René and Henrik Toft Hansen (Denmark)

Since this season the brothers René (26 years) and Henrik Toft-Hansen (24 years) share the position at the line within the team of the Danish champion AG København. This summer AGK signed Henrik from AaB Håndbold. The two internationals talked with Inside Handball about the phenomenon AGK, muscle-games and weight-advantages…

Inside Handball: Last season AG København was during the whole time only once beaten. Do you think it’ll be the same way this year?

Henrik: (laughing): Hopefully!

René: Maybe we’ll lose games in the Champions League. There are some tough teams in our group (note: AGK meets among others Montpellier HB and THW Kiel). But we hope to do it again in the Danish league. We have the team to do it! Of course, the other teams have also good players and improved since last season... We want to win every game – so, I hope we'll do it.


Inside Handball: You are the hunted...

Henrik: Of course, last year they didn't play in Europe, only in Denmark. It was easier for them; they could focus on the league. This year the focus is on the Champions League also. There are lots of matches… we have to see…

Inside Handball: At the start of this season you won the Supercup against Århus. It was your first title together…

René: Yes, it was.

Henrik: Almost our first year together…

Inside Handball: And also the last year…

René: Yes, for this time, because I go to Kiel. Maybe in the future there’ll be another opportunity.


Inside Handball: René, do you already think about being at Kiel next year? In the newspapers are speculations about how it would go on if Marcus Ahlm changes his mind and stays?

René: No. I think about this season; to finish it good. We have a really good team to do it. I look forward to this season and don’t make my mind up with the next...


Inside Handball: And Henrik, what are your goals? Do we see you also in Germany someday?

Henrik: First I have a three years contract here. I dream about playing in Germany or Spain. But now I'm at Copenhagen and look, what it is going on here.


Inside Handball: While talking with people about AGK during the last season something changed. In the beginning I heard often, that there misses “Janteloven” and now it’s getting more and more the way that AGK is a role-model. How do you see AGK in the league?

René: Of course, it's not a typical Danish statement to say „We want to win everything!“. But I think, the other teams have taken the fight and get some good players to beat us. This will be a very good season.

Inside Handball: The last season ended with the great event at Parken (note: Denmarks Nationalstadium at Copenhagen). René, you were winning the championship in front of a crowd of more than 36.000 people. And you, Henrik, joined the match as one of these spectators. Did you ever expect that this would ever be possible in Danish league handball?

Henrik: No one has expected that. It was an idea in the club. They tried to fill Parken. And they did it! It was a huge success. It was fantastic within the audience. And it must have been wonderful to play.

René: I had never believed, that this could be true. That was fantastic – as a big dream. Not so many players will get that chance. I'm happy I did!


Inside Handball: You have also at “everyday” matches in Brøndby Hallen a huge audience. If there are so many people it can’t be everyone a handball-insider and there are more – in Germany we call it – “Event-Spectators”.  Do you miss sometimes the “old-school-handball-feeling”?

Henrik: It's wonderful to play in front of a crowded hall every match. I was not used to have this at my former clubs. And you know - you can't fill an arena with your family and hardcore-fans.

René: Every time it’s so loud. We really like it that way.


Inside Handball: You have three coaches. How could I imagine that? One for the offense, one for the defense and one for example -

Henrik (smiling): One for the middle...

Inside Handball: I wanted to say: maybe for mental-things or something… How does it work?

René: I don't think about it so much. It's good how it is.

Henrik: They support each other very well and they have some great ideas. It’s good right now.

Inside Handball: You share a position. Do you get enough time on the field?

Henrik: It's not typical, that brothers play the same position. But there are two years between us, so we didn't play in the same team when we're younger. And we didn't want to play in the same team before, because anyone has to sit outside. But AGK contacted me and it's a great opportunity. I know René goes to Kiel. So it's only one year we have to play together. We can figure it out. It’s very good right now. We support each other.

René: It's a little bit strange. But we have a lot of matches this year. So there’ll be no problem.

Henrik: And we compare each day in training and push each other all the time. If I'm doing something he ought to do it better. It's only positive right now.


Inside Handball: Would you tell me about the advantages of the other one and where he could improve himself?

René: About handball?

Inside Handball: Whatever you like…

The brothers exchanged a glance… smiling…

René: Henrik is a good player. His force is in the attack. He catches the ball very good and has a lot of special shots. But he has to learn to be harder in the defense. He will be a very good player.

Henrik: René is a little tougher than me and weights a little more – so his great advantage is in the defense. That’s why Kiel wanted him. In the offense he can also catch the ball and score. As I said, he is a little heavier than I am and so he can fight a bit harder...


Inside Handball: What is the fascination to play at the line? Has it always been your position?

René: Both where we starting in the back. But we think there is more potential at the line. First me and then Henrik changed the position. We don't think that we would play on this level, if we would still stand in the back. The line is the place where you have to use your muscles. I like it to use my body – so I like the place.

Henrik: You have to focus all the time and learn how your teammates play. It’s a challenge to get in a new team, to know all the other players. It’s fun to run at the line. I think I was send to the line, because my brother plays there. We had the same coach during the youth. He said: “Why don’t you try to be a lineplayer?” - “Okay, I’ll try” and never again get out of there. So that’s why.


Inside Handball: How was it during your childhood? The typical “brother-things”… – you fought a lot?

René: Yes, we had a lot of fights and combat every day.

Henrik: We compared every time: who can cycle faster, spring wider or something like that… All the time we’re used to do that.


Inside Handball: Talking about fighting and comparing with each other… Would you do a round arm-wrestling?

Henrik: That’s not necessary. He is the stronger one. So that wouldn’t be an equal match. I give the honor to him.

René (relaxed leant back, smiling): Thank you!


Inside Handball: Could you tell me if the other one has any rituals or is superstitious?

Henrik: My brother always has to get his body fixed with bandages, because it’s hard to play at the line. He is not a good faller and has some problems sometimes. I don’t know, if I can call that a ritual.

René: I don’t think I have any ritual to mention.

Henrik: We just play.

René: Maybe, when you ask me at the end of the season...


Inside Handball: What are your dreams for the future? Where do you see yourself in maybe five years?

Henrik: Playing in Germany or Spain in one of the big teams… and in the national team hopefully with my brother. The Olympic Games in five years are also a dream.

René: I hope I still play in Kiel and play for the national team – that are the big dreams.


Inside Handball: Who would play in your dreamteam?

René: Arpad Sterbik – Gudjón Valur Sigurdsson – Mikkel Hansen – Nikola Karabatic – Kim Andersson – Luc Abalo – Michael Knudsen. Coach: Talant Dujshebaev

Henrik: Arpad Sterbik – Gudjón Valur Sigurdsson – Kristian Kjelling – Nikola Karabatic – Ólafur Stefánsson – Luc Abalo – Bjarte Myrhol. Coach: Alfred Gislason


Inside Handball: Thanks a lot and all the best for the future!

from:  http://inside-handball.net/insidehandball/index.php?id=54