Another adventure would be great, says Bager Due

Actually, former Danish international Louise Bager Due had ended her career, but lack of goalkeepers by Team Tvis Holstebro brought her back to top handball.

Now she is looking forward to the qualification matches for the Women's EHF Champions League in the coming weekend.

Bage Due expected it to be a permanent goodbye to top handball, as she ended her career almost 18 months ago due to her second pregnancy.

At the start to this season, however, the 31-year-old former Viborg goalkeeper was back. This time with EHF Cup winners Team Tvis Holstebro.

A long injury break for Danish international Sandra Toft made Holstebro asked former Danish international Bage Due, if she was ready for a comeback. And she was.

“I really thought my career was over for good, but as Niels (Holstebro coach Niels Agesen) called me, I found the idea so appealing that I could not say no, and now I have to say that it is really cool to be back. I have got such an appetite on playing again, and Tvis is a really fine club to come to,” Louise Bager Due told ehfCL.com.

“So far I have played so few matches that it is hard to say how far I am from my best form, but obviously I still need some timing. However, there is no doubt that it will come with some more match praxis,” she added.

Big challenge waiting

During her time with Viborg HK she had a lot of great moments in the Champions League, including the championships in 2006 and 2009. This weekend she will be travelling with her new team-mates from Holstebro to Baia Mare in Romania to try and qualify for another adventure in the European top flight.

“We are really looking forward to that, although we realize that it will be a big challenge. Playing in the Champions League would mean a lot to the club and to the team and all the players. To me personally, another Champions League adventure would just be great.

"I was not expecting to ever play in this competition again, so of course it would be really cool for me to try it one more time. Considering the huge Champions League experience I have, I hope to be able to contribute with some calmness which may very well be needed in the probably tight atmosphere in Romania.

"However, that is one other great aspect about playing in the Champions League – to get the chance to visit other culture than our own and to play in different environments,” Louise Bage Due said.

Would be special to meet Viborg

In Qualification group 3 in Baia Mare, Holstebro´s semi-final opponent will be Dutch champions SERCODAK Dalfsen, a team for whom the Danish goalkeeper has a lot of respect.

“Women´s handball seems to be blooming in the Netherlands again these years. We have already seen their national team qualify for the World championship by sending Russia out, so their national champions will definitely be no walk-over, but a task which will take maximum focus from us,” she found.

If Holstebro overcome Dalfsen, their opponent in the deciding match for the group phase ticket will be the winner of the match between hosts Baia Mare and Bager Due´s former club Viborg HK.

“Of course, it would be a special experience for me to play against Viborg, where I played so many years, but I will simply try to see it as just another Champions League match, and whether we meet Viborg or Baia Mare, it will be a challenge we will have to try and overcome, Louise Bager Due said.