03.09.2007, 08:50
Drammen Close to CL

The greatest difficulty for the Norwegians was the weather, but not even a 40°C in Cyprus could stop them from a comfortable victory.

Drammen Close to CL

For the second year in succession, Norway will probably have a team in the Men’s Champions League. After Sandefjord IF qualifying for the group stage last year, Drammens HK are almost sure to make it this season. The new Norwegian champions won the first leg of their qualification tie against the champions of Cyprus, Strovoios Nicosia, by 38-26 – despite playing away…

“A fine job,” this was the comment of Drammen coach, Ole Christian Gjekstad. after the large win on Saturday evening.

Unusual conditions

In the match in Nicosia Saturday, Drammen managed to overcome the unusual conditions, created by the temperature in the capital of Cyprus, which was around 40 degrees – quite different from what the Norwegians are used to.

Nevertheless, the visitors got used to the unusual conditions in time – maybe because they had been in the country since early Friday – and Drammen were leading by eight goals (22-14) already at half time.

After the break, Drammen managed to increase their lead step by step, so they could go home with a final 12-goal victory, which should make the second leg in Drammenshallen on Sunday, 9 September, formality.

Among other players, the current Drammen team contain famous veterans such as former Norway internationals Glenn Solberg, who was a great playmaker in Flensburg Handewitt in the past, and Frode Hagen, a former strong left back of THW Kiel.

None of them was the top scorer this Saturday in Cyprus, though. This honour went to Eldin Hadjarevis, who scored 10 goals.

If Drammen manage to qualify for the first group stage, their opponents in the group will be Spanish champions BM Ciudad Real, Germany’s number three, SG Flensburg Handewitt and Polish champions, Zaglebie Lubin.

TEXT: Peter Bruun