Accompanied by the ongoing discussions about psychological violence in sport, Germany's handball women have tackled the last stage of the EM preparation.
On Sunday, the DHB selection traveled to Mia Zschocke, who spoke in detail about the serious allegations against her former club coach André Fuhr in an interview with the "Tagesspiegel" before departure, to the final endurance tests against Hungary and Romania at the three-country tournament in Tatabánya. "I hope that after that we'll be ready for the European Championship," said co-captain Emily Bölk.
National coach Markus Gaugisch also hopes so. "The games against two top European opponents are important to get feedback on where we stand," he said with a view to the European Championship opener against Poland next Saturday in Podgorica. Other preliminary round opponents in the finals are World Cup fourth-placed Spain and co-hosts Montenegro.
EM preparation and processing in handball
Gaugisch faces the difficult task of keeping the sporting focus on the European Championship despite the heated public debate about the years of incidents in women's handball. The 48-year-old seems to have achieved this at least during the one-week training course in Großwallstadt. "I'm very satisfied with the vigor, dynamism and enthusiasm with which the team pulled through the days," praised the national coach.
The topic of psychological violence, which has been suppressed for years, and which the German Handball Federation now wants to work on intensively with the help of external experts, was a constant companion. "We have communicated offers of talks to everyone, the doors are open. If there is something, we are always ready to take it seriously and help," said Gaugisch of the German Press Agency.
With professors Carmen Borggrefe and Christian Pfeiffer as well as Benny Barth, the DHB has now appointed the first experts to the newly established commission to investigate the allegations against the former Bundesliga and youth national coach André Fuhr. The commission, which is supplemented by a representative for those affected by athletes in Germany and a specialist advisor, is scheduled to start work at the beginning of December after the final round of the European Championships.
"All of handball has to face the fundamental process, but it's also about lessons for future action," said DHB President Andreas Michelmann: "We are responsible for the players entrusted to us, but we also have to clearly see where we need help need to meet the demands placed on us."
Zschoke encourages changes for the future
Zschocke, who, together with Amelie Berger, made the case public in mid-September with a termination without notice at Borussia Dortmund, suggests changes "in the entire system" for the future. “Starting with neutral contact points that those affected can turn to if they don’t get support from the club themselves,” said the 24-year-old backcourt player to the “Tagesspiegel”.
In the meantime, numerous players have come forward who claim to have suffered psychologically from Fuhr's training methods. The 51-year-old has not yet commented publicly on the allegations. The DHB had been accused of not having acted, or only insufficiently, despite the allegations that had been circulating for a long time.
"I've received so many messages from other athletes outside of handball who haven't dared to do it before. I can only say to them: Be brave!" said Zschocke, who now plays for the Norwegian club Storhamar. She is glad "that the topic is now public and that past victims have been heard." It is important "that this is processed and intervention measures are created." She herself had sought psychological help because of the Fuhr cause. "We had such difficult times. It doesn't heal as quickly as a broken bone. You take it with you for longer," said Zschocke.
