Serious test for Zaporozhye

For the first time ever, Ukrainian champions HC Motor Zaporozhye have been included among the stronger Group A/B pool of teams, thanks to their positive results in Groups C/D in recent VELUX EHF Champions League seasons.

Three questions before the new season:

- Will Motor be competitive on a new level?

Playing in Group B is certainly an honour and a step forward for the team, but at the same time it is a serious test as the Ukrainian champions will face the likes of FINAL4 2018 participants Nantes and Paris Saint-Germain, and German champions Flensburg.

But they have reached the Last 16 from Groups C/D twice in the past and accumulated enough experience in Europe, so Patryk Rombel’s men certainly have a chance to finish among the top six teams in their group.  

- How will the new players adjust?

Belarusian Maxim Babichev was Zaporozhye’s first-choice line player last year, but now he will compete with two newcomers, Mateusz Kus and Darko Pesevski.

31-year-old Kus, who joined the Ukrainian champions from Vive Kielce, has considerable international experience, as he won the VELUX EHF Champions League with Kielce in 2016 and took part in the Olympic Games with Poland in the same year.

“I’m sure he will help us in defence, and I also hope that he will show his best qualities in attack. At Kielce, he had to compete with Julen Aguinagalde, one of the best line players in the world. But Mateusz will get this chance at Motor,” says coach Rombel.

27-year-old Pesevski only played for his home team, Metalurg, before signing with Zaporozhye, and Rombel also believes in the Macedonians ability to have an impact: “He’s been working hard. I think everyone will see his best qualities already in the first game.”

- Will playing in their renovated home arena help boost the results?

Motor are taking part in the continental top flight for the sixth straight season, but they have never played in Zaporozhye before. The team previously had to host their opponents in other Ukrainian cities such as Kyiv, Brovary and Kharkiv.

But the situation will change for the better this season. Yunost Arena in Zaporozhye has been fully renovated and is ready to welcome some of the best European clubs. While Motor already did a good job at home in previous years, the support of the truly local fans should boost their morale and possibly contribute to even better results.

Under the spotlight: Barys Pukhouski

The 31-year-old Belarusian is starting his fourth season at Zaporozhye, where he is one of the key players. Originally he was a playmaker, but since Rombel took over as coach, Pukhouski has been mostly used as a left back.

In March, Pukhouski received an offer from a Qatari club to finish the 2017/18 season there, but he refused, preferring to join a training camp with the Belarus national team, where he is the captain and top all-time scorer.

Self-esteem

“I don’t want to single out any opponents. They are all equal for us. We will be looking for a chance to get some points in every home game, and will try to create surprises away from home,” says Motor’s head coach Rombel.

Fun fact

Just six players from outside the former Soviet Union have ever played for Ukrainian clubs, and three of them are at Zaporozhye now. Poland’s Pawel Paczkowski joined the club in 2017, and this year, Motor have signed the above-mentioned duo Kus and Pesevski.

What the numbers say

Motor have been dominant in the Ukrainian league for a few years now. Last season was a perfect example, as Zaporozhye won all 32 games to secure their sixth straight title.

HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR)

Qualified for the 2018/19 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Ukrainian champions

Newcomers: Mateusz Kus (Kielce), Zarko Pesevski (Metalurg), Dmitry Goriga (ZNTU-ZAS), Alexander Kasay (ZNTU-ZAS)

Left the club: Lev Tselishchev (Spartak Moscow), Olexandr Shevelev, Ievgen Zhuk

Coach: Patryk Rombel (since 2017)

Team captain: Sergey Shelmenko

VELUX EHF Champions League records:

Participations (including 2018/19 season): six
Last 16 (2): 2013/14, 2015/16
Group Phase (3): 2014/15, 2016/17, 2017/18

Other EC records:

EHF Cup:
Group Phase (1): 2012/13

Cup Winners’ Cup:
Quarter-final (1): 2011/12

Challenge Cup:
Last 16 (1): 2010/11

Ukrainian league:
6 titles (2013-2018)

Ukrainian cup:
5 titles (2013, 2015-2018)