One plus one became two when Ola Lindgren and the handball association sat down and negotiated. Both parties were interested in a new contract and a deal was reached.
Ola Lindgren can continue with the job he has had in Finland since 2019. On Monday, it became official that the Swede has signed for another two years as national team captain.
As previously reported, the association’s finances and participation in the World Cup qualifiers were big issues and Lindgren wanted to know how the national team operations would continue. When the pieces fell into place, he was able to sign the contract.
– We have to relate to where we are. We must not jeopardize our finances, but at the same time we must continue to develop the team and give the players the opportunity to play international matches. If there is no qualification, we will still have business and play international matches, says Lindgren to Yle Sporten.
It is not yet completely clear whether Finland will participate in the qualifiers for the WC 2025 or not.
– The matches themselves are the most important thing, and at the same time qualifying matches are something different from training matches. We hope that we will be able to participate, but that is the union’s decision, says Lindgren.
How big a crucial question was that for you?
– It was a little bit, like everyone else, I was surprised and a little disappointed when it came out and the news does not send any positive signals. For the players, it is a carrot and motivation factor to be in a qualifier.
– Even if we cannot challenge the big countries sportingly, the matches are very developmental. If you look back and compare with the first matches against Denmark and Macedonia, we have really shown in the last European Championship qualification that the distance is shrinking. We are doing something right and it is important to have continuity, he says.
Lingren will lead the team in training matches if there is no participation in the WC qualifiers.
Image: Finnish Handball Association
Ola Lindgren
The size of handball in Finland is a concern
For Lindgren, it is important to create a good training culture in Finnish handball and give players the conditions to invest in the sport.
– The amount of training must increase and the physique must improve. Handball is so fast that we have to have a completely different endurance in the matches to be able to play in a way that allows us to compete.
– Many pieces are developable. We may have saved ourselves a little by playing 7-6 and taking chances to get into games, he says.
At the same time, the size of the branch is a concern for the union captain.
– We must increase the competitive situation because it is not sufficient. It is very easy to select a squad as the selection is not that large, he says.
In recent years, Ola Lindgren has had Teddy Nordling as assistant coach and John Hollfast as goalkeeper coach. The next task for the association is to secure the staff, and Lindgren prefers that he has a Finn by his side instead of bringing knowledge from Sweden.
– It is important that we have local roots because I live in Sweden. I watch the matches online, but Teddy has had an important function and he has watched special things that I asked for, says Lindgren.
