08.08.2007, 09:46
Krim back in Training

The Slovenian Champion starts with new coach Bojan Cotar, a few new players and tough fitness trainings.

Krim back in Training

The first days of August went slowly for the team of Krim Mercator. Players have gathered with few changes in the squad and with a new coach. The new boss means hard work for the team that was twice on the top of Europe already. 

Bojan Cotar, who will be coaching a female squad for the first time, is known as a man who demands a lot. All players started individual preparations for the new season a month ago and gathered on 1 August to start trainings.

There were few new faces in Krim’s team. As Katalin Pálinger, Rugile Kliukaite and Katja Kurent Tatarovac left the squad, some young handballers arrived. The Slovenian, left handed Barbara Varlec and the Serbian teenager, Andrea Lekic are important signings. There are also other young ones who will get the chance to play: Maja Zrnec, Urša Oven, Lina Krhlikar and Amra Pandžic. 

Big demands

"We had tests before the start. We wanted to see how prepared the players are. I’m not worried, though some of them performed badly at the physical test. We have a few months to work it out," said assistant coach, Matej Fabcic, who will make life miserable for the players with exercises to improve their physical condition. 

The budget stays the same as it was in the previous years. Krim's president, Peter Zavrl, expects results anyway:

"Our goal is to reach the European top or at least get near to it. The team has all conditions to achieve that. There is a winning mentality around us and only victories count."  

After failing to qualify for the semi-finals last year, there was a great disappointment in Ljubljana. This year, the executive board expect something more. Maybe Cotar – who also changed captain from Tanja Oder to Anja Freser – will be more successful than Robert Begus was last year.

TEXT: Maja Mastnak (http://sportal.siol.net)