03.07.2007, 02:07
Veszprém Preparing for the Toughest Group

Group F will be a very big challange for Celje, Veszprém and Gummersbach as well. The Hungarians prepare with new players (they sign Ilyés from Szeged) and many international test games.

Veszprém Preparing for the Toughest Group

The Hungarian MKB Veszprém was drawn into the probably most difficult CL Group. Their opponents will be Slovenian Celje, German Gummersbach and Panevezio "Viking Malt" or Valur Reykjavik. Even Ciudad Real coach, Talant Dujshebaev, said that one team with chances for the final victory will say goodbye in this group.

It is known already that Veszprém suffered a major blow at the end of the season: Kiril Lazarov signed for Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb, which means that the Hungarians lose their top scorer and probably biggest star. Croatian coach Zdravko Zovko also left the team (he took over the women’s team of Podravka) and he was replaced by former successful national coach, Lajos Mocsai.

New coach, new team

Mocsai, who has great respect in Hungary, will have to build a new team based on experienced players and young talents such as Sesum or Putics. In an effort to strengthen the team, Veszprém signed Hungarian international right winger Tamás Iváncsik (he joins his brother, Gergő, who plays on the left wing).

The latest transfer news: Ferenc Ilyés, left back of the Hungarian national team and Pick Szeged, joins Veszprém on a 2-year contract.

Ilyés had a difficult season last year: he announced that he was not going to prolong his contract with Szeged well in advance and the club management left him out of the squad. He was taken back to the squad, however, after solving the conflict and he played a decisive role for Szeged to win the championship again after 11 years. He was top scorer of the team at the end of the season.

From Hamburg to London

The preparation schedule of MKB Veszprém also suggests that the team take the Champions League very seriously. The team of Mocsai will play several test matches against European top teams (Kiel, Hamburg, Koppenhagen, Viborg, for example) in August. The team will travel to the Brümmerhoff Cup in Hamburg and the Schlecker Cup in Ehingen. The last international match before the new Champions League season will be a handball show in London, where Veszprém will meet Danish Viborg.

TEXT: eurohandball.com