Baia Mare taking time to gel

Romanian club HCM Baia Mare are preparing for their first appearance in the Women’s EHF Champions League qualifying tournament.

Baia Mare are the only Romanian among Europe’s elite this season’s, after Romanian league champions Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea withdrew from the competition.

Considering the hard task at hand, Baia Mare managed to do a scorching transfer campaign, which resulted in several high-profile signings.

Goalkeeper Paula Ungureanu and right wing Adriana Nechita signed from Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea, while Gabriella Szucs and Ana Maria Tănăsie were signed from HC Zalău, last year’s Women’s EHF Cup semi-finalist.

Right back Melinda Geiger and goalkeeper Mihaela Smedescu also made permanent moves to the club, after impressing on loan spells from Oltchim last season.

Getting back on court

After two training camps, one at the seaside and one in the mountains, Costică Buceschi’s side played their first friendly matches during last weekend in the Maramureș Trophy.

All three of them were easy wins for Baia Mare, who managed to breeze past Universitatea Jolidon Cluj (33:27), Hungarian side Debrecen VSC (27:21) and HC Zalău (24:22).

Coach Costică Buceschi was happy with winning the trophy and seeing his new look team play together.

“We have a new team, which takes time to gel, but we had some very good moments and I’m happy with what I saw.

“We are trying to build a strong defence and it’s going to take time, but we will be ready,” said Buceschi.

Baia Mare will host a Women’s EHF Champions League qualification tournament on 14 and 15 September.

In the semi-final, the Romanian side will meet Danish powerhouse Viborg HK, while the other game will feature Team Tvis Holstebro and the winner of Dutch side SERCODAK Dalfsen and Muratpasa Belediyesi SK from Turkey.