Radu Voina holds dual positions again: The coach of the Romanian women’s national team also coaches the Romanian Champion and 2010 Champions League finalist Oltchim Valcea. Prior to the WCh in Brazil, some of his players are suffering from injuries. It’s for instance not clear yet whether the current World Handball Player Cristina Neagu will play in Brazil. Voina led the Romanians to the bronze medal at the 2010 ECh and hopes that his team will not only fight for a medal in Brazil, but also take a decisive step towards the Olympic Games.
Does your team belong to the top favourites in Brazil?
Voina: I think that my team belongs to those who want to be at the top when the WCh comes to an end. Our problem is that not only the number of top handball players in Romania has decreased, but also the number of my national players, due to injuries. Every loss hits us hard, as it’s hardly possible to make up for it. We’re therefore hopeful that important players who couldn’t take part in the WCh preparation will be able to play in Brazil, for example Cristina Neagu and others.
Which aims does Romania have for the WCh in Brazil?
Voina: Of course we always bear in mind our big aim, which is the Olympic qualification. Either we become World Champion and are thus directly qualified, which would be perfect, or we get the chance to participate in a qualification tournament. If we don’t become World Champion, we want to be among the semi-finalists in order to host one of these tournaments and to maintain our chances to qualify for London 2012.
Which teams are your personal WCh favourites?
Voina: Russia showed very strong performances before the WCh; many outstanding players have returned to the national team. Even though some of their stars are missing, I expect Norway to be very strong as well. France has also been really successful lately; apart from them I think Germany and Sweden have good chances, too. In my opinion all eight teams who took part in the World Cup in Denmark in September are definitely capable of winning a medal.
Romania’s women’s juniors and youth are traditionally strong. What’s the current situation of the youngsters in your country? Are there many players who could move up to the women’s team?
Voina: It’s not about one or two players, but about a whole generation, which has to move up, if you want to succeed in the long term. I don’t think we have that right now. Other countries like Denmark, Germany or Russia are clearly ahead of us, and Norway always benefits from their promotion of the youth. They will have in any case a successful future.
Before the 2009 WCh in China, you had been coaching the national team and the top club Valcea at the same time; then things changed for a certain time, and now it’s the same situation as at the beginning. How did that come about?
Voina: Actually it was clear after the 2010 Champions League final that I would no longer hold dual positions, as my contract in Valcea had expired. I wanted to concentrate on my task as national coach. However, since spring 2011 I’ve been coaching Valcea again – mainly for the purpose of a successful national team. The future will tell whether this decision was right or not.
If you had the choice, what would you prefer: the Champions League victory with Valcea or the Olympic qualification with Romania?
Voina: When you ask me this question at a tournament of the national team, this team always takes priority, but when you ask me after a Champions League match of Valcea, my answer might be different. Let me put it like this: Romania will take part in the Olympic Games and Valcea will reach the Champions League final. Then everything will be fine. We will know more at the end of May 2012.