Different generations, same privilege: representing Angola

Handball connects different generations. Handball connects different nationalities. Most of all, handball connects people.

15 years, 9 months, 26 days.

That is the difference in age between Angola’s left wing Natalia Maria Bernardo dos Santos (36 years old) and left back Stelvia de Jesus Pascoal (21 years old).

Ahead of the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship, there was a gap of 264 appearances and 198 goals between dos Santos’ 289 appearances and 230 goals and Pascoal’s 25 and 32.

Born in two different millennia, but despite their differences, they have come together for one common goal: to push Angola as far as they can on the global handball stage.

“It is certainly a privilege to be able to play with these great and experienced stars from Angola, they are a source of inspiration,” says Pascoal to ihf.info about playing alongside dos Santos, Teresa Almeida, Azenaide Carlos and Isabel Guialo who have around 600 appearances for the senior national team between them.

The 20-year-old Pascoal is speaking the day after her Angola side finally got their first win in Norway, a 30:25 victory over Austria in their second main round match.

It was a well-deserved result which had come after Angola became the first team to qualify for a main round in the 32-team world championship format having not won previously, following a narrow loss against Olympic champions France (29:30), a four-goal defeat to Slovenia and draw against Iceland in the preliminary stage.

“These games had good moments and bad moments,” says the 36-year-old dos Santos to ihf.info. 

“We had a good game against France and lost, we could have won the other games but the important thing was moving to the main round.”

Co-hosts Norway dispatched the African champions easily in their main round opener 37:19 and both players know they can do better.

“My performance has been reasonable,” added dos Santos, who plays for Primeiro do Agosto in Luanda. “I have improved game after game, I am about 75% in defence, but I must improve in the two-on-one situations and I have to fight harder to give 100%, that has always been my goal as an athlete.

“But I have tried hard to help achieve our collective goals and as a team we’re playing together and doing our best.”

Playing together. 

That is something that is clearly evident in the Angolan team, firstly in Stavanger and now Trondheim. Every time they are present in the arena they are one. United for the common good.

And the generational differences throughout have allowed a natural, complementary bonding.

“Having two generations in a group is great because of the coexistence and experience,” explains dos Santos, who sites her best memory playing for her nation at her first African championship when she played alongside her sisters.

“We were young once and were well-received by the more experienced players then, so this new generation are also well received by us; we passed on our testimony to them and how important they are for the national team.”

That younger generation include a number of players who finished sixth at the 2022 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship in Slovenia, with Pascoal joining Dolores Rosario, Liliane Martins and Bernardeth Belo.

“They are supportive and respectful people who welcomed me very well,” said Pascoal about the more experienced members in the squad.

“I can say that our classification and performance in the junior championship in Slovenia did help in moving up to the senior team, with senior championships made up of much more experienced players.

“Certainly this new Angolan generation aims to continue and improve our classification at the world championships and Olympic Games, I see a very talented generation.”

“These players have a lot of qualities and potential,” explained dos Santos about the new generation coming up to eventually replace her and the more experienced players in the squad. 

“Many are here for the first time, but they help the group a lot and have a lot of influence on the games. For me, it is very good, I am transmitting a lot of experience and they receive it well and are the future of the country.

“Stelvia is a good girl, humble and has a lot of potential,” she added about the player who plays club handball in France with Saint-Amand. “She is super happy and easy to deal with.”

With their results in Norway, Angola cannot now qualify through to the quarter-finals, but having already qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games through their continental qualification tournament victory https://www.ihf.info/media-center/news/angola-seal-paris-2024-olympic-games-ticket-nail-biting-wins, they are now using their time in Norway to prepare for the global spectacular next year, which – should dos Santos play – will be her fifth consecutive Games.

“I’m without words to describe this moment, which will be memorable if I'm there to help my colleagues,” says dos Santos, who made her Olympic debut at Beijing 2008.

“So far we don't know which Angola group will be in, but we are always prepared for a good classification. My best memories were when we reached the quarter-finals at Rio 2016. I was carrying the flag of Angola and we had moments with the stars of the world.

“For me it is always an honour and a feeling of pride to see the flag and sing the national anthem of Angola, it is a responsibility and a satisfying moment.”

Should Pascoal get selected, it will be her first appearance on the greatest of stages and forms part of her long-term plan for her development in the sport, a plan which aims for the very top.

“My next goals are to develop as an athlete and become the best player in the world,” said Pascoal, who has scored 12 goals in her near three-and-a-half hours of playing time across five games in Norway.

“I want to win championships such as the IHF World Championship, the Olympic Games – the most beautiful celebration of sport – compete in the Champions League.”

For do Santos, her career is reaching the end, but she will keep powering. 

“My goals have always been to be on the podium,” she said. “For the next competitions I don't know if I will be there again, but I will continue to work and always give my best, as long as God gives me strength.”