Lekić to leave Györ at end of season

News that Serbian national team centre back Andrea Lekić is set to leave her club Györi Audi ETO KC at the end of the current season has come as a surprise to the Hungarian champions and throughout women's handball in Europe.

Lekić announced the decision on her official website (www.andrealekic.com) just a week before Györ meet Budućnost Podgorica in a rematch of last season’s Women's EHF Champions Legaue final, when the Montenegrin side won the two-leg tie on away goals, after a 54:54 aggregate draw, to be crowned champions.

“I thought long and hard over the last few weeks where I should continue my career and I decided to leave Györ at the end of the season,” Lekić said in her statement.

“It’s a top club with everything a professional needs to flourish, including great fans and a well organised structure.

“However, the structure is such, that in my 18 months here I have not had a chance to play in my preferred position, which is a situation I never fully accepted.

“My feeling is that I need to play in my favourite position to further enhance my career because that is where I thrive and play my best handball.”

Lekić has been moved to the left back position at Györ in order to accomodate Anita Görbicz and Anikó Kovacsics at centre back, but the three seem to have worked well together as the club cruised into this season’s Women's EHF Champions League Main Round with six straight wins in the Group Matches.

All three players were outstanding in December’s Women's EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia, where Görbicz and Kovacsics steered Hungary to the bronze medal, after defeating Lekić and her Serbian team in the third place match.

Lekić was Serbia’s driving force at centre back throughout the fiercely competitive tournament as they did well to reach the semi-final, after failing to win a match in any of their three previous EHF EURO appearances.

Lekić nevertheless emphasised she was looking forward to the rest of the season in an effort to secure silverware for herself and the club.

“There is still a long way to go until I leave. We are only halfway through the season and the big games are yet to come.

“Hence I am completely focused on the tasks ahead and winning the Champions League is the primary objective. I want to live that dream wearing a Györ shirt,” Lekić said in conclusion.

Lekić and Györi Audi ETO KC play their opening Women's EHF Champions League Main Round match at home on Saturday, 2 February against Budućnost Podgorica which can be viewed live on ehfTV.com at 16:00 CET.