Coach giving handball the midas touch
A coach is hoping his passion for handball can be the catalyst to improve popularity and quality.
The sport is already the talk of Cannock as former Cardinal Griffin PE teacher Nenad Popovic puts his weight behind coaching handball in the area.
It comes with the joint success of the Cardinal Griffin school team and local side Olympia Cannock.
It's mixed with a generous donation from Chasetown company Cameron Homes, it seems handball could be on its way to bigger and brighter things.
Popovic said: "Cameron Homes have supported girls handball in Staffordshire and the West Midlands.
"We've got a strong network now across the likes of Cannock, Aldridge, Walsall, Stafford and Sutton Coldfield with lots of youngsters getting the chance to play.
"One of the directors' girls at Cameron plays and the company could see how well the girls at the school were doing and wanted to help.
"I have been able to use the money to help go into schools and introduce them to handball. If that goes well then hopefully they'll get the bug.
"The managing director, Ian Burns, was so impressed with the success that the girls were having at school and with Olympia that they are giving £25,000 over a three-year period."
The girls from the talented Olympia Cannock side are based at Cardinal Griffin and last year led Staffordshire to glory, landing County Championship success in the under-15 category.
They began 2016 with a bang after retaining the county title, becoming the first side to ever achieve that feat.
Popovic, who was a PE teacher at the school for 39 years, believes the current crop of young talent have a really bright future after coming out on top against sides from Middlesex, Essex, Somerset and Greater Manchester.
The proud coach added: "This year they have got even better. We've also been able to add some younger players who are aged 13 and 14, so hopefully they can follow the same sort of path.
"The girls are a very, very strong team and have never lost to anyone their own age. They play lots of under-18s handball for Olympia Cannock all over the country.
"They are due to play in their end of season play-off matches at Stoke Mandeville in March. We have Olivia Gonsalves, who at 16 is in training with the Great Britain ladies team.
"She is exceptionally humble, keen and enthusiastic and a great influence on the younger players."
Interest in the sport increased following the London 2012 Olympic Games and Popovic is hopeful the English game can start living up to that of its neighbours on the continent.
He said: "When I joined the school in 1975 I was a football coach but I wanted to focus on a sport more demanding for the summer.
"It was hard work originally, but it's a massive sport on the continent. It's the second most team played sport on the continent.
"We're a little bit behind here in England in getting youngsters of six and seven playing. Other schools have noticed our success and are keen to get involved.
"These girls are the benchmark and are paramount to our success. The demeanour and the way that they handle themselves is there for all to see.
"Their quality is noticed by everyone. When they lose, they do it fairly, they don't get upset or let their heads drop. Technically, they are so talented."
