BLOG: Sometimes even toughest metal melt in face of fire

I just got back from the land of the yellow sun. Ja sakam Makedonija. I love Macedonia. I like their beer, their over reliance on cheese in their dishes, I love the club, the fans and the people.

They treat you like you would treat a friend and as a stranger in a strange land, you can ask for no more. Plus in Macedonian Denar, I would be a millionaire. Well, not quite, but my bank balance would certainly have more zeros.

The game between HC Metalurg and Kielce for the pride of sitting atop Group C started like a game of ten-pin bowling. I have never seen so many attacker fouls given in the first minute of a game.

Every time there was a fast break, a player would take the hit and fall down. It happened three times in the space of about 20 seconds and even the crowd saw the funny side, almost chanting “Olé” as if they were at a bull fight.

Kielce arrived by bus on Friday morning having travelled 22 hours and this in itself is a marvel that they were able to recover in time to play a tough game like this. Strangely enough before the game the boys in yellow were very relaxed.

This was not an over- confident, cocky kind of relaxed. This was more a feeling that Metalurg is a strong team at the “Boris Trajkovski” arena and it is difficult to win here, so we will give it our best shot and see what happens.

Counter this with the Metalurg team that looked like they had the weight of expectation on their shoulders.

They knew that a dream of a city and a handball adoring nation is being laid at their feet. And they must tread carefully, lest they tread on those dreams.

If you use spell check on your phone and you try to spell Metalurg, it always spells metallurgy for you. Funnily enough this team is sponsored by a big steel company and these boys are as hard as that steel.

But sometimes even the toughest metal will melt in the face of fire, and there were three particular Kielce players on fire yesterday. In goal Szmal was world class, while Stanić was very good. Musa fought the Metalurg attack to a standstill time and time again.

And then you have the little wizard. Perhaps you know that Lino Červar was once affectionately known as “il mago di umago”, “The Wizard of Umago”, but yesterday there was only one who lit up the court with the magic of his play.

Not even “Miracle-ovski” could find his normal rhythm and style, but the “wing-wizard” Čupić stamped his name all over this game.

Take a look at his 12m goal, his wing shot towards the end of the game that added another nail to the defeat of Metalurg, his ability to spot a pass, to keep his head while all around are losing theirs. He is ten steps ahead of the game.

A favourite moment was when, even after a pretty hard tackle on him, he still managed to pass the ball to a team mate open on the line, and the referees had already blown for the free.

I like to think he said to the ref, listen until I’m flat on my back, with no chance to pass the ball, wait, I will find someone. He truly is amazing to watch.

Bodan Wenta has amassed a great side for this season. They look strong in all departments and have two possibilities in all areas, bar the goalkeeper, but this will change in the New Year when Losert will be able to play in the VELUX EHF Champions League.

Then we have to think of this team as possible contenders for the VELUX EHF FINAL4.

It would be unfair not to praise the boys of Metalurg for this game. It was obvious Mojsovski wasn’t 100% fit; Cervar had no one left towards the end to throw into the fray, Vugrinec (d’Artagnan) played himself to a standstill and seven goals, Rakčević started the game with a light blue jersey and ended it with a dark blue one, so soaked was it with sweat.

The fought the yellow tide of Kielce and lost, but their coach could ask for no more. Even at the end when Kielce gifted them the possession so many times, they hadn’t the energy to find the run, the pass or the shot.

The left every ounce of toil on that court and their fans appreciated it.

I have mentioned the fans of Metalurg before. They queued to buy the 7,000 tickets. None were available by internet. They are so in tune with their team that they push, they cajole, they cheer and they never turn on their team.

They are true fans that even in defeat can see that their team gave all they could.

Metalurg will give them some heart stopping moments between now and the end of the season. My own heart stopping moment; eating deep fried pork fat rinds called Čvarci, it’s delicious.