Antonio Capitán: «I’m not aware of what I’m achieving»

Antonio Capitán Barjola, 24 years old, 1.93 metres tall and weighing 90 kilograms, joined Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto in the 2024–2025 season, from ARS Palma del Río of Primera Nacional.

Today we bring you the first interview on our website. An interview that will show us his more personal side, his beginnings in handball, his development at Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto and how he is experiencing becoming one of the competition’s revelations.

Regarding how he began in the sport, the Porto team’s first-line player explains: «I started playing handball in my hometown, Estepa, a village in Seville, within the autonomous community of Andalusia, and I did so thanks to the first coach I had, who identified talent at the school where I studied».

«I feel immense pride in representing my village’s name throughout the country in the elite of this sport. It is a way of thanking both my family and the friends I have there, because they have always stood by me, believed in me and trusted me at all times».

When his signing was announced, the then coach of the red-and-white first team, Toni Malla, described the player they had brought in as follows: «We had been keeping an eye on him for some time, because of his progress in recent seasons. He has the size and weight to make him a defensive pillar. In attack, his total of 131 goals speaks for itself. He is a shooting back and also a direct, attacking player. A young lad with enthusiasm and hunger to compete».

In his first season at the club, he finished the regular season in fifth place with a total of 37 points, allowing him to compete in the promotion play-off for promotion to the NEXUS ENERGÍA ASOBAL League. However, he was unable to achieve it, losing 30–23 at the Quijote Arena in the first semi-final against the hosts, Balonmano Caserío Ciudad Real.

Despite the heavy setback, he earned a contract renewal for two more seasons. On his next attempt, he achieved the long-awaited promotion with the Porto side after beating Fundación Agustinos Alicante 18–17 in the final of the promotion phase, held at the Port de Sagunt Pavilion. This was accompanied by a change in his role within the squad—a key role—as he finished the season as his team’s top scorer.

«The change I have undergone, from being a defensive specialist to an attacking one, has been very comfortable for me because I feel I am a versatile player and I have always felt good attacking. Until quite recently, I had not had the opportunity to show myself in attack in every match because I had a different role within the 40x20», added the player from Estepa.

On the first matchday of the NEXUS ENERGÍA ASOBAL League 2026–2027, in addition to earning the two points at home against ABANCA Ademar León (39–38), he was named MVP of the competition, scoring ten goals with an 83% success rate, as well as being included in the Ideal 7. He would repeat this latter achievement on the third matchday too.

«Honestly, it was in my mind, but I never thought in my life that I would make my debut in the top tier of Spanish handball. When I started in the world of handball, the main thing was to have fun and meet new people. Winning the MVP award on the first matchday was a complete surprise to me, as it was my debut. Furthermore, playing in front of our supporters made it even more special», Capi stressed regarding his debut and the recognition he received.

Continuing in the vein of humility, the Valencians’ left back says: «I’m not aware of what I’m achieving; I’m sharing the court with and facing players whom, when I was a small child, I watched from afar on television. The highest level is so competitive that you do not have time to stop and think about what you are achieving and what you are not. What I do believe is that I am performing well and that I want to continue like this».

The MVP award on the first matchday and his inclusion in the Ideal 7 for that matchday and the third one are not his only individual accolades. He is currently second among the top scorers with a total of 27, just behind Gonzalo Pérez Arce, who has 29.

«Playing in ASOBAL has given me new professional challenges. It makes me very excited to see my name there. It is not something that keeps me awake at night; I simply want to compete at my highest level in every match and, if my goals help my team earn points each matchday, I will be even happier», said the player from the Valencian Community side regarding his individual performance.

When asked what is surprising him most about the league, he replied: «What has surprised me most about this division is the high level in every contest. I have noticed a huge leap compared with the División de Honor Plata in terms of the composition of the squads and the individual quality of the players in them. On the other hand, there is also the atmosphere in each and every pavilion, weekend after weekend, both at ours and at those we travel to».

To conclude the interview, he decided to discuss his short-, medium- and long-term objectives: «Collectively, I cannot say anything other than maintaining our place in the division. Individually, in the future I would like to compete in European competitions and, of course, one day receive a call-up to the national team».

His next fixture will be this weekend, when on the fourth matchday of the competition he visits Dicorpebal Logroño La Rioja at the Palacio de los Deportes, from 20:00.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.