The Cyprus men’s national handball team is expected to return to Cyprus on Monday following a serious road accident involving the team bus in the early hours of Saturday in Estonia, Cyprus Handball Federation (CHF) President Constantinos Filaretou told CNA. As a result of the incident, Sunday’s scheduled match against Estonia, due to start at 18:00, was postponed.
Speaking to CNA, Filaretou said that several members of the delegation sustained injuries, none of which are considered serious, noting at the same time that the accident had also a significant psychological impact on the athletes.
Two members were hospitalised immediately after the accident after being transferred from the scene, while the rest of the team was transferred to the hotel. During the day, several players and staff visited a nearby hospital, where they received first aid and underwent medical examinations.
As time passed and the athletes ‘cooled down,’ aches and minor injuries appeared, resulting in several members of the team and delegation requiring medical care. ‘It is nothing very serious, but there are quite a few players and delegation members with injuries,’ he said.
Psychological impact
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Filaretou also referred to the psychological effect of the incident, noting that the accident affected the players significantly and that this was communicated to the EHF from the outset. He added, however, that the situation has improved noticeably after they had some rest, with the team’s psychological condition showing signs of recovery.
As for the causes of the accident, Filaretou said that, based on information so far, extremely difficult weather conditions and the state of the road network were the main factors. The bus was travelling on an icy road amid continuous snowfall and encountered snow accumulation of around 40 cm.
He underlined that responsibility for hosting and transportation, under EHF regulations, lies with the host federation, stressing that the Cyprus Handball Federation’s priority is the safety and physical integrity of the delegation. He reassured players’ families that all necessary measures have been taken to ensure medical care, monitoring and a safe return to Cyprus.
Match postponed
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Filaretou explained that the decision to postpone the match was taken during the Technical Meeting held on Sunday, adding that the future of the game will be examined at a later stage in discussions between the Cypriot and Estonian federations, as well as the European Handball Federation (EHF).
the national team, which has been staying in the city of Põlva, departed at noon on Sunday for Tallinn, he said. He noted that this change was made at the request of the Cypriot delegation, as the original schedule had foreseen an overnight stay in Põlva after the match, followed by travel to the airport.
However, following the accident, the delegation requested that travel take place during daylight hours and only after all necessary safety measures were ensured, considering road conditions and weather circumstances.
The team will stay overnight at a hotel in Tallinn and is expected to head to the airport on Monday morning for its return to Cyprus, unless there is any change. Filaretou clarified that the delegation will return as planned, provided that all members receive medical clearance to travel.