Pineau completes Vardar’s French legion

French centre back Allison Pineau has signed a one-year contract with an emerging Macedonian powerhouse ŽRK Vardar SCBT Skopje only three days after she ended her contract with CS Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea by mutual consent.

After the Romanian champions have been eliminated by Gyori ETO KC in the Women’s EHF Champions League Semi-final, Pineau has stated her unwillingness to continue playing for Oltchim after she only played one season for the Romanian side.

“I did not come to Oltchim for money, nor for the city. I only came here to perform. I am leaving for another project, a better one next season”, said Pineau minutes after the semi-final.

Only a week after her statement, the 23-year old playmaker, who scored 12 goals for Oltchim during this season in the European top flight and has been an integrant part in the defence of the Romanian champions, announced she will play next season for Vardar.

Pineau completed a real "Dream Team” for the Macedonian side, who had already strengthened their squad in December and January with Macedonian national team players Biljana Crvenkovska and Julia Nikolić, Spanish line player Begona Molinos Fernandez, and Brazilian winger Dayna de Rocha.

The former Oltchim star will be the fourth French player in Vardar’s roster, after goalkeeper Amandine Leynaud, righ tback Claudine Mendy and winger Siraba Dembele.

Also, Skopje managed to sign Serbian Andrea Lekić, the best centre back at the latest EHF EURO and Montenegrin winger Jovanka Radičević, both from Women’s EHF Champions League’s finalists, Györi ETO KC.