Fernanda Insfrán has been playing handball all her life. She comes from a family deeply rooted in the sport, including her father and sisters. With a past at Cerro Porteño, widely known for its football team, but the club also has a handball team, she now plays in Spain. Representing Paraguay everywhere she goes. She also plays regularly with the Paraguay national team, another of her greatest prides while practising the sport.
The Asunción Times speaks with her to get to know her story, what it is like to play handball in Paraguay and in Spain, the challenges the sport faces in the country and why she decided to continue her career in Europe.
Fernanda Insfrán and her early years in handball
Fernanda Insfrán is 28 years old and has been playing handball in teams for 13 years. “I started training at 7 years old, in clubs that no longer exist. My older sister was already playing, she took us to practice and her coach invited us to join. From there on, we never stopped going. And later, imagine, I got the opportunity to play in a World Cup and to play in Spain”, she begins.
“I was 13 or 14 when I started playing for Cerro Porteño. At that age, I was already playing in the first team. Those were really busy weekends, I was playing in three categories, including the first team. My week was full of training and my weekends were entirely about handball.”
What she remembers most from those early days are the families. “They were always behind us, cheering. There was a really good atmosphere, something that I do not think exists today. Stadiums are not as full as they used to be. My first game with Cerro Porteño’s first team was a tense one, but I played really well. I was 15 and had already been selected for the national team the year before.”
Fernanda and the national team
“The Paraguayan Handball Federation was growing and its new stadium was being built. That was my first call-up and, from that moment, I may have missed only one. What really struck me was seeing my teammates, who I faced every weekend, but we were all friends and still are.”
“There was a lot of competitiveness, but in the national team everyone was really friendly. Being so young, you do not really grasp what it means to be there. It is only as the years go by that you realise everything you have achieved and what it truly means to represent your country”, explains Fernanda Insfrán.
“My first World Cup was at 16, but the one that truly impacted me was the first senior World Cup in 2017. I was only 19 years old and playing against big names and big teams was incredible. For me, it was surreal being there. I played a lot in that tournament, so I am really proud.”
Continuing her career in Spain
“Unfortunately, handball is still amateur in Paraguay. We are always close, but still too far. That is why players who go abroad are important, so the world gets to know us. For me, it is important to show a good image and to inspire kids who want to play handball.”
One of the national team’s biggest names helped her secure a trial in a first division team in Spain. Fernanda Insfrán arrived with another teammate when they were just 16 and 17 years old. “In Spain, we learned more technique and studied the sport more deeply. In the first year, we were really happy, we had minutes in the first division despite being so young.”
She could not renew her contract and moved to another Spanish club. After a season, she returned to Paraguay and back to Cerro Porteño. The COVID-19 pandemic forced her to stay in the country longer than expected. “All of my income came from playing handball and studying at university. We won many titles, but budget cuts during the pandemic made it difficult to continue. I had to make a decision. When I got the chance to return to Spain, I took it.”
The return
“In 2021, we had World Cup qualifiers in Spain and the Federation helped us get opportunities in a team called Camargo. Then I moved to Lanzarote Puerto del Carmen. It was a very difficult decision to return, I had to rebuild my reputation in the second division. Little by little, I rebuilt my career here”, she explains.
“Players from Latin America have to work twice as hard, even if we are good. In the end, I understand it, teams pay salaries and we must prove our value. I always knew I was capable of playing in Spain’s first division. I am very disciplined, so I knew I could stay here for years. Right now, my goal is to continue enjoying handball here or in another European country.”
For her, playing abroad means living a second life. “As Paraguayans, we need to push ourselves a little more than others. Handball is a demanding sport. Many people do not even know where Paraguay is, so making it visible is not easy. It is challenging, yes, but there is talent to spare. I am convinced of that.”
The future of Fernanda Insfrán’s career
“There is a hunger for the sport in Paraguay. Many young kids are playing and there is a lot of talent. Every time I go back, I see it. What we lack is organisation and resources. More infrastructure, scholarships and opportunities would allow the sport to grow.”
“We played in the Olympic qualifiers and showed a really good image. If we can do so much with so little, imagine what we could achieve with more support”, she says. Finally, Fernanda Insfrán expresses her gratitude to her family. “They always supported and encouraged me to come here. My parents are very proud and happy, as are my sisters. We are a family that has always loved handball, and thanks to them I am where I am today.”
