2013. Both of us were born in this year, of course with different abilities and missions. It seems that we love each other and rely on one another. Proudly proclaiming, the Kanyó Memorial organized by EBA Sports has become an indispensable program in the summer preparation of the Balatonboglár National Handball Academy.
The coach of the U18 NEKA team is Lehőcz Zoltán, who grew up in Kanyó Antal’s teams, and we think of him in many ways. Player, teammate, coach, teacher, founding member. Friend. Lehőcz Zoli is the only one in the history of the Kanyó Memorial to have won the trophy in the colors of two clubs – twice with Tatabánya, twice with NEKA, he stood on the highest step of the podium.
The backbone of NEKA is formed by the team that won the U16 Hungarian Championship title in spring, but younger talents also have their place. The Boglár boys arrive in Tata two days earlier, as the city offers excellent opportunities for training camps and team building.
Lehőcz Zoltán: I continue working with 6-7 players from last year’s team, the rest come from the U16 squad of last year, so we have only been preparing together for three weeks. Our main championship is the U18 Hungarian Championship, but this year the members of the squad can also train in adult championships. Our goals are primarily not determined by results; rather, we strive for individual and team development, aiming to progress in all areas. I have a strong connection to the tournament and the city itself, as Kanyó Antal was my youth coach, and later we worked together in the adult team, so it is natural for me to return here year after year. But we don’t just welcome the invitation for this reason; it’s also because we can always test ourselves against strong domestic and foreign opponents, and the timing is ideal, as it serves as a good test of strength before the start of the championship, as well as an excellent team-building program. Of course, we aim to perform well, but the emphasis is on development and strengthening team cohesion.
NEKA plays a lion’s share in the development of Hungarian youth. Ten of its players were members of the silver medalist junior national team at the World Championship, and four represented NEKA among the youth players who won bronze at the EYOF and the U18 European Championship.
NEKA’s men’s first-class team, with an average age of under 21, finished in eighth place, boasting eleven home-grown players. In the national team, we can encounter more and more NEKA alumni year after year.
