The 2017 IHF Women’s World Championship in Germany is ready for action as from 1-17 December 24 teams will be battling it out for global glory over 84 matches in six venues spread across the country.

 

But the tournament features another team – the referees. After being nominated back in July the 16 pairs of officials underwent a three-day preparation period in Germany back in September in cooperation with the German Handball Federation (DHB).

 

IHF.info asked the same questions to all 32 of the referees set to whistle at Germany 2017, and this is what they had to say.

 

This time, we look at the Turkish referee pair of 40-year-old Kursad Erdogan and Ibrahim Ozdeniz, who turns 39 on today, on November 19 (Happy Birthday!).

 

IHF.info: Why did you want to be a referee?

 

Kursad Erdogan (KE): I was a player and moved to Ankara to study Engineering Physics. I tried to manage both University and handball together but after the second year it was almost impossible due to the intensity of the course. But I did not want to go completely out from handball so attended a referee course.

 

Ibrahim Ozdeniz (IO): I started to play handball too late and did not see any future as a player but love this game and wanted to stay part of it, so I wanted to be a referee.

 

IHF.info: What is the best part of refereeing?

 

KE: You are close to the game you love, you learn how to manage people and stress, self-discipline, how to communicate, and some words from other languages.

 

IO: You get to know different cultures, meet great people and get a lot of new friends around the world.

 

IHF.info: What IHF World Championships – at any level – have you whistled at?

 

KE: We have whistled many IHF Junior and Youth World Championships.

 

IO: But this will be our first senior IHF World Championship.

 

IHF.info: Have you been to Germany before?

 

KE: Yes. We have been both for sport and business reasons in Germany before many times, for just handball, around seven or eight times.

 

IHF.info: What other sports do you enjoy?

 

KE: Table tennis, snooker, volleyball.

 

IO: I enjoy football.

 

IHF.info: How long have you been whistling together?

 

KE: Since the year 2000.

 

IO: Yes, that’s almost 18 years!

 

IHF.info: Can you remember when you first whistled together?

 

KE: I definitely remember our first national league match, it was a women’s second division match and I remember the city as well, it was in Zonguldak.

 

IO: I even recall our first regional game in the younger age categories. It was a school team competition between Deneme Lisesi and Anittepe Lisesi.

 

IHF.info: Tell us one thing about your partner that no-one knows…

 

KE: He was a fantastic football player.

 

IO: He is a physics engineer and capable of making amazing things!

 

IHF.info: How are you preparing for Germany 2017?

 

KE: Our preparation actually started in Algeria this summer at the IHF Men’s Youth World Championship and continued with continental games and finally, the preparation course back in September.

 

IO: The desired fitness level of modern and high-paced handball is getting higher and higher. We are trying to sync in with these new demands.

 

IHF.info: Away from the teams or the games, what are you most looking forward to at Germany 2017?

 

KE: The full house in the arenas, some which will be more than 15,000 seats.

 

IO: The great organisation.

 

IHF.info: Who is/are your favourite referee(s) in other sports – alive or dead, working or retired?

 

KE: The one most likely – former football referee, the Italian, Pierluigi Collina.

 

IO: I totally agree with Kursad.