Jackson Richardson, the 1995 IHF World Handball Player of the Year, IHF World Championship double gold medallist and Olympic bronze medallist signed a two-year contract yesterday to take over as Head Coach of the Gabon men’s national team, assisted by Pablo Morel, former coach of Issy-Paris.

 

47-year-old Richardson is France’s most capped player (417 games, 775 goals) and a former French captain. He signed the contract in the presence of the President of the Gabon Handball Federation and the Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs.

 

The forward-thinking Gabon Handball Federation will be hosting the 2018 CAHB African Men’s Championship from 17-28 January 2018 and the newly-announced coaching duo have been tasked with overseeing the technical development of the Gabon team as they aim to be one of the most competitive in a tough continent featuring the might of Egypt, Tunisia, Angola and Algeria.

 

“I am aware of the issues that face the team,” said Richardson on his appointment. “But I am heavily infused with the ambitions set for them by both the federation and the players themselves.

 

“I will put all my knowledge and experience into the service of Gabonese handball and will not waste any time as we look to improve ‘The Panthers’.

 

"The objective is to go on the highest step of the podium. I am a winner, I want to go beyond the objective, that is, to reach the Grail, but as a reminder, Gabon finished in the penultimate place of the last African Championships which is traditionally won by Maghreb countries like Tunisia or Egypt.”

 

Richardson, who has also won IHF Men’s World Championship silver and bronze medals, used the media announcement to also confirm that he has already a prepared and agreed programme of preparation in place for the national team in June.

 

The Reunion-born Richardson will start in the role immediately as today (Tuesday 4 April) he is expected in Mouila to watch the Gabon Handball Cup and spot potential national team prospects.

 

For further information about handball in Gabon and Africa, please visit the African Handball Confederation (CAHB) website at www.cahbonline.info.