10.09.2009, 01:04
Gorenje prepare for title defence

The Slovenian champions are working on the foundations of new successes.

Gorenje prepare for title defence

The Slovenian Gorenje Velenje will play the Champions League on the right of the Slovenian champion for the first time. After many changes in last year’s winning team, they are slowly making progress.

Gorenje from Velenje wrote history last season when they took the title for the first time in 18 years history of the Slovenian championship. Despite the success, the club was forced to cut the budget and many players left the club including Aleš Sirk, Jure Dobelšek, Jurij Gromiko, Marko Oštir, Sergo Datukašvili.

However, Gorenje put together a superb new team with lot of Slovenian players. Jure Natek arrived from Chambery and two Slovenian hot prospects, Miha Žvižej and Klemen Cehte, also joined.

At a friendly tournaments before the start of the new season the team showed progress. Past weekend they played in Banja Luka where they defeated Steaua by 28:24 and Constanta by 27:26. Then they lost to Kolubara by 21:24.

Coach Ivica Obrvan is satisfied with what they achieved so far:

"I’m happy with the approach of the players – they really fight all the time and never give up. We still have many difficulties in some game elements, which is logical after changes in the team. We are still preparing for the new season. There is a lot of work ahead of us."

Gorenje Velenje will fight for the first title of the season - in Maribor where Slovenian Supercup will take place. Gorenje, Cimos Koper, Trimo Trebnje and Slovan will compete for the title.

TEXT: Maja Mastnak