Al-Hajjari: We must devise a plan to compensate for lost time and return handball to its natural level

Kuwait officials: Handball federation’s acting president, Shabib Al-Hajjar, stated that the exceptional circumstances that Kuwaiti handball endured in recent months contributed to the decline in the national teams’ results in recent international competitions. At the same time, he stressed that this does not constitute an excuse for the results, but rather a reality that must be taken into account during evaluations.

He said, “Competitions and training were almost completely halted from February until last June, for about four months, due to the security conditions in the region, while other Gulf and Asian national teams and clubs continued their training programs and participation normally.”

He added, “We then returned to participate in Asian qualifiers and competitions. We are aware that the preparation period we lost cannot be made up in a matter of days or weeks, and it is natural that this would reflect on performance and results, especially in age-group categories that require continuity and progressive preparation.”

He clarified that the federation does not reject criticism or evaluation, saying, “We do not claim that the results are beyond criticism, nor do we reject evaluation. However, we reject being evaluated as if all teams entered competitions under the same conditions and underwent the same preparation period.”

Al-Hajjar pointed out that it is the right of the handball community and the public to demand better results, which is legitimate. “But it is also the right of the players, technical staff, and administrative personnel to find fairness and appreciation for the exceptional circumstances they have endured.” He explained that the next phase requires working instead of assigning blame, saying, “What is required today is to acknowledge reality, learn from mistakes, and develop a plan to compensate for what was lost, so that Kuwaiti handball can return to its normal level.”

Al-Hajjar concluded his statement by emphasizing that constructive criticism is an important factor in developing the national teams, saying, “Criticism is necessary, but fairness comes first. Circumstances must be taken into account in any evaluation.”