The sensation of Israeli handball: "I want to play in the Champions League"
At 2.03 meters tall, Loic Bakso is already used to being asked if he plays basketball – only a few know that he is one of the most intriguing talents produced by Israeli handball. The 20-year-old backcourt player for Maccabi Holon, who starred in the youth national team's historic run to the World Championship, explains why he wasn't tempted to choose a more familiar and rewarding sport, tells about the footballer father he never got to know, his roots in Congo and the racist incident he experienced – and aims as high as possible.
If Loic Bakso (20) were a football or basketball player, he would likely have been labeled "the next big thing" long ago. But the left back for Maccabi Holon plays handball, a sport that receives much less attention in Israel. This doesn't stop him from standing out on the street: after all, it's hard to miss a guy who stands 2.03 meters tall. Quite a few people assume he is a basketball player, and some, as he recounts, even stop him to check if they are missing out on a selfie with a well-known player who joined one of the top teams.
Bakso, a graduate of Katzir High School in Holon, could have ended up in football altogether. His father, Lebo Bakso, played in Israel as a foreign player, mainly as a defender for Maccabi Herzliya, but died of a serious illness before Loic was born. In the end, it was handball that found him – and at a young age, it became a central part of his life.
"It started in fifth grade. They came to us from the club to the school and invited anyone who wanted to try to an afternoon class. That's where I fell in love with the sport," he says in a special interview with Yedioth Ahronoth and Ynet. "You could say that handball is my first love. I remember myself at age nine coming to the senior team's games and aspiring to be one of them."
The path to professionalism
When asked when he started focusing on the professional side, Bakso replies: "Already in middle school. There is a very warm support system in Holon, so I received the tools and motivation there to continue training, developing, and staying in the sport. In middle school, I was in a handball track, and in high school, I moved to a different track, but I continued to train long after school hours."
Did they see the potential even then? "Yes, I was in the youth national teams from seventh grade. At the same time, I try not to get blinded by this headline. There were many young talents who didn't manage to realize themselves. Talent is not enough; you need perseverance and luck. I believe very much in luck."
This is the time to bloom. Bakso is considered one of the most prominent talents of the young generation in Israeli handball, and in the last two years, he has established his status as a significant cog in Holon's backcourt in the Premier League. In the summer of 2024 and during the last year, he participated with the youth national team in European Championships, and in the last tournament, he already provided some great performances, including games where he reached a double-digit number of goals against Bosnia and Croatia.
Dreams and reality
Handball became serious in his life at a young age. Gilad Nathan, the national teams' manager, invited him to a first training camp to examine up close the talent that fell into the sport's hands – and the child who didn't use his impressive height data ("I was always taller than everyone") to turn to basketball. Bakso felt that they believed in him.
"In the end, it's doing something I love. To wake up in the morning for this," he says. "I developed with these people, who became friends and family."
When asked if he had to explain what handball is, he says: "The sport is not famous in the country, and it's very frustrating. They immediately think I play basketball, and when I say handball, the questions come: 'Why? In basketball, there is more money.' I explain that it's not related to money; handball is what I love to do."
Where does he want to play? "In the Champions League, and I work with my team very hard to get there. They push me in every training session to reach the maximum. I hope it won't remain just a dream, but will become a reality. My role model is Daniel Musindi, who also grew up here in Holon and played in Germany and France. Now I am a soldier in the IDF, an outstanding athlete. First of all, it is important for me to give to the country."
Historic success
This year, the Israeli youth national team recorded a significant achievement: obtaining the ticket to the U21 World Championship. Israel finished 15th in Europe after winning 36:31 against Croatia. Bakso was one of the central players of the youth team throughout the championship, and in the decisive game, he took on a particularly central role, scoring ten goals and being chosen as the MVP.
"It was a crazy experience," he says. "Intense, full of twists. I am happy that we managed to qualify for the World Championship. Everyone gave 100 percent. The World Championship will be next year in North Macedonia, and I am very much looking forward to it."
Regarding his roots and racism, he is candid: "When I was younger, I would be ashamed of it, today it's a source of pride. I haven't visited Congo yet, and that's something I intend to do. Against Bosnia, one of their players didn't shake my hand at the end. I assume it's because of my skin color. It spurred me to give it my all. I wasn't hurt by it, but Gilad saw what happened and handled it. I don't usually encounter racism."
In conclusion, Bakso adds: "I am very much waiting to take the next step and join the senior national team. Even at 20, I am already dreaming of being there. Who doesn't?"
