The biggest challenge will always remain the funding, says head coach of United Nations U23 Gabi Missakian

Many players are still unaware of the ISBHF and its existence

Gabi, you are the head coach of the United Nations U23 team for the upcoming World Championships in Hradec Králové. How did the idea to form this team come about? How did you end up in the position of head coach?

Being the founder of the Association, the primary goal for us is to build and grow the sport both internally and externally. Many players are still unaware of the ISBHF and its existence. We need to promote and help grow both the sport and the federation for all nations that are active members. Many players do wish to participate in the sport at its highest level.

As the task is difficult for all nations to develop teams at multiple levels, the idea of combining heritage players under one United umbrella came to me. During team allocation, I continue coaching the program by learning about each player and taking control in building future development paths. There are notable assistant coaches learning the process and ISBHF rules, helping them prepare to lead our future teams at multiple levels.

Which nations will you be working with? How challenging is it to build a team composed of players from multiple nationalities?

The team is composed of players with heritage from Armenia, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, and Portugal. The challenge in building a united front will always remain, mostly due to funding. As we are privately funded, our task is to raise funds as well as find, develop, and train players.

What is the preparation for your team like, or how will it unfold? Will you meet before the Championships in the Czech Republic, or will you have additional preparation camps in other countries?

Close to two-thirds of the players already train and play together. They come from high-level ice hockey programs, and we integrate them into 5 vs 5 ball hockey. If logistics allow, all players will get to practice together at least once in Hradec Králové.

The goal of every team is to win

Do you have any specific goals in mind for the Championship?

To win. This is always the goal for any team in preparation for World Championships. On a secondary level, we want players to experience the event alongside host Czechia. The 2017 championship was exceptionally well organized, and we look forward to a similar experience.

How will leading this team differ from your experience with the Armenian national team? What differences do you see between adult and junior ball hockey?

The U23 team is at a semi-junior level, as for most players, this will be their only experience at this stage. They can join their national teams in the future. This age group is raw, with less high-level experience, but a strong sense of determination. The passion for the game is very much present. The Open Men’s team for Armenia has a strong sense of pride—honoring the nation first by simply being present.

You also participated in a World Championship in the Czech Republic, specifically in Pardubice. How did you like it there, and how are you looking forward to returning to Eastern Czechia?

I coached the Armenian team to a bronze medal in 2017. I had also been part of the ISBHF board, which helped me better understand the workings of the federation and the sport. I played in 2013, our first year as a member nation, and in the 2014 Caribbean Cup. Since then, I’ve presided over developing and building the program.

Game schedule - U23 in Hradec Králové. Photo: ISBHF.