Go beyond the borders
They did not dare to hope for it, but then they celebrated their biggest international success.
Qualification winners
By winning against Lubin and Debrecen Buxtehuder SV in the Qualification Tournament in Poland qualified for the EHF Women’s Champions League for the first time.
"This is more than a surprise," was the opinion of all players.
More surprises last season
It was an equal surprise as the young team from the Hamburg region reached two German finals last season – in the cup and in the league.
Even as they lost both against Thüringer HC, it was the most successful ever season on domestic ground.
Especially as they only missed two goals in the second leg of the league final to become German champions for the first time ever.
Three experienced players
The German runners-up have a very young team with only three experienced players: Stefanie Melbeck with more than 200 caps for Germany, Dutch international Diane Lamein and Isabel Klein, also German international and wife of THW Kiel’s wing player Dominik Klein.
Melbeck spent several years at Danish clubs, but she never played EHF Champions League before.
Two experienced players – Dutch goalkeeper Debbie Kljin and former German international Susanne Petersen – ended their careers.
German international as reinforcement
Best known newcomer is German national team member Katja Langkeit, a former HC Leipzig player, who arrived from Blomberg.
Leaders in Germany
After three rounds of the German league Buxtehude is on top spot, after also beating the champions from Thüringer HC.
Still the debutant’s expectations of the in the EHF Women’s Champions are not so high, especially as they will have to face top teams like Volgograd, Vâlcea and Itxako.
But coach Dirk Leun, who led the German women’s juniors to the World Championship title 2008, knows how to motivate his squad for highest ambitions.
Hall sharing with HSV Hamburg
As their hall was not approved, Buxtehude will play their home matches in the Alsterdorfer Sporthalle in Hamburg, where also most of the HSV Hamburg VELUX EHF Champions League matches will take place.
Three questions to coach Dirk Leun
ehfCL.com: What are your expectations for the upcoming season of the EHF Champions League – concerning your objectives and your group opponents?
Dirk Leun: Our biggest aim is to learn from the much more experienced teams. We want to go to the limit and maybe beyond it to develop the team further on.
Maybe we take some points, but we cannot say in advance how much points we will gain.
Some teams in the EHF Women’s Champions League are light years away concerning their international experience.
We played in a preparation tournament against our Group Stage opponents Vâlcea and Volgograd and know their strength.
Vâlcea play the typical Romanian style with a lot of power. Volgograd is technically strong and play with a high speed.
But I believe that we have the biggest chance to take a point or two against the Russian champions on our home ground.
ehfCL.com: What does the participation in the EHF Champions League mean to you and your club?
Dirk Leun: This is a milestone in the development of our club and a huge challenge, too.
To play the EHF Women’s Champions League is quite different to participate in the ‘normal’ European Cups, so it is a major step for Buxtehude – not only for the players, but also our staff and board will be stipulated.
But we are looking very optimistically upon the competition.
ehfCL.com: What teams are your personal favourites for winning the title this season – and why?
Dirk Leun: For me Györ, Larvik, Vâlcea, Buducnost and Itxako are contenders for the semi-finals, and if you ask me about the final participants I choose Györ and Larvik.
Club facts – Buxtehuder SV (GER)
Newcomers: Anja Lenz (SVG Celle), Katja Langkeit (HSG Blomberg-Lippe)
Left the club: Jasmina Jankovic (FA Göppingen), Debbie Kljin (end of career), Jana Wode, Kaja Schmäschke (both Rosengarten), Susanne Pedersen (end of career)
Coach: Dirk Leun, since 2008
Qualification for the 2011/2012 EHF Women’s Champions League season: Winner of Qualification Tournament 3, German runners-up
EHF Women’s Champions League records:
Participations (including 2011/2012 season): 1
Other EC records:
Challenge Cup winner 2010/11, finalist: 2001/02, semi-finalist: 2004/05
City Cup winner: 1993/94
German runners-up: 2003, 2011
German Cup finalist: 1990, 1996, 2007, 2011
Further information
Find more information on Buxtehuder SV HERE.
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TEXT:
Björn Pazen