In ja - odšli smo v Nangomo (Zambija)

V ponedeljek je ura odbila 11:00 in smo se odpravili. Kam? Na projekt, na katerega sem čakal vse od kar sem diplomiral in sicer na Humanitarno medicinsko odpravo Nangoma 2018.
Leteli smo iz Zagreba, kjer smo po dolgotrajnem Check-inu le prišli skozi kontrole in se vsedli na letelo. Čakal nas je 5-urni let do Dubaja, ki se ni vlekel, saj je multimedijski sistem na letalu Boeing 777-300ER res dober. Ko smo pristali v Dubaju in stopili iz letala - šok, ura 23:00 in zunaj 35 stopinj. Potem smo prišli na terminal - mesto z malem odprto 24/7. Cene nekaterih stvari pa res ugodne - ideja za let domov. Na letališču smo preživeli 10 ur, skoraj brez spanja... Spanje smo si privoščili na letalu proti Lusaki. 7 ur leta in prispeli smo v Afriko, v Zambijo, v Lusako.
Po enournem čakanju na Vizo in ko smo na srečo dobili vso prtljago, nas je pred letališčem čakala sestra Veronika in šofer. Ko smo se komaj zbasali z vso prtljago v SUV, smo se odpravili z trgovino po hrano in po SIM-kartice. Trgovina je bil čisto pravi Spar, prodajali so tudi Vegeto. Po tem nas je čakala 2urna vožnja do Nangome v avtu, kjer še za muho ni bilo več prostora. Mimo 6 policijskih kontrol, ogromno ležečih policajev, nas je neskončno ravna afriška cesta v temi pripeljala do Nangome, Nangome v temi, kjer je kako ironično zmanjkalo elektrike.
Prvo večer smo preživeli v našem novem domu za naslednje tri mesece skupaj z odpravo, ki je bivala tu zadnje tri mesece. Oni so se zjutraj odpravili na potovanje po odpravi, mi smo svoje poslanstvo šele začenjali. Prvi dan smo se malo spočili, razpakirali svoje stvari, se razporedili po sobah in pojedli prvi normalni obrok po dveh dneh. V četrtek sta Blaž in Jan šla v Lusako po nadaljnjih nakupih za cca 3 tedne, Simon, Maja in Tadeja pa smo odšli na sprehod po misijonu in po vasi, da smo sploh videli kje smo, kaj se tu dogaja, kaj je vse na voljo, ... Vidiš vse, od lepe hiše, do zgradbe, ki ji ne bi rekli hiše, od novega Ford Rangerja, do krosarjev do bikovske vprege. Vse trgovine so minimalistične... Edino cerkev je velika, mogočna stavba, verjetno največja daleč naokoli.
Po informacijah, ki smo jih dobili od prejšnjih, se tu igra vsak dan nogomet. V 3 dneh smo imeli že 3 treninge z lokalno ekipo Panadol. Jan še komaj hodi - ni toliko športal v kosu že 6 let.
V petek smo se predstavili tudi v bolnišnici - fantje začnemo delati šele v sredo, saj je v ponedeljek in torek državni praznik - razen če bo kakšna urgenca do takrat, punci pa sta že začeli delati v porodnišnici.

Na naslednje tipkanje, pokpok, "Iwey, Iwey, Iwey!"
Pozdrav iz Nangome!

Handball is still a beautiful game!

Latest events on EHF EURO 2018 in Croatia just made me thinking about leaving this beautiful sport as active participant. I have been playing handball for 10 years, then I had elbow surgery and now I am a referee for more than 6 years. The handball was put into my cradle. It is our family sport. As proud Slovenian and a person, who just loves handball, I follow every match of Slovenia national team. 

At first I have to apologize to my fellow referees about my reaction after match, it was in the affect. There in Arena Zagreb was few thousands Slovenian fans and I was one of them. In moments like the last minute of the match you lose your clear mind. Referees are also humans and fall under an impression of a crazy last 30 seconds, but still they are trained and chosen to be the best in moments like this. Both of them were the only ones in Arena to see the video of last few seconds. IHF and EHF changed the rules for last 30 seconds two years ago just for situations like this one between Slovenia and Germany. They also included  videotechnology for this event in Croatia to follow the rules in critical situations. We are trained to make a decision in few seconds, it cannot take you whole 7 minutes to take a decision. And it is a big "coincidence" it rules in favor of a handball giant. I can say there were some critical situations in last 30 seconds, but they video reviewed only the last one. Photo of Veselin Vujović stepping in the goal to defend the 7m throw will be one of the most controversal in hanball history. What can you do, if you do not have influence and money? Imagine, if the situation was reverse. I am 100% sure, they would not see the video. 

"What can you do, if you do not have influence and money?" Veselin Vujović about to defend the 7m throw. 

It is what it is. In handball decision of a referees is the last one. I could not get over this situation so I reviewed it for 15 times and went through rules to make clear the situation. I could not sleep, I hope that it will make an lection for all referees in future. They made a mistake according to the rules. If you just see the video, there should be few different decisions in last 15 seconds and it would not come to this situation. 

Rules about throw in last 30s. 

It is over. I got an lection of handball rules, Germany got a point, Slovenia big disappointment. After 14 losses and 1 draw Slovenia was a reasonable decision away from first win against Germany. It does not feel right to finish a game in a way like that. It is not bad that they outplayed European Champions and got a point, but the way it happened is wrong. Handball is sport about players and fans, not about referees. I hope we will reach reasonable decision and step together to make this beautiful sport more clear to all. 

The biggest problem for me, handball referee, is to come to a match this weekend and all next weekends, to referee some 10-14 years old boys, who all watched the match, and be respected in their eyes. How can they trust referees, if in front of million viewers the best of the best referees made such a farce? Will they trust my decisions?

C'mon people of handball, step together for this beautiful game. 

SR