Slovenia Agrees to Home Game Swap With Israeli Handball Team

The Israeli Handball Association has secured a crucial advantage in its European Championship qualifiers after Slovenia agreed to switch home game advantage. Following extensive negotiations, including numerous calls and meetings between Idan Mizrahi, chairman of the Israeli Handball Association, and his Slovenian counterpart, Slovenia, a European handball powerhouse, consented to exchange the home fixture.

Israel was drawn into a qualifying group with Slovenia, the Czech Republic, and Bosnia. The initial schedule had Israel playing its second qualifier at home against Slovenia just three days after an away game in the Czech Republic on November 4. Due to the current inability to host matches in Israel, the negotiations with Slovenia became essential.

This agreement means Israel will now conclude its qualifying campaign in May with two home games, against the Czech Republic and Slovenia. The Israeli Handball Association hopes that by then, matches can be hosted domestically, potentially boosting the team's chances of qualifying for the European Championship. They also anticipate that Slovenia, as the strongest team in the group, might have already secured qualification before the May games, possibly leading them to field a less experienced lineup.

Idan Mizrahi described the process as "not simple at all" but emphasized its critical importance for their qualification prospects. He expressed satisfaction with the association's proactive approach compared to other sports. Mizrahi stated that qualifying for the championship is a clear objective for the players and coaching staff, led by David Pisonero, and that he has done everything possible to support them. He also thanked Foreign Minister Gidon Saar and Israel's Ambassador to Slovenia, Ruth Cohen, for their assistance. Mizrahi also mentioned a recent meeting with the president of Bosnia, who assured him of fair treatment in their upcoming match in March.