Newcomers ready to make an immediate impact

From zero to hero in their first season? Experts expect nothing less from WHC Vardar SCBT as they are tipped to be the dark horse in the upcoming Women’s EHF Champions League season.

Although Vardar first managed to win their first ever domestic championship title against city rivals Metalurg and then qualified for the group matches for the first time, they are anything but an inexperienced group of players.

After some international stars like Russian goalkeeper Inna Suslina joined the squad last season, the club, backed by Russian sponsor Sergej Samsonenko, started an impressive shopping spree all over Europe.

Eight new players, including current competition winners Andrea Lekic and Jovanka Radicevic from Györ and former like Ana Djokic, have joined the club alongside former World Handball Player of the Year Allison Pineau, who leads a French trio with Siraba Dembele and goalkeeper Amandine Leynaud.

Additionally Vardar managed the homecoming of big Macedonian star Julija Nikolic and signed experienced Russian back court ace Tatiana Khmyrova.

However, these big names are no burden for coach Indira Kastratovic, who is responsible for the Vardar squad for the second year – and will see her husband Zoran much more often now, as he is in charge for the Vardar men’s team this season.

Never before has one city had three teams participating in the EHF Champions League (Vardar men and women and Metalurg men) – so Skopje is writing history in this season.

Despite the official international goal of Vardar being “only” proceeding to the main round, they might already have a chance to go all the way after beating Salerno and Fleury in the qualification tournament.

In their group Vardar will face last season’s finalist Larvik as well as Bera Bera and Podravka.

Like the men’s teams from Skopje, the Vardar women will have their home matches in Boris Trajkovski sport centre, but the club is currently building a new fortress for both men’s and women’s team, the Jane Sandanski Sport Centre with a capacity of 5,000 spectators.

It has already been twelve years since a team from Skopje has won the EHF Champions League trophy, Kometal – including Indira Kastratovic as a player.

Club director Davor Stojanoski expects: “to have good performances in our first season in the Champions League.

“We have a good team with experienced players. We had a good start in the qualification in Salerno and I hope, we will continue in the same way in the group matches.”

Although she had been part of the Champions League many times before, the upcoming season is a venture into the unknown for team captain Inna Suslina.

“We have achieved our first goal, now we are going further step by step. We are still a young team, nobody knows us, so even we don’t know what we can expect.

“But I can say that we will play in a competitive way against every opponent. We have a good team and our opponents are suitable for us. From all three teams I know Larvik best and I think that the fight for the first place will be between Larvik and ourselves,” says Suslina.

Three questions to coach Indira Kastratovic:

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

Indira Kastratovic: It was very important for us to get into the competition. We achieved our first goal with a successful performance in qualification and now we will take it step by step.

What does the participation in the Women’s EHF Champions League mean to you and your club?

Indira Kastratovic:  Participation in the Champions League means a lot for us, especially for me personally. It is a new experience for the team and for me as a coach and this is a great challenge for us. Vardar will participate for the first time in the competition and it is the reason why the handball players are here, to play in the strongest European competition.

What teams are your personal favourites to win the Women’s EHF Champions League season – and why?

Indira Kastratovic: All teams are contenders in their own right and each one seeks their chance. I do not want to put anyone in the spotlight. The entire season is ahead of us, we will see.

WHC Vardar SCBT (MKD)

Coach: Indira Kastratovic (since 2012)
Newcomers (including former club): Andrea Lekic, Jovanka Radicevic (both Gyori Audi ETO), Ana Djokic (Rostov/Don), Allison Pineau (Oltcim Valcea), Siraba Dembele (Randers HK), Julija Nikolic (Zvezda Zvenigorod), Maja Zebic (R.K. Zajecar), Tatiana Khmyrova (Dinamo Volgograd).
Left the club (including new club): Olga Vinogradova (abandoned), Dayane Pires da Rocha (Brazil), Ekaterina Lubjanaja, Anna Vinogradova, Ivana Manevska, Ivana Sazdovski (WHC Vardar-II team)

Qualification for the 2013/2014 EHF Women’s Champions League season: winner of qualification tournament 4, Macedonian champion

EHF Women’s Champions League records:
Participations (including 2013/2014 season): 1

Other EC records:
EHF Cup:
Last 16: 2012/13

Macedonian champion:  2012/13
Macedonian Cup winner: 1993