Countdown, part 10: Dinamo Volgograd

After narrowly missing out on a spot in the Main Round of last season's EHF Champions League, Russian champions Dinamo Volgograd will go into this season's competition with virtually the same squad.

The Russian women’s league is one of the strongest domestic competitions in Europe – so it is a big mountain to climb to become champions. Dinamo Volgograd reached that peak for the fourth straight time last season – and now they are aiming for success in the Women’s EHF Champions League too.

Dinamo can count on a well-balanced and well-rehearsed team with a strong defence which includes goalkeeper Anna Sedoykina, the tallest shooter of the whole Women’s Champions League in Ukrainian international Anastasija Pidpalova, and many very talented Russian juniors like Tatiana Khmyrova, Olga Levina or Ksenia Makeeva.

The squad of the Russian champions, which compete with FTC, Larvik and Sävehof in the Group Matches, is nearly the same as in the previous season with two young players advancing from the junior team and only Daria Makarova leaving Dinamo.

Like the previous three seasons, Volgograd are supposed to aiming to proceed the next stage, but never before have they made it to the semi-finals of the Women’s EHF Champions League.

Ksenia Makeeva is looking forward the new season: "We are glad to meet the strongest teams of Europe in this competition." Meanwhile, for manager Tatiana Rameiko the motto is simple: "Our aim is always to win."
 

Three questions to coach Victor Ryabykh:
ehfCL.com: What are your expectations for the upcoming season of the Women’s EHF Champions League?
Victor Riabykh: We hope that we are going to be in the final.

ehfCL.com: What does participating in the Women’s EHF Champions League mean to you and your club?
Victor Riabykh: It means that our team is a really good one if it plays in Women’s EHF Champions League every year. It makes handball popular in our country when we compete in the EHF Champions League.

ehfCL.com: What teams are your personal favourites to win the Women’s EHF Champions League season – and why?
Victor Riabykh: Every team is good if it plays in European Cup competitions. We like them all and we wish all of them good results.

Dinamo Volgograd (RUS)
Qualification for the Women’s EHF Champions League 2012/13 season: Russian champions
Coach: Victor Ryabykh
Newcomers: Irina Snopova, Karina Pavlova (both from second Dinamo team)
Left the club: Daria Makarova

Women’s EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2011/2012 season): 13
Semi-finalist: 1999/00
Main Round: 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12
Group Phase/Champions League: 2001/02, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07
Qualification: 2002/03, 2003/04, 2008/09

Other EC records:

EHF Cup:
Winners: 2007/08
Semi-finalists: 2008/09

City Cup:
Semi-finalist: 1997/98

Challenge Cup:
Winner: 1994/95

Russian champions: 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

Further information
Find more information about Dinamo Volgograd HERE
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