Schefvert looking forward to an ”interesting match”

It seems to be a “Mission Impossible” for the Danish champions, GOG Svendborg TGI. They will visit to Portland San Antonio in their first group match of the Men’s Champions League on Wednesday night. Still, Ulf Schefvert, Swedish head coach of the Danish club, is looking forward to the match.

“It is going to be an interesting match, I think. We play against an exciting team with a lot of interesting players. Furthermore, it is going to be a game where we have nothing to lose,” Ulf Schefvert told Eurohandball.com.

His team did not start the season well and GOG stand with only three points in the first three matches in the Danish league. This weekend, however, they gained the first victory this season after winning a home match against Fredericia HK 25-24.

GOG were without no less than four of their regular players. Goalkeeper Peter Henriksen, right winger Dennis Kirkegaard, backcourt player Mikkel Hansen and pivot/defence specialist, Magnus Jernemyr, were sidelined with injuries.

Doubt about Henriksen

Magnus Jernemyr is the only who will surely play against Portland San Antonio. He seems to be fit after his knee injury, while Kirkegaard and Hansen are definitely out for the match in Pamplona. There is great doubt about Peter Henriksen, who has problems with his knees.

“It will, of course, be a big handicap to play without Peter Henriksen in a match like this,” confirmed Ulf Schefvert, who will have to depend on the 18-year old Niklas Landin in the goal if the national team’s substitute Henriksen does not get fit. Landin is member of the Danish U 21 team that won bronze medal at the U 21 World Championship in FYR Macedonia in August, but he still lacks experience for the Champions League level.

“There is always a chance”

Although it might seem as if GOG were without a chance on Wednesday at 20.30 CET, the coach tends to disagree.

“There is always a chance – but we will obviously have to play at our absolutely best in all positions to stand a chance. Even though we still have to remember, that the two other teams in our group (Tatran Presov and A1 Bregenz, ed.) are also good teams. This may be the most difficult match in the group phase,” Ulf Schefvert said.