Coach: Gerardo Reyes Quezada

 

Key Players: Jose Matias Veliz Lopez (Defensive Specialist), Andres Adema Justa (Left Back)

 

Road to Qualification: Third at Junior Pan American Championship 2015

 

History in Tournament: 1977-2003: DNQ, 2005: 20th, 2007: 20th, 2009: DNQ, 2011: 21st, 2013: 23rd 

 

Overview:

 

Chile are relative newcomers to the Junior Men’s World Championships. After placing fourth at the Pan American Men’s Junior Handball Championship on several occasions (1997, 2001, 2002), Chile broke the barrier in 2005 to finish third and qualify for their first Junior World Championship. Their best final ranking at a Junior World Championship is the 20th place achieved in 2005 and 2007. 

 

Head coach Gerardo Reyes Quezada has been with the team for five years, stepping up to the position from assistant coach after working with the squad ahead of their first ever Men’s Junior World Championship qualification (Hungary, 2005) and the Men’s Youth World Championship in Argentina in 2011. Reyes was previously assistant coach for both junior and senior teams, after beginning his career coaching at universities and expanding his responsibilities as handball in Chile grew. 

 

In Brazil, Reyes expects some tough matches and an exciting last group match against Argentina:

 

“We are in a group with two powerhouses like Denmark and France, and they will be our first rivals. It will be a pleasure to play against them and it will also help us reach our best shape for the next three games.

 

“I expect Korea will play their classic open defence so we need to be very concentrated and commit the least possible number of errors. Korea’s biggest strength is their speed.

 

“With Algeria there is not much to say, then we will face the rival of our life: Argentina, in another Latin American classic.”

 

Chilean handball’s goals are focused on the bigger picture rather than a particular ranking at Brazil 2015 – handball in Chile is still in the development stage, which means Chile’s players cannot dedicate 100% of their time to handball. But Reyes knows the South American side must make the best of what they have, and that the Junior World Championship is a vital opportunity for Chile’s young athletes to improve through high-level experience. 

 

Chile’s preparation for Brazil involves an intense training camp and friendly matches against senior club teams. 

 

Group at Brazil 2015:

Group C: Denmark, France, Argentina, Chile, Korea and Algeria

 

Games at Brazil 2015:

All times local

Monday, 20 July:             DEN-CHI (11:45)

Wednesday, 22 July:       CHI-FRA (16:15)

Thursday, 23 July:           CHI-KOR (14:00)

Saturday, 25 July:            ALG-CHI (20:00)

Sunday, 26 July:               ARG-CHI (20:45)