Radnicki able to spring a surprise

Newly crowned Serbian champions WHC Radnicki Kragujevac are facing arguably their biggest test so far, hosting the Women's EHF Champions League Qualification Group 2 in Kragujevac this weekend.

During the off-season Radnicki managed to maintain their title-winning squad, also adding some much needed firepower and experience to take on the Europe’s elite.

It was no ordinary summer for Radnicki, as the team pulled several bold moves to strengthen for the new season, first being the acquisition of a new coach, Aleksandar Radosavljević.

“I want this team to play a high-tempo game, as close as possible to the high standards of modern European handball. Tough defence is elementary for what we are trying to achieve here,” Radosavljević told the club’s official website, upon embarking on a new task.

Radosavljević also spoke about the importance of good, positive atmosphere within the team, as well as among the fans.

“We want to transfer that positive energy we have in this team onto the fans. I hope they will show up in big numbers to support the club.”

This year, the club on the riverbanks of Lepenica is celebrating its golden jubilee and will serve to further motivate the players and fans alike to secure a berth in the group matches for the first time in the club’s fifty-year history.

“We’ve had a good pre-season and we are capable of springing a surprise,” said Radosavljević, referring to the qualification Group 2 semi-final against last season’s MVM EHF FINAL4 participant FC Midtjylland.

“We are drawn into a tough group, but I have faith in these girls. If we prepare well, anything is possible.” Radosavljević added.

Blend of youth and experience

It does not take an expert to see that Radnicki’s team is carefully planned. With highly experienced former Serbian national team members, line player Biljana Balać and left back Milica Danilović, blending well with promising left wing Sanja Radosavljević, and emerging star Jovana Risović in goal (all members of the current national team setup for Serbia), Radnicki seems to have all bases covered ahead of the new challenges.

The promise of a Champions League berth was enough to convince the experienced left wing Jelena Nišavić to postpone her retirement for another year.

Nišavić will be joining a team of well-known faces, taking little to no time to settle in a new environment.

“It’s certainly a big advantage that I know vast majority of these girls very well from the Serbian national team and the clubs I’ve played for in the past,” Jelena said in Sportski Žurnal.

The Nišavić signing was a big statement of intent from the team already boasting a number of Serbian national team members.

With the likes of Ivana Milošević and Sanja Radosavljević in the team, it is no coincidence that as much as three Serbian national team wing players now play for Radnički, in a team that blends home-grown youth and experience perfectly.

With so much at stake, everyone associated with the club is buzzing with tangible optimism and excitement before the qualification tournament.

The city’s Jezero Hall is known for a very good atmosphere and is expected to be filled to its full capacity of 4,000 visitors on Saturday.

Photo credits: Zoran Petrović