12.01.2009, 01:19
One step away from the main round

Buducnost coach and players are confident before the decisive game in Group B.

One step away from the main round

The city of Elda is lucky for Buducnost T-Mobile. Once again almost after nine years, the champions of Montenegro defeated Elda in Spain. The final result was similar to the one nine years ago (26:21 back then and 26:20 on Saturday).

With the first away victory in the CL of Buducnost since the triumph over the Norwegian Byasen in February 2006, the Montenegrins are just a step away from the main round.

To be precise: half a step away. The team of Gyula Zsiga need only one point against FKC Handbold in Podgorica. However, the form showed at the last two games against Hypo and especially against Elda, is a guarantee that Buducnost could have a place among the eight best teams of Europe – for the first time since 2003.

“My team played very well. I’m satisfied with the team work of all my players and I’m happy because it has been a long time for Buducnost to win an away game in the CL. I hope we will improve and achieve important results in Europe.

“Our best game – and the most important up to now – was the one in Denmark against FCK, but we played a game with a minimum number of mistakes against Elda.

“Elda had nothing to lose and I told my players to concentrate the whole match, because that was the only way to win the game. In the last 15 minutes I had the feeling that Elda surrendered and we finished the game without problems. We are a step away from the main round. I must only hope that we will get a positive result in the game against FKC Handbold,” Gyula Zsiga, coach of Buducnost T-Mobile, Eurohandball.com.

With a strong defence Buducnost dominated from the first minute. Barjaktarovic was superb in the goal with 15 saves – three on penalties. Bulatovic (seven goals), Jovanovic (four) and Radicevic (four) finished the work in attack.

“Individual performances are not important, but the result in Spain was positive – special thanks to our defence and goalkeeper Barjaktarovic.

“I think we are better than FCK and we will prove it on Saturday,” right back Katarina Bulatovic said.

The weekend proved that Buducnost can count on young players. The 16-year-old line player, Suzana Lazovic, scored two goals. Left wing Majda Mehmedovic (18) played her first game in CL and managed to score a goal.

“I’m proud to have scored two goals in the CL, but I will score more in the future. To be honest, I didn’t believe that I would play so much because I’m only 16. That’s a great stimulus for the future.

“We were great in defence and we scored a lot of easy goals from the counterattacks. Now we have to make the final step against FCK and I hope that we will do it with the help of our great fans,” said Suzana Lazovic, who is member of the youth, junior and senior national teams of Montenegro.

TEXT: Saša Jončić (and photo)