AMBITIOUS PLAN TO IMPROVE JORDAN HANDBALL
Jan 11, 2018
The Jordan Handball Federation has unveiled ambitious long term plans to develop the sport and return the Kingdom to being a reginal powerhouse.
The sports has been in the doldrums in recent years prompting a national summit last summer when the new era was called for.
And after much soul searching six months on, the Federation says it is ready to open a fresh chapter for the sport that will be thrown open to the whole Kingdom.
Dr. Tayseer Al Mansi, the Federation President, believes that feedback from the entire Handball community has been crucial in developing a new roadmap for the sport.
“The sport will only improve and reach the levels that we expect if we all come together and move it in the right direction as one,” said Al Mansi.
More than 30 coaches have been attending the National Coaching Certificate Programme (NCCP), administered by the Jordan Olympic Committee, with more seminars and training planned.
“We will send them for seminars in Asian and International federations and there are also plans to improve players from both genders by sending them to training camps and to compete against teams on a world level,” added Al Mansi. “We also have plans to improve the standard of our referees.”
The local league returns this year with the inclusion of more teams with eight contesting the first division and five in division two. The 13 teams will also compete in the Jordan Cup next month.
The season has already launched with U20 and U18 leagues along with a Women’s League, while last October’s Super Cup final between Ahli and Hussein Irbid attracted a crowd in the thousands for the first time in 20 years. Schools will also be targeted in conjunction with the Ministry of Education and the Jordan Sporting Schools Federation.
Twenty-four centres will also target kids from 12-16 years old.
“Our main target is to spread the sport and increase the player and fan base,” Al Mansi added.
“We are targeting more than 700 new players to train this year which can only help us to improve the overall standard of our sport.
“The more kids we can encourage to play Handball will have a knock-on social effect too with them leading a more healthier trouble-free lifestyle.”
The Federation is targeting more sponsors to help them fund their strategic goals, while building stronger relationships with the media to raise awareness and opportunities.
