2023-02-10 18:25

We spoke with the new signing of our team, Nedim Remili.

As I know your father was also a great handball player in France, he played in Creteil also. How do you start your journey to the handball world?

My father was born in Créteil and living there all his life. He played handball for fifteen years. After that ha became the manager of the Créteil handball club. He is still the manager there and they play in the first division for a long time. The club living its best era. It makes sense to play handball, but before that me and my brother tried a lot of sports. Like everyone, we tried football, some martial art and I also try swimming, but I was not good at it. Sport is a big value and there is a big value in the sport. My father tries to educate us with that. Sport is part of our life. I try to follow my father. 

On the World Championship you showed a great performance, moreover you were selected to the All-Star team. How do you look back to this World Championship? At the end France finished at the second place, are you satisfied with it?

Of course, we are not satisfied, because we went for the gold medal. Unfortunately, we failed in the last step. It was a tough game, we did not start well and Denmark played great. They played almost at home because the final was in Sweden. It was kind of difficult to lose this match, because before that we performed well. Everybody played at his best level. We expect more in this final, but this is sport. I am a little bit disappointed, but the most satisfying part is our team. The team spirit that we showed during the whole World Championship was great. We have created a new team like two years ago. This team always want to win, this is the spirit of the national team. We just want to fight hard and to play as best as we can. This is the best silver medal I have won in my life because everybody fought for it. At the other side we are disappointed about the second place, we wanted the gold medal.

The French language is getting more and more dominant at the locker room. If I count the guys, we have five of them who speak French really good. From the next season it will be extended with two more. How is your relationship with these guys? Kentin? Dragan? Ludovic? Hugo?

And also, Rodrigo Corrales. He speaks French fluently. They are my friends, they are my teammates. I grow up with Hugo, he played in Créteil with me. We played a lot together and we made some crazy things together outside of the field. Hugo is my closest friend of this French group, but I really close with all of them. I shared the center back position with Kentin in the national team, so we spent a lot of time to discuss tactical things. After two days here in Veszprém, I can say that he is helping me a lot. He is taking care of me, which I appreciate a lot. Rodri is Rodri, he is my Spanish guy. He is talking so much but everybody loves him. He is such a good and nice guy. He just wants that everybody feels happy and enjoy life. He is taking care of this, I know. He will help me to fit in to the team. Ludo is a beast. He is way different than me. I am louder than him, he is quieter and calmer. We speak a lot with him especially about handball. As I mentioned he is such a calm guy, which is good for me, because he helps me to keep calm, because I am a kind of guy, who can go crazy sometimes. You will see.   

Did you ask their advice before the transfer?

Yes, of course. When Rodri heard that we were talking with Veszprém during the World Championship, he came to me every day, because we were at the same hotel. He told me a lot of things. Kentin did not know it, I told him a few days ago. Rodri talked to me about the team, that everybody is pretty happy with everyone. It is not about the friendship, but about to be fare and nice to each other. He also mentioned that sometimes they go to Budapest and do something together. It is important. I think this is how you can create a group. When he told me this, I was happy. I cannot wait to live this with my teammates. It will help also on the court if we have this kind of relationship. 

Who else did you talk to?

I talked to my father and of course with my manager. I have a manager, but my father is like my confident. We have a passionate relationship. We share a lot of things, despite of my mom. I kind of the same like him. He knows everything about me. When we made a decision, he is always there for me. He was my shield during the World Championship. It can be disturbing when you have to speak about the transfer during a World Championship so he helped me, and I could be focused on the WC. He was dealing with it all the time. I am really grateful for this, because it helped me to clear out my mind during the World Championship. After it, the following ten days was crazy. It was amazing.

How do you like the city and the neighbourhood? You have been here more than 3 days. But of course, as an opponent you have visited us several times.

I did not have too much time to look around in the city or the neighbourhood. I just visit houses, went to restaurant, then I went to medical test and of course the game on Wednesday and the presentation. Now I did not have time, but in the future, I will have time to discover Veszprém and the neighbourhood.

Our fans have been waiting for you for a long time. They are super excited. Because of Yahia Omar’s injury the team were in a difficult situation. And as I read the reactions of the fans, they look at you as a top player they have believe in you and of course they have expectations. What do you think about this and about them?

I know how Veszprém fans can be. I know how passionate they are during the matches and even outside of the court. Handball is really important to them. I know that they expect a lot of things from me, which is normal. They can be sure that I am going to give everything that I can. Every time I play a match I try to play at my best level. Maybe it will not work every time, but I will fight for them and for everybody. I love to say that I am not playing for myself, I am not playing just for my teammates, we are playing for the employees of the club, for the fans and for everyone. They help us a lot, so we are fighting for them in the field. I am lucky that I can play this kind of city and club. I know that they expect a lot of me, and I will give them the 100% of my heart.

You chose the number 29. Is there any special meaning of this for you?

Two times nine is eighteen. Eighteen is my number and I want to wear it. Now I cannot wear it because it is Andreas’ number. It is not a big deal, so it is fine. It is just a number. But if it is possible, I would like to wear number eighteen.

And do you mean the number 18?

I was born on the eighteenth and my brother also. My father used to wear the number 18 jersey. I can find a lot of things, for example my mom was born on the ninth and she has got two children. Two times nine.

In Paris’ and of course in Kielce’s Arena are also a great atmosphere. What do you think about the Veszprém Aréna and the atmosphere? They hailed you before the match against GOG. What did you feel?

The first time I came to Veszprém was seven years ago, I was 21 years old. Everybody was talking about the Arena and the atmosphere. At that time, I used to play in Paris and during the warm-up I told my teammates that it is okey. We finish the warm-up and put on our jerseys and when we came back to the presentation everything changed. Everybody was wearing red, the Arena was full and everybody was screaming and yelling. It was absolutely impressive. I think this is one of the best and most crazy atmospheres in handball. I think this is why Veszprém is so dangerous especially at home or in the Final4. The fans are always with the team. Everyone wears red jerseys, and everyone support the club. You see this logo everywhere. I remember for my first Final4, my family told me that they always see this logo all over Cologne. Now it is a chance for me to play for them. I want to thank you for my presentation, it was a warm welcome. It was the first time in my life, because usually you arrive to a new team in July, and you have to wait two months for the presentation. I am lucky to experience this. I hope that I can play this weekend against Balatonfüred and after a month I can help the team also in the Champions League.    

How big can you dream with the team of Veszprém, of course it is just the beginning, and nobody knows, but… What are your goals?

Simple, winning the Champions League. This is the most important. Of course, we have to win the Hungarian Cup and the League as well. Veszprém and me are cursed. Seven years for me, more for Veszprém. We are going to fight for this title together from now. It will be hard to adapt to the team during six months, but even during this time, we can do crazy things. I have really big expectations for the next season. I know that four players are coming in summer. I know the French guys and the spirit that they will bring. We are going to reach our goals together.  

What kind of player Nedim Remili is? In the World Championship, you have been selected to the All-Star team as a playmaker, but in 2017 you were selected as the best right back.

I hate this question. I have selected twice to the All-Star team as a center back and once as a right back. I guess I am kind of both. I am trying to do my best on the field. Since I was young, I played a lot and I love to play a lot and I love to be tired and exhausted. If you want to play much, you have to be good at defence and also in attack. You have to run a lot, score fastbreak goals, then run back to defence. So, I always try to perform at my best level. I think I am good in defence and in offense also. I can shoot, I can pass but it depends on the game and the team that we play against. Sometimes I have to shoot and score a lot of goals, sometimes I have to pass and give as many assists as I can. But as I mentioned I do not like this question, so you should ask others about it.

Photo: Roland Peka

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