Korfball: Jan Hanekroot Trophy

Jan Hanekroot Trophy
By Marc Stroo

Korfball World, Netherlands
Aug 19 2005

In its recent meeting the council of the International Korfball
Federation (IKF) decided to name the trophy for the new event European
Bowl after the recently deceased korfball promotor Jan Hanekroot.

The European Bowl is a new IKF event being used as a qualification
event for the European senior champions 2006 to be held in Hungary
and the World championships 2007 to be held in the Czech capital
Prague. The inaugural edition will take place in Terrassa (Spain)
from 27 to 30 October 2005. Participating countries will be Armenia,
Italy, Poland, Portugal, Russia and Catalunya representing Spain.

Naming the trophy of this new event after Hanekroot is a recognition
for his contribution to the international growth of korfball. Being
one of the IKF’s longest serving development officers, his untimely
death in February 2005 was a shock to many korfball people world
wide. The IKF decided to associate the event primarily to young
korfball countries with Hanekroot’s name since he was also involved
in the development in new korfball countries. Still he will be mostly
connected to the UK. Hanekroot was aspecially loved because of his
quiet attitude and great drive to help korfballers from all ranks
and countries.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS