Handball national goalkeeper Andreas Wolff has criticized the Corona-related World Cup cancellations by some national players. He sees it “very, very critically,” said the 29-year-old with a view to the cancellations of his former Kiel teammates Hendrik Pekeler, Patrick Wiencek and Steffen Weinhold in a podcast of the Bundesliga club Rhein-Neckar Löwen.
Pekeler, Wiencek and Weinhold had decided not to take part in the tournament from January 13th to 31st in Egypt for family reasons. “The general development of the corona pandemic” was the reason for his decision, said Pekeler. His teammates argued similarly: You don’t want to travel to a major tournament and leave your own families at home in a tough lockdown.
Wiencek had previously spoken out against hosting the World Cup. “There is nothing more important than health. And unfortunately some people forget that very quickly, «said the THW Kiel cyclist on ARD television. “We are the ones on the record. And unfortunately we are not included in such discussions, whether it makes sense or not. “
Goalkeeper Wolff said he understands that players are concerned. “For family fathers in particular, it is of course difficult to leave your children behind this month and not see them.” But before that, the players didn’t mind being active in the Champions League with the THW Kiel and traveling to countries there, that have been classified as corona risk areas.
“I find that a bit questionable”
“And now all of a sudden at the World Cup it’s such a big problem, even though the hygiene and safety measures are significantly higher than, for example, in international competitions,” said the keeper of the Polish top club Vive Kielce. “What bothers me even more about it is that their club colleagues don’t seem to have that big a problem with going to the World Cup.”
He finds that “a bit questionable that only the German players worry about their families and the foreign players apparently say: ‘Oh, come on, I’ll just leave my wife and children behind, they’ll do it,'” said Wolff. who is scheduled to be the first goalkeeper in Egypt.
However: In contrast to the Champions League, the professionals at the World Cup in Egypt are not only on the road for a short time, but for several weeks. The final four of the Champions League was held in Cologne on just two days – THW won the tournament. In addition, professionals outside the DHB selection have decided against participating in the World Cup, including Bundesliga players Lukas Nilsson (Rhein-Neckar Löwen) and Niclas Ekberg (THW Kiel, both Sweden) and Pavel Horák (Kiel, Czech Republic).
