Javier Cabanas: “Portland are a team made for victories”

Javier Equisoain described the new Portland coach as “a mythical personality of Spanish handball” with 228 caps in the Spanish national team. Javier Cabanas is not new to Pamplona fans and also Javier Cabanas knows what he may expect in Portland.

“I am a really lucky man. Handball offers you a good chance in life, and I think that you must take it. Portland is one the greatest clubs; it is dificult to find a better one. It is normal that people expect that the club win titles. The history tells us that Portland is a club made for victories and I know it,” said the new Portland coach during his presentation.

Champions League hopes

Cabanas has never been coaching in the Champions League. However, he won a CL as a Teka player twelve years ago. “I hope to repeat this success as a coach. I know the CL from my playing career and I think that there are no big differences. There are some competitive teams. We go for a title, but every season only one team can win and it will be very complicated. I do not think that a season is bad if you do not win a title or it is good when you win it. There are other valuable things: you have to see how you lost and how you play...”

A new coach might bring many changes, but Cabanas prefers to wait. “First of all, I must get to know the players and preserve all the good things that Portland had before. It is one of the best defensive teams and we have the best player in the world, Ivano Balic. He must be our leader on court. To choose a good partner for Svensson will be very also important, the goalkeepers are vital for a team.”

Portland are looking for a goalkeeper, but Malmagro and Fernando Hernandez have been anounced officially to arrive in Portland.

“Vugrinec played too much and it was a problem last season. Cristian Malmagro is a good solution. On the other hand, Lozano left Portland, but Kjelling, Ruesga and Jorgensen are very good options. I have two good handballers in every position, it is a strong roaster”. Jorgensen and Nikolic played in Altea with the new coach.

“They help me to get to know other players. Lars and Ratsko are good handballers and very good people. I have a good relationship with them and it will be important at the beginning.”

No time for mistakes

The high quality of Asobal League does not allow mistakes. A bad match took the title for many clubs. “I know that there is no much time to prepare, but there is no other chance. This is the reality. I have signed the contract and accepted the situation. We have six weeks to get to know each other. I hope that the schedule will be lucky and the strongest matches will come as late as possible.”

Javier Equisoain letf Portland with eleven titles: a record difficult to break. “Zupo set incredible standards for Portland. It would be a success to win the same titles. People in Pamplona know handball because this city always had a good team, so the fans will be exigent with us. We have 1,200 people every match, and it is a responsibility.”