All new squad in Ljubljana

Ahead of what will be their 20th appearance in the Women’s EHF Champions League, RK Krim Mercator have swapped their squad of stars for a collection of Slovenian talents and a limited number of international players.

Two years after narrowly missing out on the EHF Champions League final, the two-time champions are now in the midst of a transitional period. Coach Marta Bon – also the coach of the Slovenia national team – is taking the club back to its roots with her focus on Slovenian players and only a few players from abroad.

13 stars from last season left the club, including nearly all the squad’s key players – Jelena Grubisic, Linnea Torstenson, Andrea Penezic, Nina Wörz, Daniela De Oliveira Piedade and Carmen Martin Berenguer are now spread all over Europe; mainly in the south-east.

Goalkeeper Sergeja Stefanisin and French international Amelie Goudjo are two of the experienced athletes that remain with Krim.

Krim’s targets are now focused on continuing their reign of the domestic competitions and hoping, despite the transition, to qualify for the main round of the EHF Champions League.

‘Step by step’ is the new motto in the Slovenian capital, where the 30th anniversary of the all-time national champions – under new president Goran Bojovic – has just been celebrated.

Krim’s new secretary general, Tina Kravanja, hopes the puzzle will fit together quickly.

“We’ve built a new team. That is why the first goals in our preliminary months were to connect the players, coaches and organisation with each other,” she said.

“We will dedicate this season to making the club stable – we would like to avoid any turbulence in the upcoming months and years therefore, all of us will work hard to perform our best. We are looking forward to the challenges ahead,” Kravanja added.

For new team captain, Tamara Mavsar, the rebuilding process is the most important goal too.

“This season, the team’s primary goals are to hold on to both domestic titles: the Slovenian championship and Slovenian cup. In the Champions League we will focus game by game and try to continue to the main round.”

Krim will face Hypo, Dinamo and Leipzig in the group stage.

Three questions to coach Marta Bon:

Concerning your objectives and your group opponents, what are your expectations for the upcoming season of the Women’s EHF Champions League?

Marta Bon: We have built a new team completely opposite to the squad the club had for the past three seasons. Only a few players from our new team have experienced top level handball, as we have young players and the main goal is to stabilise the club and prepare these young players to be able to play at that high level. Once the phase of stabilisation is complete, our ambitions will grow.  
 
What does participation in the Women’s EHF Champions League mean to you and your club?

Marta Bon: Participation in the Champions League means a lot to RK Krim Mercator, as to us it is the main competition. Krim were five-time finalists and two-time winners of the Champions League. That is why we honour our tradition by trying to return to that level in the future.

What teams are your personal favourites to reach the FINAL4 tournament of the Women’s EHF Champions League season – and why?

Marta Bon: The favourites are: Buducnost, Györ, Vardar and Larvik. The advantages of those four teams are the organisations themselves, players’ individual abilities, tradition and financial stability.

Qualification for the Women’s EHF Champions League 2014/15 season: Slovenian champions

Newcomers:
Mirjeta Bajramoska (WHC Metalurg)
Polona Baric (RK Piran)
Lara Hrncic (ZRK Vegrad Velenje)
Marina Lambevska (Astrakhanochka)
Amelie Goudjo (Issy Paris Hand)
Gloria Pavlova (SKH Vasil Levski Novi Pazar)
Elizabeth Omoregie (HK T&S Shugar)
Melanie Mie Bak (Randers HK)
Alja Jankovic (ZRK Celje Celjske Mesnine)
Alja Koren (Erd)
Maja Lukovic (ZRK Crvena Zvezda)

Left the club:
Maja Zrnec (RK Celeia Zalec)
Neli Irman (HC Lokomotiva Zagreb)
Andjela Bulatovic (Rostov-Don)
Andrea Penezic (WHC Vardar SCBT)
Barbara Lazovic-Varlec (WHC Vardar SCBT)
Nina Wörz (Siofok KC – Galerius Furdo)
Daniela De Oliveira Piedade (Siofok KC – Galerius Furdo)
Jelena Grubisic (Györi Audi ETO KC)
Oana Andreea Manea (CSM Bucuresti)
Linnea Torstenson (CSM Bucuresti)
Patricia Maria Vizitiu (CSM Bucuresti)
Carmen Martin Berenguer (CSM Bucuresti)
Talida Tolnai (CSM Bucuresti)

Coach: Marta Bon (since May 2014)

Women’s EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2014/15 season): 20
Winner (2): 2000/01, 2002/03
Finalist (3): 1998/99, 2003/04, 2005/06
Semi-finalist (1): 2012/13
Quarter-finalist (5): 1996/97, 1997/98, 2004/05, 2006/07
Last 16 (1): 1995/96
Main Round (5): 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2013/14
Group Phase (3): 1999/00, 2001/02, 2007/08

Other EC records:

Cup Winners’ Cup:
Quarter-finalist (3): 1993/94, 1994/95, 2007/08

Champions Trophy:
Winner (2): 2002/03, 2003/04
Finalist (3): 1998/99, 2000/01, 2005/06

Slovenian championship: 20 titles (1995-2014)
Slovenian cup: 21 titles (1993-1997, 1999-2014)