The former handball player and best known for being Sweden’s national team coach from 1988 to 2004, Bengt Johansson, in an interview for a Montenegrin newspaper, expressed his dissatisfaction with some players decision to “skip” the knockout round against Montenegro which eventually saw Montenegro making their biggest success in male handball history by going to the Spain WC 2013, while Sweden will have to for the next one. As we know, after Sweden qualified for the Olympic Games at the tournament organized in their country, after which, some players decided to not play in the upcoming two-legged duel against Montenegro (Kallman, Ahlm, Lundstrom, Andersson played only one game).
“For me that was terrible, that should be forbidden. Those who missed the games against Montenegro, shouldn’t be part of the team that will play at the Olympic Games. The Montenegro games were the two most important games before the Olympics. That is why I am not happy at all with their decision to not play for the national team, as without them Sweden is simply not the same team” – said Johansson.
When asked who will he support at the World Championship in Spain, Johansson was clear – “I will support Montenegro“.
Under Johansson’s coaching, Sweden national team won two World Championships (1990 and 1999), four European Championships (1994, 1998, 2000, 2002) and also three silver medals at the Olympic Games (1992, 1996, 2000).
photo: Zoran Djuric
