Vlado Sola: Try to improve every single day

For the first time, Vlado Sola, an Olympic and World gold medallist with Croatia, joined the RYT programme as an ambassador. The well-known former goalkeeper turned coach answered questions from young athletes on various off-court topics and gave them a glimpse of the path to professionalism.

“The role of ambassador feels good. I am glad that the EHF is giving attention to younger generations and their development. Without them, new talents, there is no perspective for handball. And our role is to help them learn through our experiences and advice,” said Sola.

The RYT programme, introduced in 2019, helps young athletes learn valuable information about handball, sports and life off the court. Prospects from the nations competing in Kosovo had the opportunity to attend the Player of the Match event where they had a chance to get in touch not only with Sola but also with the RYT app.

“The RYT app is an amazing tool for all young players. With the help of it, they can improve the knowledge they need outside of the court for the complete development of the player,” said Sola of the app which can provide young players with valuable knowledge for their career development on six different themes, each as important as the previous one.

As each subsequent topic arose, young talents showed more and more excitement while talking to Sola who tried to give his best in presenting the career path and the importance of subjects including learning how to talk to the media, about dual careers, mental health and more.

“I have amazing impressions from the POTM event. There were around 40 young players. Those are the players from countries which never had handball champions and they are very eager for information and experience.

"To hear and learn from great players who are ambassadors. And I was able to share it with them; what is needed for good and proper development, some anecdotes and they were very intrigued by all,” added Sola.

Sola's message to young athletes still waiting to step onto the big stage is straightforward.

“The most important message for young players is they need to try to improve themselves every single day. They should never stop if they want to reach their goals.”

According to new ambassador Sola, that is also where the RYT app steps in and gives an additional foothold to young talents who will still have to face numerous challenges on their journey to success.

“The RYT app offers them exactly that. They have an opportunity to easily soak up, to get in touch with a 'bag of small training sessions' as I like to call it, and you can use it every day. On your way to the training, while drinking coffee, relaxing or anything else. They are short and effective on every topic.”

Vlado Sola not only won Olympic gold with Croatia in 2004 and World gold in 2003, he also has Olympic bronze, two silver medals from the Men's IHF World Championship and two bronze medals from the Men's EHF EURO, all while playing for clubs like Zagreb, Veszprém, Chambéry and Minden, among others.

Since retiring in 2008, he coached six different clubs, was a goalkeeper coach in the Croatia national team and was at the helm of Montenegro. Looking back on his beginnings, Sola shared he would have liked to have an opportunity like young handball players have at the RYT programme.

“When I was in their age, I was lucky enough to be able to learn from medallists and amazing players. However, back then, there was not such big media coverage, there was no social media…”

“So, I did not have an opportunity to get information or get in touch with players from Scandinavia, like Magnus Andersson for example. With globalisation, everything changed. And to have this opportunity is a good starting point for young players. I'm looking forward to our next meetings.”

Main photo © Nikolle Quni