Photo: Roberto Morejón (JIT)

Havana, October 15 (RHC) -- The president of the Cuban Handball Federation (FCB), Franklin Guevara described as very important the collaboration agreement recently signed with the Sporting de Lisboa club, from Portugal, with a view to further development of that sport on the island.

In statements to ACN via Facebook, the executive highlighted the importance of the agreement both for the training of athletes and for the exchange of knowledge or updated technology.  He also expressed that it is a step forward for the future insertion of national team coaches in some level of that Portuguese club.   And Guevara added that, so far, there are good intentions and desire to work. "The more we talk the more ideas come out," he said.

Franklin Guevara highlighted that Sporting Lisbon's leaders brought some balls, recina and other minor elements representative of the club.

"The recina is used to ensure a better grip on the balls, and it arrived at the best time in view of the preparation of the men's national team for the I Pan American Junior Games in Cali, Colombia," he said.

Last Tuesday, a collaboration agreement was signed between the FCB and the Portuguese, in a fruitful meeting that included the hiring of three Cuban handball players: Hanser Rodríguez, Ronaldo Hiram Almeida and Adán Armando Martínez.

The head of the Cuban Handball Federation explained that there are now 12 men contracted abroad and two women, who are playing in the Spanish, French and Portuguese leagues.   He added that there are other players who are waiting to be re-hired, but they are still in Cuba.

Sporting Lisbon is one of the most successful franchises in the Iberian nation, with 19 titles in the Andebol 1 league and another 15 in the Lusitanian Cup.