By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
Nico Mukendi enjoyed a chance to return home to Hillsborough, but he isn’t staying for long.
He needs to resume training toward fulfilling his handball dreams.
Mukendi returned home after playing with the United States men’s senior handball team in the Pan American Championships in Uruguay. It was only his second tournament with the senior men’s team, and he has been playing handball for barely one year.
”Definitely my skill level has gone up,” Mukendi said. “I see where I need to be up with the two men’s tournaments I’ve been to. I know the level I need to be at and how much I need to improve. I need to take my game to the next level.”
Mukendi is part of the residency program at Auburn University. He finished his first semester there this past spring while preparing for the Pan American qualifying tournament and Pan American tournament. Being a part of the program has been a big benefit to Mukendi.
”We practice every day,” Mukendi said. “Not at the level of international competition, but enough to get me to where I am right now.”
Mukendi has grown plenty in his first year of playing, and he figures to improve more in the coming years as he hopes to gear up for the a shot at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
”I need more experience,” Mukendi said. “I need to play as many games as I can. I need to score as many goals as I can. I’m still a newbie. I need time. I was the youngest player on both of these trips, in age and experience.”
Mukendi’s athleticism, however, makes him valuable to the American team that also needs to make improvements in the coming years. They finished sixth in the Pan American Championships. Only the top four teams advanced to the World Championships in Qatar.
”The other teams, they were a lot younger and could move a lot quicker,” Mukendi said. “We have some old guys with old legs. The athletic ability needs to be improved. We need to be able to practice a lot longer in advance of the tournament.
”Some of the guys have been in Europe. The last couple tournaments, we’ve only had a week to get ready. That’s not enough to get good chemistry between teammates. We need months in advance.”
Mukendi is one of the bright new hopes for the U.S. He plays behind a more experienced player, but as he plays more, he is aiming to have the chance to impact the team more. It’s why he is looking forward to returning to the training center where he can work out with teammates.
”It’s not everyone,” he said. “Some of the guys are still around the country. Some play professionally in Europe. Me and four or five guys from the team train every day. We still have some people from Auburn so we can have full teams. They tried out but they’re not on the squad.”
Mukendi is learning with every practice and competition. He is developing his ability as a shooter for the handball team.
”I’m becoming more aggressive when I’m catching the ball,” Mukendi said. “I’m looking to find my shots and place them in the net where the goalie is not. I’m learning not to hold the ball too long. That messes up the rhythm of the offense. I catch and look and move the ball. I’ve become a lot faster in my play.”
He has to in order to move toward being a better player. He has noticed how much different the game is played at the highest level.
”The time it takes for you to make a decision, you have less time to react and make a decision,” Mukendi said. “It’s like (hitting) a major league fastball. If you blink, you miss it. If you see a hole and wait, it’s going to close up. The game is a lot more fast-paced.”
Both the U.S. coaches and veteran players are helping to bring Mukendi up to speed with the top level of play in the world. The tournaments helped introduce more how far he has to go.
”I feel confident,” Mukendi said. “I definitely feel confident. My size and physical ability have carried me through to this point. I’ve plateaued a bit. I’m becoming better. The person I play behind plays in the third division of Bundesliga in the European league. It’s a pleasure to learn from him and see what my game can become. He’s not the biggest guy, but he plays bigger than me.”
When Mukendi’s abilities catch up with his talent, he could be something special. He will be playing plenty in the coming months. The team may be making a trip to play in Puerto Rico. They will work out four times per week and train together four times per week. And they will making a pitch for new players like Mukendi to join them.
”We could recruit some high caliber athletes, either some football guys that graduated or basketball guys from the SEC,” Mukendi said. “We need to get more athletic. When we played the Brazilian national team, they were young and big, and they took it to us.”
The U.S. qualified for the Pan American Games by taking third place in the earlier qualifier. Mukendi has used those chances to develop his game, and they have further motivated him to continue his pursuit of the sport. He has come a long way quickly.
”A year ago, I was just hoping to be on the men’s national team,” he said. “Now that I’ve been selected for two of the last tournaments, it’s a big deal. I’ve been able to score goals and impact the team. It is a big deal. It’s a lot of improvement.”
Mukendi will resume classes at Auburn as he studies toward a degree in kinesiology and exercise science along with training for the handball team. He has learned to balance the demands of both.
”Definitely coming home from school and going right to practices is draining,” he said. “It’s nice to have a routine and nice to feel I’m getting something done. While I’m competing at a high athletic level, I’m also getting an education, so it’s two birds with one stone.
”I’m in the best place I can be,” he added. “We have the national team coach there. That’s where I’m happy to be, and I’m happy to be there.”
After a week off following the Pan American tournament, Nico Mukendi is ready to resume training. He is looking forward to seeing what the future holds as he continues to develop as a handball player following a promising first year.
”These guys have been playing ever since I was born,” Mukendi said. “I’ve only been playing one year. I can’t imagine where my game will be in a couple years when I’m in peak physical condition and I know the game more.”
