Counting on the youths

If we check out the traditions, we are talking about one of the most successful team sport of Dunaújváros, which is quite popular among the supporters too. They were there in good and bad as well. Whether we can be eligible for CL again, it is very early to discuss. Our aim is to build up something from beneath and that combined with conscious and knowledgeable professionalism you may be able to get there. We had an interview with the new executive manager.

Now, after the change what needs to be done? What are the priorities?

– We return to the bases that were stated in the charter of foundation. We intend to strengthen the conception of our Academy, and we would like to get linked up with several other training centers also from trans-border area from which we could find reserve players instead of the pupils who get into the adult team. This is a long-term concept, a nice and hard job. The first true results of this can be expected within 4-5 years in the form of a decent first team.

Aren't you afraid that the best academists will be taken by other teams?

– This is one of our aim, actually this is a good measurement point. But until then with these players you can achieve great results.  We want to reach our goals mostly with Hungarian players, with a team that our supporters, the people of the city will find loveable as well.

It has become a trend at national level that many clubs - and now not just the biggest ones - bring lots of foreign players to strengthen their squad...

– We try to avoid this. I was lucky enough to be part of several national and international successes that we achieved based on Hungarian players. I follow the career of the handball sport of the town ever since, I know that many fans visit the clashes week by week, people here simply love handball. I consider myself a supporter and seeing girls even in other teams who became professional players here, makes me feel really proud. We want to keep this direction that will be our method.

Source of the picture: Enikő Zsedrovits

At the moment both the Academy and the first team is owned by the city government of Dunaújváros. What about finding new sponsors?

– The city supports this direction that intends to establish a professional community. Concerning the sponsors I can ensure you that we are on it even at the moment to find suitable partners. This was not our strength previously. The work has already started, we have several ongoing negotiations, but there is no intention to sell the naming rights. We are searching for partners that financially could support our efforts that could make the training at our Academy better and even more structured.

Will there be any changes concerning the staff members or their job at DKKA?

– Of course we keep what has been working well so far. We will keep the high-school concept of the academy but we intend to extend the scooping system for example with planting the already mentioned trans-border training centers into the structure. The professional work together with the youth training will be coordinated by Vilmos Imre, who is well-known among the fans of Dunaújváros, while coaches, trainers will be the guarantee for professionalism at the club. Bojana Radulovics, iconic figure of our Academy, will also keep her leading role at the club.  It is extremely important that the team must establish a better connection with the fans. The more family like the community is the more people are interested in it. We have recently been to the local hospital and gave some support to the children's ward. We want to organize family days to where we invite the children and their parents. They will have the opportunity to get acquainted with this wonderful sport. I ask the fans to give the team a chance, come to the matches and let's support the adult and the youth teams of DKKA together!

Zsolt Várkonyi (DUOL)