EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE INTRODUCES: Daniela Piedade (Hypo Nö) – PART 4/4

After two stars of the Men’s EHF Champions League, our interview series goes on with a lady at last. In the upcoming weeks we will introduce you a Brazilian handballer from Vienna, Daniela De Oliveira Piedade. The line player of Hypo Niederösterreich arrived in Europe five years ago and she has become team captain and key figure of the Austrian club that won Champions League (and Champions’ Cup) eight times.

After Hypo beating Larvik in Norway, we could ask Daniela about the four victories from four matches in the Champions League. However, handball never stops and the Brazilian player is already practicing with her national team. In the preparation phase for the World Championship (2-16 December in France), the Brazilians are in Dunkerque for an international tournament with Poland, Tunisia and France.

Eurohandball.com: I guess you are very satisfied for the last victory in Norway and for qualifying already for the next stage.

Daniela Piedade: I’m happy that we won all four games so far. This group was a so called “death group”, where anything could have happened. It means that now we don’t have to be too much stressed about the last two matches that we will play at home.

In fact, we had to work hard for this victory. We thought at the beginning that we were better and it would be easy, but it was not the case. In the second half we had to play much faster.

Eurohandball.com: And according to the reports, you also showed your best performance so far.

Daniela Piedade: I had three matches that were not so good. I’m really happy about it now, because I felt at a test match against South Korea last week that I was getting in form and now I came out of this worse period for me.

Eurohandball.com: You can forget about Champions League for some time now and focus on the World Championship. What are your objectives there?

Daniela Piedade: To finish in the first seven teams. We have a good team and the girls won a preparation match on Saturday already without the complete squad. Now everyone is here, the final 16 players have been selected for the tournament, so now we can train and play without any stress.

Eurohandball.com: If you think about your future a bit, what do you foresee for yourself? Would you like to stay in Europe at the end of your career or would you like to move back to Brazil and make use of your experience there?

Daniela Piedade: I would still like to play 4-5 years in Europe, first of all, so I have plenty of time to think about it. Of course, sometimes I think it would be better to stay, sometimes I believe that I should go home where I have my family and where I bought a house. I would still like to complete my architecture studies and I’m also considering sports studies, handball coaching.

Eurohandball.com: Finally; you have talked about the objectives of Hypo and of the Brazilian national team, but what would be a dream come true for you this season?

Daniela Piedade: In the Champions League, it would be the victory. This is sure. With Brazil, I would be very happy to get into the first five at the World Championship.

The interview series with Daniela closes at this point to let her focus on the World Championship entirely. We will continue our series with the next star from the EHF Champions League, stay with us!

Previously:

EHF Champions League introduces: Daniela Piedade (Hypo Nö) – part 1/4
EHF Champions League introduces: Daniela Piedade (Hypo Nö) – part 2/4
EHF Champions League introduces: Daniela Piedade (Hypo Nö) – part 3/4

The Vlado Sola (CO Zagreb) interview series
The László Nagy (FC Barcelona) interview series