On the walls of the Creps gymnasium, where young people train, are displayed giant posters of handball players trained in Strasbourg and who have at least three selections for the France A team. “It’s our hall of fame”smiles Philippe Schlatter responsible for the hopeful center of hand Strasbourg.
Among them there are many guardians: Cleopatra Darleux, Julien Meyer, Vincent Gerard and of course the legend Thierry Omeyer that still inspires current generations.
Omeyer, the example to follow
Timothy Riss, from Bischwiller, already plays in the France under-17 team: “I watch videos of him and I read his book which inspired me a lot. I find some similarities between him and me. It’s nice to see the face of the disgusted player after having missed his shot. I didn’t expect to be selected for the France team already. My goal is to play at the highest level possible, in the France A team and in the Champions League”.
Timothé Riss is not the only youngster to identify with Thierry Omeyer, the Cernéen voted best goalkeeper of all time. Other Alsatians have already pushed the doors of the France A teams recently (Roxanne Frank) or young (Melanie Halter19, has already shone in the Champions League with Metz, Andreas Hofman, gone to Nantes or even the Sélestadien Frank Clementthe son of another goalkeeper Francis Franck).
An important breeding ground and a gifted trainer
How to explain this incredible chain of Alsatian goalkeepers? Alsace is a land of handball and there has always been a large pool of licensees in the region (currently more than 11,000). And then there is an outstanding trainer who has proven himself.
Jean-Luc Kieffer, the current goalkeeper coach of the France A team, has been taking care of goalkeepers for more than 20 years at the Pôle espoirs de Strasbourg. Valentin’s father (also a professional goalkeeper at Dunkirk) was a pioneer in developing specific goalkeeper training.
“20 – 30 years ago, we put in goal the player who was tall and did not know how to shoot well, says Jean-Luc Kieffer. Today, the goalkeeper is a complete sportsman, flexible, who has a lot of arm and leg coordination, charisma too because psychologically it is a difficult position. I give them the toolbox and afterwards when we see them on TV, we say to ourselves that there are still a lot of them. At one point, I had eight or nine goalkeepers who always played in D1 or D2. Alsace can be proud to train these exceptional players”.
A position that suits the Alsatian mentality?
Philippe Schlatter, the head of the hopeful center of Strasbourg, puts forward another argument to explain the success story of the Alsatian goalkeepers. This position would require qualities that correspond well to Alsatians.
“The Alsatian mentality suits the position of goalkeeper, because it is a different position from other players, he argues. You’re lonely enough, you have your home (Editor’s note the goalkeeper’s area), it belongs only to you. You have the right to use your feet and hands to stop the balls. It’s a somewhat selfish position where you can shine and where you can influence the final result”.