Paraguay – Preview

 

Coach: Victor Figueredo Trigo

 

Team Roster: Paraguay 

 

Key Players: Mario Smith Benitez (Defensive Specialist), Elias Bordon Mora (Right Back)

Road to Qualification: 5th at Men’s Junior Pan American Championship 2015

History in Tournament: 1977-2013: DNQ

 

Overview:

The Junior Pan American Championship 2015 in Foz do Iguazu saw four teams qualify for the U21 World Championship in Brazil alongside the hosts. In the continental tournament (from the 24th to the 28th of March) Paraguay lost to Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. But they knew winning their last game, against Peru, who also had 0 points at that point, would be enough to qualify for a men’s handball World Championship for the first time in their history.

The start of the match was very even: by half-time the result was 16:15 in favour of Paraguay, but they achieved to reach the victory (33:27) and thereby marked a major milestone. 

“Celebrations ended after the Pan Am Championship. Then we transformed our joy into work and sacrifice,” stated assistant coach Javier Ramirez Villanueva.

Head coach Victor Figueredo Trigo and Ramirez Villanueva are an inseparable duo. The assistant expressed proudly: 

“We have always worked in partnership. Rarely have either of us been in a team without the other.”

This year they became champions of the senior national club teams competition with Caaguazu, in both the male and female competitions. 

The coaching duo believe the Men’s Junior World Championship will be an unsurpassable opportunity to make progress. 

“Now we are one of the best 24 national teams on the planet and therefore, we have new aims. We want to present a good image of our handball,” said Villanueva. 

They also hope that their participation in the 2015 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship “will help us to get to a higher level in the Pan American competitions.”

Paraguay’s squad will be one of the shortest in Brazil. 

“We are aware that our average height is only 1.78 metres. It is below average and we need to improve that soon. Height is our biggest barrier, as it forces us to play almost all the matches with an open defence system. 

“On the other hand, if we intercept the ball we can exploit our strongest point: speed,” was Villanueva’s analysis.

One of the most skilled players for Paraguay is Elias Bordon Mora (right back), who scored 10 goals in the decisive match against Peru and was his team’s top scorer in the Pan American Championship (22 goals). Another important attacker is Olimpia left back Ever Salinas Ramirez, while the team’s defensive specialist is Mario Smith Benitez.

Right back Roberto Cabrera Ortiz, from club team Americana, has played 30 international matches and is one of the most experienced members of the squad.

Paraguay are making a big effort in order to prepare for the Junior World Championship. Training is not easy for them, as 95% of the players reside outside the capital city, Asuncion, where the national federation has their training centre. Some of the players live more than 500 kilometres away from that gymnasium.

To prepare for Brazil, the South Americans are currently training twice on Saturdays and Sundays, and playing friendly matches against club teams from their metropolitan league.

 

Group at Brazil 2015:

 

Group A: Sweden, Russia, Netherlands, Tunisia, Belarus, Paraguay

Games at Brazil 2015:

 

All times local

 

Monday 20 July:        RUS-PAR (11:45)

Tuesday 21 July: PAR-NED (20:45)

Thursday 23 July: SWE-PAR (09:30)

Friday 24 July:        PAR-TUN (20:45)

Sunday 26 July:        BLR-PAR (09:30)