybe the best Europa Cup-final in history. The Belgians were on their way to a surprising win, but PKC repaired a Belgian four-point-lead and secured their win in the dying minutes.

Boeckenberg had an excellent start: 1-5 after 5 minutes, with three goals out of the hands of Nick Janssens. PKC had to go in the counter-attack, but due to the defensive pressure from the Belgians, the Dutch had a lot of scoring problems in the first 15 minutes. But in the last 10 minutes before halftime, PKC closed a 8-11 gap, and equalized at 12-12. Boeckenberg took the lead again, but PKC replied immediately and took their first lead in the dying seconds of the first half by a penalty (16-15, Johannis Schot).

In the second half, the first goal was made by PKC, but Boeckenberg refused to capitulate. PKC always was in the lead, but Boeckenberg never was down and out, especially by eleven goals out of the hands of Jesse De Bremaeker. And when Davor Duronjic scored 27-26, a Belgian equalizer was near. But PKC replied immediately, with goals from Danny den Dunnen and Johannis Schot (29-26). Boeckenberg scored once again (29-27), but the goal of Laurens Leeuwenhoek (30-27) in the last minute was the decider. Final score: 31-27. A exciting match with two winners: PKC/Hagero and the crowd (over 1,500 people), who have seen a high-quality-final. And a match without a real loser, for K. Boeckenberg K.C. has played as a winning team. Unfortunately for them, it wasn’t enough, but they proved today that the Belgian korfball maybe is on a higher level than ever.

IKF ECup 2014 final day

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VKC Kolin – NC Benfica 10-24 (5-12)

NC Benfica showed supremacy on all korfball skills during this match decisive for bronze. Especially the rebound was perfect which gave enthusiastic attackers many opportunities to create an early gap.

It has been mentioned that Portugal is preparing for a surprise later this year during IKF EKC and it must be said, they are well on their way.

As for the team from Czech Republic, although never a real challenger in this game, it is heart warming that after a couple of years with minor results, they seem to be back on stage.