Kronborg optimistic despite injuries worries

KIF Kolding København have been hit by long-term injuries to several key players only a few weeks before the start of the Danish league season – and only a little more than a month ahead of the start of the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase.

As ehfCL.com has reported earlier, left winger Boris Schuchel is still recovering from surgery for a torn frontal cruciate ligament in his left knee and is expected to be out of action for the entire autumn.

Furthermore, right back Kim Andersson has been suffering from shoulder problems since April, and the Swedish international will be sidelined for the next six to seven weeks while he works on rehabilitation. Finally, right winger Simon Jensen is also sidelined with a shoulder injury.

“I expect Kim to be out for some weeks yet, but we will be lucky if we have Simon fit for the start of the Champions League,” KIF´s head coach Henrik Kronborg told ehfCL.com.

Impressive preparation

Despite the injury worries, the new head coach is pretty optimistic when it comes to the team’s chances in Europe, where KIF are in Group B alongside THW Kiel, Kielce and Dunkerque as well as the winner of the wild card tie between Montpellier and Wisla Plock and the winner of Qualification Group 4, which consists of Constanta, Porto, Elverum and KRAS Volendam.

Some of the coach´s optimism must be due to the fact that he saw his team defeat Kiel 26:19 in a test match on Monday 12 August without the three above mentioned players.

“So far, our preparations have been looking good, although we have only played a few test matches and been focusing mainly on physical training until now.

“When it comes to our Champions League group, there are a few teams we do not know yet, of course, but I would say that we should be among the four teams who advance.

“After that, it is all knock-out matches, as well all know, anything is possible at that stage,” explained Kronborg, who was assistant coach in KIF Kolding in the 2011/12 season, and was brought back, this time as head coach, when Peter Bredsdorff-Larsen left in spring.

“I am happy to be back. I had a fine relationship with the players and everyone else in the club the last time I was here, so it is really good to be back,” said Kronborg, who is also working as assistant coach to Denmark´s national team coach Ulrik Wilbek.

“I can easily combine those two things, as the Danish league and the Champions League obviously both have a break when the national teams are in activity – and I have a highly qualified assistant in Bilal Súman who takes care of the training while I am away,” concluded Kronborg.

KIF Kolding København begin their VELUX EHF Champions League campaign at home against the winner of Qualification Group 4 between September 18 and 22.