No easy victories in Skopje

After a four year absence HC Vardar are back – and the new Macedonian champions have renewed everything since then. Eight new players arrived, a new coach was installed, they have a new president and a new sports director and they they will even enter a new arena.

One of the main keys for all of those renewals is Russian Sergei Samsonenko, who is the main sponsor and the new sports director of Vardar.

Thanks to his support, Vardar were able to sign international star players like Spanish talent Alex Dujshebaev, Slovenian international Matjaz Brumen and not to forget the Russian trio of Chipurin, Rastvortsev and Dibirov, arriving from Chekhovskie Medvedi.

The new president is Gordana Naceva, who succeeded Mihajlo Mihajlovski, now appointed as honorary president of the club. The new club manager is Marko Savovski and the new coach is Zoran Kastratovic, who is also coaching the Montenegrin men’s national team and who’s wife Irina is coaching the rising Vardar women’s team.

This season Vardar will have their VELUX EHF Champions League matches in the famous Boris Trajkovski arena and will move in the future to the Jane Sandanski arena, which is currently under construction with a capacity of 5000 spectators.

Vardar broke the dominance of their local rivals Metalurg in the Macedonian league by winning the decisive last match. But as Metalurg made it to the group phase as winner of the wild card qualification matches against Pick Szeged (Hungary), the arch rivals will face in the same group – together with Barcelona, Paris, Thun and Minsk.

Due to the strengthened squad, Vardar, Macedonian record champions and record cup winners with eight trophies each, are highly optimistic to reach their goals on the domestic front (defending the title) and in the VELUX EHF Champions League (reaching at least the Last 16).

Manager Marko Savovski is full of confidence to even cause major surprises in their group.

“Our goal is to pass the group phase of the Champions League. Normally, the frontrunners are PSG Handball and Barcelona, but we have chances to win against both of them on home court, where we will have big support from our fans.

“We do not want to underestimate other opponents, but I think no one will win easily in Skopje,” said Savovski.

The matches against FC Barcelona will be very special for team captain Filip Lazarov, who will face his brother Kiril and he hopes to finish the group below the two main contenders.

“I consider FC Barcelona as the main favourite for finishing on top of our group, while Paris are the contenders for the runners-up position.

“The remaining four teams are expected to compete on an equal level for the remaining two places to the next stage. The Last 16 is our goal for this season,” said Lazarov.

Three questions to coach Zoran Kastratovic:

What are your expectations for the upcoming season of the VELUX EHF Champions League - concerning your objectives and your group opponents?

Zoran Kastratovic:: Vardar will play in a very tough group. FC Barcelona and PSG Handball are the favorites in Group C.

Their quality reinforcements make them more competitive for a place in Cologne this season. Otherwise, even teams who proceeded from the qualification stage are not without chances to make it to the Last 16.

Maybe Wacker Thun are the only outsiders in Group C. I believe that by incorporating new players into our team, we will be able to be among the top 16 teams in Europe.

What does the participation in the VELUX EHF Champions League mean to you and your club?

Zoran Kastratovic: An affirmation of personal and club goals, also making handball even more popular with Macedonians.

What teams are your personal favourites to reach the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and for winning the title this season – and why?

Zoran Kastratovic: Surely the teams with a long tradition in the Champions League. My favourites are those who play top handball, such as FC Barcelona, MKB Veszprem and THW Kiel.

HC Vardar (MKD)

Qualification for the 2013/2014 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Macedonian champion

Coach: Zoran Kastratovic (since 2013), former coach: Veselin Vujovic

Newcomers (including former club): Timur Dibirov (Chekhovskie Medvedi), Mikhail Chipurin (Chekhovskie Medvedi), Alexei Rastvortsev (Chekhovskie Medvedi), Alem Toskic (Celje Pivovarna), Stefan Terzic (HSV Hamburg), Matjaz Brumen (Cimos Koper), Alex Dujshebaev (BM Atletico Madrid), Mitko Stoilov (HC Metalurg)

Left the club (including new club): Vuk Lazovic, Nikola Markoski (HC Metalurg), Goce Ojleski (HC Metalurg), Milorad Kukoski (HC Zomimak-M)

VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2013/2014 season): 8
Last 32 (1): 1999/2000
Group Phase (6): 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2007/08, 2009/10

Other EC records:

Cup Winners’ Cup:
Semi-finallist 1998/99, 2004/05, 2010/11
Quarter-finallist 2006/07

Others:
Winner of SEHA Liga 2012

Macedonian champion: 1998/99, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2006/07, 2008/09, 2012/13
Macedonian Cup winner: 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2012