Balogh: From walk-on to main character

Zsolt Balogh came to Szeged as the second choice right back to substitute Hungarian international Gábor Ancsin but tables have turned and now the ex-Gyöngyös shooter is the most prolific goal scorer of MOL-Pick Szeged and a key figure in Juan Carlos Pastor’s tactics.

Who would have thought?

The 25-year-old right back did not care too much about his own performance but was happy that MOL-Pick Szeged finally got over their tendency to spoil away games. Balogh nonetheless scored 13 goals at Aalborg and is currently second in the top scorer’s list – trailing Veszprém’s Momir Ilic by a single goal.

”I am just glad I could help my team with a good performance. Szeged threw away a lot of games away from home but the EHF Cup victory in Berlin proved we can be efficient in these situations, too. The match at Aalborg was very important for us, we are all happy we managed to win it,” said Balogh, who was unstoppable in Denmark.

”When I joined Szeged two years ago my playing time in the Champions League was limited. If someone told me than that I would be voted the best player in a round, I’d surely have laughed at it.”

Dreaming big

Balogh is aware that one win does not change anything, but believes Szeged have improved a lot and now the Hungarian runners-up can dream even more.

”Our initial aim was to qualify for the knockout stages but after three rounds our appetite has grown. It will be tough but I believe we are in the race even for the first spot as we were very much in the game in Kielce.”

Balogh was recently called in to the national team and with the injury of László Nagy, the Pick Szeged marksman might just be in the same situation as he was in Szeged two years ago.

”I was signed as second choice right back but when the new coach, Juan Carlos Pastor arrived we all started at square one and I took the chance. Now Hungary have a new coach and we may have the same rivalry for the spot in the line-up with Gábor Ancsin as we had in Szeged.”