Anita Gace: Podravka ready to start

Gace will play in Group A of CL in the colours of Podravka against Cementos La Union Ribarroja, Slagelse and Győr. Podravka’s only reinforcement for this season was Hungarian international, Anita Bulath. In addition, the club changed coach. Josip Sojat was replaced by Zdravko Zovko, one of the best Croatian coaches ever.

Eurohandball: Podravka start this season with a new coach. How are things going in the team at this point? What has changed in Podravka and what is the difference between Josip Sojat and Zdravko Zovko?

Anita Gace: The atmosphere is excellent in the club. The trainings are great. We train a lot and very hard. Our new coach, Zovko, introduced many new elements in our play. If I have to compare Podravka now with Podravka last season, I have to say that now we play much faster. Zovko prefers high paced handball with strong defence.

And the difference between Sojat and Zovko? Well, every coach have their views on handball and there are no two identical coaches. At the beginning Zovko had some problem with working with women again, but now everything is okay. The team got to know him and he got to know us, so everything is really good. I’m very satisfied with the entire situation in the club.

Eurohandball: What do you expect from your team in the Group A of CL?

Anita Gace: We have a tough group, with the CL Winner Slagelse and CL semi-finalist, Győr. Ribarroja also have some great players.

However, last season we won at home against Viborg, CL winner of 2006. So I think we are right to hope that in Koprivnica we can and will win all our matches. And of course, we try to gain some points in the away matches too.

Eurohandball: What is your personal plan, wish or ambition?

Anita Gace: The most important is to stay healthy, train hard and improve as a player. My great wish is to qualify with the national team for the Olympic Games in Beijing. I have a contract with Podravka for another three years, so at this moment I’m not thinking about going abroad or anything like that. I want to have this job done first.

Eurohandball: You will play the first match at home against Cementos La Union Ribarroja. Last season, your team had many injury problems. Now majority of the players are playing for the Croatian national team at a tournament. Tatari, Pasicnik and Palcic rejected their invitation to rest and to be ready for the CL start.

Will you all be healthy and ready?

Anita Gace: We will be absolutely ready mentally and physically as well. I expect my team to win and start the CL season in the best possible way with two points in the first match.