Interview with László Nagy, the first recipient of the Cozma Award

 

Telekom Veszprém has achieved a great victory over Spanish champion Barca Lassa last weekend. However, the game was not only about handball as we were commemorating our late and great player Marian Cozma who passed away 10 years ago. For the anniversary of this the Club founded the Marian Cozma Man of the Year Award, which will be given to a player after a secret voting in the dressing room to the deserves it the most for his exemplary behavior on and off the court. The first ever award was given to László Nagy by his teammates. We asked him about this and his thoughts after defeating Barca.

 

 

I am honored and grateful for the word of my teammates. I have no idea about the ratio of votes I got but I do not really care about it. One thing is for sure, I was surprised by this. I think that receiving this award on the 10 years anniversary of Marian’s passing after a victory over Barca got me a little emotional and I think it was visible on me as well. I was very happy for this award.

 

A lot of experience. I was around great players day by day from whom I could learn a lot and improve, take a step forward. It developed from that, but I think you should ask them. One thing is for sure, whatever I do, I do it for one goal only, and that is to help the team to be successful. I also like to do exemplary thing outside of the court, that is able to make the Club and Veszprém city proud.

 

I was a sport ambassador for Csemete Foundation, this is how I started. My handball camp is also about children having a good time and be around a kind of quality player like myself. I am there with them from day one too. Wherever we go, we are trying to help and take action. We help hospitals, animal shelters, under privileged children with clothes, toys or anything else that they need. I was part of Csodalámpa Foundation and a member of the Baby Ambulance Foundation as well. These are things that I experienced on my own self in Barcelona and I feel good when I can help a child, a parent or an animal in need.

 

 

I had the pleasure of playing against the Romanian national team where he played as well. I think we did not meet in clubs ever. He had extra physical attributes at that time, one could say he was outstanding handball wise. He could have had a fine career. He was a strong opponent.

 

For me, it was a special case because I have spent 12 years in Barcelona and I became not only a player, but my personality was developed there as well. It was interesting, but it was not my first Veszprém – Barca so I had no pressure on myself. The most important is that we had to win. We knew that we were not in a favorable situation in the group and we must beat Barca who are leading the group by a mile. They work with an outstanding roster, even though they had three injured players. We had some also. Apart from the first few minutes until we took the lead, we have never let it go out of our hands. The team was excellent in my opinion. We had great defense but I think our running back should have been a bit more orderly and organized. Of course, after a victory we only have to repair the mistakes. We fought until the last minute and we were disciplined in offense. This was the key.

 

 

Photo: Dávid Vörös