Article continues
It is the greatest moment of the evening. The moment the Füchse Berlin had been waiting for twelve years. The award ceremony at the big Final4. After the 42:33 triumph against Bergischer HC, the DHB Cup goes to Berlin’s hands. Fireworks shoot up, confetti rains from the hall roof, pure ecstasy on the parquet. But in the midst of the celebration, the scene almost takes a turn — the cup party almost ends in a catastrophe.
Because suddenly, fireworks go off at the same time as the confetti cannon. The colorful paper strips catch fire, burn in the air, and fall like glowing scraps onto the unsuspecting Füchse stars (see photo/circle). The shock moment: a fireball rains down exactly between goalkeeper Lasse Ludwig (23) and World Handball Player Mathias Gidsel (27). The flames hit Gidsel on the right shoulder.
Handball: Fright at Berlin’s Cup Party, World Handball player hit by fireball
Gidsel told BILD: “Yes, I was shocked for a moment, briefly thought my jersey was burning a bit, but thankfully it wasn’t that big. Maybe I have a small scorch mark or hole in my shirt now.” Gidsel takes the fire mishap with humor, saying: “The award ceremony was a bit dangerous, more difficult than the game.” Even Lasse Ludwig shakes the burning paper off his right sleeve. That could have gone wrong too.
Even after the pyro mishap, the World Handball player has a tough time this evening. When the superstar wants to go from the TV interview to the locker room, his teammates have locked him out, he has to knock on the door several times. When it finally opens, Gidels is greeted with a sticky beer shower from Lukas Herburger and captain Max Darj (with whom he shares the room) directly in the face. Only after that is he allowed to enter.
Reason for the locker room prank. Gidsel had jokingly admonished his captain during the Dyn interview not to celebrate too much. Gidsel: “Max, we have an important game against Gummersbach on Thursday.” Darj to Gidsel: “I don’t care what you do, I’m drinking beer today. I live in the here and now. Besides, you just have to play well on Thursday, I don’t.”
