FTC’s lethal weapon from the penalty line wants more

Luca Szekerczés is widely considered to be the most talented right back of her generation in Hungary. Having played for youth and junior national teams the 21-year-old left-hander is getting used to first team action at Ferencváros, where she quickly became the trusted penalty taker of the Hungarian champion.

“I obviously want to spend more minutes on the court but I accept my role for now,” Szekerczés told ehfCL.com. “I am happy to have the chance to play for such a prestigious club and to be able to help Ferencváros.”

Video analysis helps

The young right back’s role has been restricted to taking penalties, Szekerczés scored only one goal from open play this season but she is still the most prolific Hungarian goalscorer of the Women’s EHF Champions League with 14 goals to her name.

“I heard it on television and read it in the news that I had not missed a penalty this year, but it is not true. I missed one in the first game against Podravka, however, I still finished as the team’s top scorer in front of our great fans. I even scored my first goal from open play in the last minutes.”

Szekerczés prepares for penalties thoroughly, she analyses footage of the opposing goalkeepers to maximise her efficiency. “Coach Gábor Elek prepares the video and helps me a lot,” she claims.

“My time will come”

Szekerczés was only 18 when she first entered Europe’s premier handball competition in 2012. Since then she won medals in Younger Age Category EHF EUROs and was twice voted to the event’s all-star team but still struggles to get more action time event though Ferencváros usually plays with a right-handed player, Dóra Hornyák, in the right back position.

“I am the only left-handed back in the squad but I must accept the situation. There’s a lot to learn but I know if I am patient and ready to learn my time will come. After all we are competing against the best players in the world and if you are not fully prepared to fight them you will go down.”

Hard work pays off

The young right back knows her strengths but also knows there’s always room to improve. “I am definitely proud of my shooting repertoire and my strength; however, I need to work on my speed and stamina to claim a place in the starting team.”

“In the meantime I am content with amount of goals I score from the penalty line but I am eager to prove I am capable of adding more to the attacking potential of my team,” concludes Szekerczés.