Handball player Estavana Polman (33 years old) played the last game of his careerthe duel between Rapid and Minaur Baia Mare, score 32-30, in the last stage of the Flower League.
At the end of the game, with a cold beer in her hand, the athlete spoke to GSP.ro about her retirement from handball and the emotions she goes through, about the presence to partner Rafael van der Vaart in the Rapid hall, about her future plans and sent a message to the fans who supported her during her time in Romania.
Estavana Polman: “It was a really nice goodbye”
Estavana Polman, the most accomplished handball player to wear the team's jersey in recent years, played her last match in front of the home crowd, in a special and emotional evening at the same time.
“Celebrating with a cold beer. It's over, I'm free now! I'm going to celebrate tonight. It was great. It was a really nice goodbye. I am very grateful and thank them for the match, but also for what they did for me at the end. It was very nice, I appreciated it a lot.
There was a moment when it was hard, I was overwhelmed by emotions, but I was happy, I looked around and I really wanted to enjoy and keep this moment for myself. And I think it was extraordinary. And now it's over and rest is coming,” said Estavana in the dialogue with GSP.
The athlete also spoke about the presence in the room of her partner Rafael van der Vaart, visibly emotional from her last match.
He was also very excited. He told me « You know you won't cry, but I probably will. I'm going to cry the whole match », but it was very nice that he could be here. I am very grateful and in fact I am very calm. I had an extraordinary career, I am very at peace
– Estavana Polman
Rafael van der Vaart, present in the Rapid room / photo: Andrei Furnigă GSP
Estavana Polman continued to talk about what's next in her life. He will move back to the Netherlands, but he will not completely forget Romania.
“Now a new chapter of my life will start, but first I'm going to enjoy myself, tonight I'm going to have a drink, I'm going to eat well with my family and yes, it's very nice. My daughter is at school, so she has to stay here until the end of June. We will all stay here until the end of June, and then we will move to the Netherlands together.
But I will surely return to Bucharest many times. So you'll see me around here, just not on the field. I will miss many things. I had an exceptional time here, my family was very quiet and relaxed, the people are very nice.
The only thing I won't miss is the traffic. It was the worst part, but otherwise the people, the food, the team… it's going to be pretty tough, but I'm happy and I'm looking forward to the new chapter in my life,” said Polman.
In the end, Estavana Polman sent a message to the fans who supported her tonight, but also during the years spent at Rapid.
“I thank them for everything. It was amazing and I learned a lot. Romania is different from Denmark and I think it was a wonderful experience. The fans were amazing, the club was amazing. I tell them to support the team, to support the girls, because in the end everyone gives everything they have and puts in all their efforts. Be kind to others and you'll see me around again. I will be back. Thank you very much!“
