Lettens: “It’s worth waking up at 4 in the morning once in a while”

“Back then, playing the EHF European League was a personal goal, as well as for the club. But things have not changed much, actually, as the competition is still fierce to get that European ticket in France,” says Jef Lettens, who has been playing for Toulouse since 2019.

Still, in his third European season, you might imagine that, in a way, playing the EHF European League has become some kind of habit for Lettens. After all, taking the plane to play in a foreign country against a club that you have never met before is something he might have gotten used to.

“Not at all! It’s always a pleasure and an excitement to play a European competition, against new players and in new arenas. The EHF European League spices up your season, as you might end up in a routine when you play only once a week. We actually experienced it last season,” he says. 

Naturally, playing across Europe might take some adaptation schedule-wise, especially when you have a family at home to take care of. But the wake-up call to go to the airport during EHF European League weeks is, according to the Belgian national player, not too much of a bother.

And so far, Toulouse have been doing great in the competition. They might have lost Ayoub Abdi — who joined HBC Nantes — in the summer, but so far the start of the season has been a great one. Neither Hafnarfjordur nor Sävehof were able to stop FENIX’s progression. “I think we played much better in Sävehof than we did in the first game. We are still finding our feet and playing a little bit differently than we used to since Ayoub left. He used to take a lot of responsibilities and be able to unlock a lot of games with his individual abilities. Things are a little bit different right now, but we are able to deliver anyway,” says Lettens.

The Belgian goalkeeper has had a lot of success so far, as he made 10 saves in both European games he played with Toulouse this season. The reason for that is partly that Simon Möller, the summer signing from Sävehof, sustained a knee injury and has been out since the beginning of the season, leaving Lettens with a new partner between the posts — Yassine Belkaied — and a lot of time on the court. “That does not change much for me, to be honest. I put a lot less pressure on my shoulders than I used to. Maybe that comes with age, I don’t know,” he explains.

That does not mean that Lettens is doing everything by himself though. He is eager to underline the role that Simon Möller, despite being injured, played in the success in Sävehof last Tuesday. “He played for that club last season and he was very helpful. We had a big video session before the game and he gave me a lot of tips about their players and that proved to be a great help,” Lettens praises.

The Belgian goalkeeper hopes that his team and himself can retain their momentum when they travel to Gummersbach on Tuesday, in what looks like the first act of the battle for the group’s top spot. After two rounds, both teams have won their two games and this away trip will feel a little bit special for Jef Lettens. “I know some of my friends will come to the game as it is not that far from where I grew up in Belgium. It’s going to be kind of special to have a chat with them after the game as I don’t see them too often,” smiles the Hasselt-born goalkeeper. 

And if he could mix a great moment with friends with two points more in the standings for FENIX, no doubt Lettens would be the happiest on Tuesday night. After all, after discovering the EHF European League four years ago, you can feel that the 34-year-old is hungry for more. “The last time we played the EHF European League we lost in the Last 16 against Benfica, the team that lifted the trophy that season. So we want to have a better result this season than in 2022,” he concludes.

photos © 2024 Frederic Speziale / FENIX