For the first time in Israel - retired foreign players became a pair of handball referees

Eli Hachmon accompanied my mother Chukuhamika and Glory Ophor to the premiere game: "All the referees in Israel are white, so we wanted to add some color and interest," the two laughed

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sport

26/02/2022

Saturday, 26 February 2022, 15:34 Updated: 15:46

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Emmy Chukuhamika and Glory Ophor have been leading players in the Premier League and National over the years.

They came to Israel as foreign actors from Nigeria, acclimatized - we married Israeli women, and Ophor even established a family and a next generation here.

Now, about two years after retiring from acting, they are turning to a new career - refereeing.

They recently completed a refereeing course and today (Saturday) conducted an official game for the first time at a young age, with the intention of training them to judge adult games in the future - in men and women.

Chokuhamika and Opor will also be the first pair of referees ever in Israel to come here as foreign players and have experienced a respectable playing career at a number of clubs.

"This is an exciting closing circle for us," they said, "and in general an opportunity to give back to handball that has contributed a lot to us in life. So we wanted to add some color and interest to the industry as well. "

If you look in depth, you can definitely see a new trend and spirit in the referees' union, in a process that recruits players who have finished their careers and are qualified as referees.

A couple who are already making their first steps together are the Rosenthal twins.

"This is a welcome trend, past players who are talented as referees can contribute a lot to raising the level of refereeing, and at the same time directing the younger generation at the beginning of their journey," says union chairman Eli Hachmon, who accompanied them today in the debut game as referees.

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Chokuhamika and Opor (Photo: Official Website, Handball Association)

Chukuhamika arrived in Israel in 2001, after moving to Cyprus.

Since then, he has played for Rehovot, Maccabi Petah Tikva, Maccabi Arazim Ramat Gan, Hapoel Ramat Gan, Maccabi Tel Aviv and ASA Tel Aviv, in some teams for two terms and for almost 20 years in total. At the age of 45, when he lives in Rishon Lezion, has been married to an Israeli in recent years and works for a gas company, he completed the refereeing course. "Handball has contributed a lot to me and I really want to give back for it.

It is not always during the career itself that you understand it, but when you finish it, it is very exciting to understand that it has contributed to my discipline in life, experience and a lot of happiness, apart from the fact that I discovered an amazing country and built a new life in it, "says Chukuhamika. judge?

I thought about what I was going to do and applied to the union.

I wanted to get back to handball after so many years.

At first I thought of being a coach.

Two years ago I had a conversation with Glory and the matter of judgment came up.

We said,

'Why not try it together?

It can be amazing to judge together. '

He agreed with me.

When the corona started and everything stopped, it was the right time.

We did the course, now we got the uniform and we start with the practical part. "

"We can definitely bring something different to the industry," Chukuhamika added.

"The dream comes true. I see in the NBA a player who is now a referee, and that's amazing. I also see the Rosenthal brothers, and we want to be a new generation of referees with them. I hope we gain experience and in a year we will also start refereeing at Premier League level. "Of course. It's a process. Slowly and slowly we will be the best. In the first stage, I see the judging as a way to convey a message to the younger generation, to also be part of their construction as actors. A referee can also be a kind of teacher, to give advice."

Association chairman Eli Hachmon with the new referees (Photo: Official website, Handball Association)

Ophur is almost 8 years younger than Chukuhamika.

"He's like a grown brother. We did not play together, but he helped me get to handball in Israel and I am grateful for that," he says.

Opor played in Ashdod, Herzliya, Raanana, Ramat Hasharon, Hapoel Ramat Gan and Maccabi Petah Tikva, a total of 10 seasons in the senior league and sub-league.

He married Talia several years ago and they also have a child together, which they are raising in Kfar Saba.

After his acting career, Opor is involved in management at a company that produces pastries in Bnei Brak.

Ophor: "I retired from the game itself about three years ago, mainly because of the decision to focus on family and child. I sum up 10 years of playing with great satisfaction. Handball contributed a lot to me. It actually changed my life, and here I met Talia - and it all happened a lot thanks to her. I have the confidence to believe. She and her amazing family supported me. Of course an idea arose to develop in the field of training, but things unfolded and I saw in the field of judgment a great challenge. A bit in the team training games, and I won compliments. It showed me that I can. Still, I played and I know a lot about handball. Of course I offered my mother to join. We rolled out the idea of ​​being a pair of referees. We will also overcome the language barrier even though I understand almost everything Also in Hebrew. In any case, a judge can explain in a variety of ways. I will also know how to convey the educational messages to the younger generation. I want to thank you for the opportunity,And I hope that in the coming days we will set off. "

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