With his six goals in the 35:31 win over Kosovo in their second Group B Preliminary Round match at the 2019 IHF Youth Men’s Trophy – Intercontinental Phase match, Canada’s Mamadu Guennady Barri was a key player in the victory as the team from North America look to make an impact in Pristina.
IHF.info: How does it feel to make it two wins from two with a victory over the hosts 35:31 (16:9) today and your opening day win against New Zealand 37:10 (20:4)?
Mamadu Barri: I feel great, it was a great team win today and everybody scored. I was kind of worried because Kosovo got the ball a lot near the end and scored every two seconds; they scored really quickly, so I was quite worried, but I still knew we would get the win.
Kosovo were a lot quicker than New Zealand and had a lot more technique with better shots, plus they are a really good defensive team which was really the difference.
IHF.info: It must be great to play for Canada in Europe, was it something you always dreamt of?
Mamadu Barri: Yes I did. I feel great playing for Canada, and I want to thank the IHF for organising this tournament. I think it is really a great opportunity to promote handball throughout the world. I feel great to be here. Canada is my country so I feel really great representing them.
IHF.info: Do Canada have their own style of handball?
Mamadu Barri: It kind of resembles the Swedish style; we have a great defence and we’re pretty quick. We try to break through the defence a lot.
IHF.info: How did you discover handball?
Mamadu Barri: I started playing handball at nine years old, I just walked in a gym and saw this sport and I was like ‘let’s try it’ and I fell in love. It was in Russia, before I came to Canada. I was born in Moscow. I moved from Russia when I was nine, I only played one year there so I think I have the Canadian style more.
IHF.info: Tell us about your teammates…
Mamadu Barri: We all friends because in Canada we don’t have a lot of clubs, so we all know pretty much everyone on the team. We’re really great friends and that’s why we play well together.
IHF.info: Your next match is against Nigeria, in the semi-finals. What do you know about them?
Mamadu Barri: We watched them on YouTube – they are a great team and it’s going to be a tough match. Our coach focuses on one game at a time and that’s the best way to approach a semi-final.
IHF.info: Canada has lots of different sports for people to get involved with. What would you tell any Canadians back home who are thinking of trying it?
Mamadu Barri: Handball is a great sport because it involves every aspect of your body; you need to jump, you need to be strong, you need to be fast and I feel it is also a really great team sport and that’s why I fell in love with the sport and that’s why I love it.
Photo: Kosovo Handball Federation