Misunderstood for years: Now "Porto-Exot" is supposed to save handball Germany

Created: 01/12/2022, 5:53 PM

From: Christoph Klaucke

Germany is only an outsider at the handball championship.

However, the DHB team could surprise and rely on a "Porto exotic", which is considered a late starter.

Bratislava - The German national team is not one of the favorites at the European Handball Championship 2022 *.

Before the start of the tournament, there were numerous cancellations due to injuries and corona, plus the resignations of previous stars such as Uwe Gensheimer and Steffen Weinhold.

The DHB team goes to the plate with a completely new team at the European Championships.

But that is exactly where the great advantage of the German team could lie, which can now play carefree.

One of the nine tournament debutants is totally surprising Djibril M'Bengue.

The 29-year-old was misunderstood for years and is now playing abroad in Portugal - now the "Porto exotic", as his teammates affectionately call him, is supposed to save handball Germany.

Handball EM 2022: "Porto-Exot" Djibril M'Bengue is supposed to save the DHB team

Djibril M'Bengue has been playing for Portuguese top club FC Porto since summer 2018 and has been extremely successful.

The right backcourt player won the championship and cup double with Porto in 2019 and 2021 and even got a taste of the Champions League.

In Germany, the left-hander no longer wanted to have a club after several injuries.

Before his move, M'Bengue went hunting for goals for TVB Stuttgart.

The reward was the nomination of national coach Alfred Gislason.

“We just had coffee and then the call came.

At first I was a bit perplexed, "said M'Bengue in the Sky interview.

His first international match in November was against Portugal of all places.

"That was a very special moment."

Before the European Handball Championship, Djibril M'Bengue receives final instructions from national coach Alfred Gislason.

© Tilo Wiedensohler / Imago

“There are people who can be called late developers.

He seems to be in top shape and is a very pleasant guy, ”said Gislason about his newcomer, who last started in the friendly against Switzerland.

Handball EM 2022: Djibril M'Bengue is Germany's "Porto exotic"

M'Bengue benefited from Fabian Wiede's cancellation, but immediately felt accepted.

"You come in and have the feeling that you belong," said Djibi in the

.

It is "a huge honor" to play the EURO for Germany.

Team player Timo Kastening describes his new colleague as follows: “Our exotic from Porto.

He's starting to get that out of his ears because he always has to tell about life in Porto - regardless of whether he's eating or drinking coffee.

He's a cool guy with a fine character. ”In the summer, M'Bengue will be moving back to Germany for the Bergisch HC.

Handball EM: M'Bengue wants to promote young talent in Germany

M'Bengue, born as the son of a Senegalese father and a German mother in Schorndorf near Stuttgart, is one of the rare German handball professionals with a migration background.

Why there are no Özils and Gündogans in handball is “not an easy question,” said the Swabian.

"That cannot be answered in a few sentences."

But of course football takes away many children from sports like handball.

Now M'Bengue can cause a sensation with the DHB team at the handball EM and thus attract the youngsters to the halls.

Germany will kick off against Belarus on Friday at 6 p.m.