18.09.2011, 09:00
Careful ambitions

EHF Women’s Champions League Countdown, part 4: Buducnost Podgorica (MNE)

Careful ambitions

For the 17th time the team from the Montenegrin capital Podgorica is participating in the EHF Women’s Champions League.

Among the favourites for the title

After reaching the semi-finals (against later-on winners Larvik) last season, Buducnost want to be among the contenders for reaching the title again.

One year after their biggest transfer coup ever, when world star and five times EHF Champions League winner Bojana Popovic joined the club, Buducnost improved their squad again to continue the traditionally highly successful story of women’s handball in Podgorica.

Buducnost signed the powerful Serbian pivot Dragana Cvijic from Krim and Maja Savic who has won the EHF Champions League several times with Slagelse, coming from the Danish three times CL champion Viborg HK.

Also from Denmark Dijana Jovetic arrived in Montenegro. And for the first time ever a Western European player joined the club: German national team goalkeeper Clara Woltering.

She was transferred from Bayer Leverkusen to replace Sanela Knezovic, who is now playing for Oltchim Valcea in Romania, the same club Marija Jovanovic signed for.

For coach Dragan Adzic – also national team coach of Montenegro – the objectives are clear: To be among the top teams as long as possible, "as it’s priceless for our small country and our handball sports to have such an international success."

Despite those changes in his team, club president Predrag Boskovic is confident, as the important back court axis – led by Popovic - has remained the same.

"We hope that the new players will adapt to our team quickly," Boskovic says.

"Our ambitions are high again, as we have a very good team, but in sports you never know what will happen, even as you aim as high as possible," Boskovic mentions the objectives for the upcoming season.

Careful Popovic

Bojana Popovic underlines those ambitions, but is careful not to set the goals too high.

"I do not　promise　anything　in order to avoid　the mistakes from　last season.　We will play　bravely,　we will do our　best, we will try　to achieve　more　than previous　season and we will　see　how far　we　come.　

We will do our　best　to　every match,　but　there are many　possible　eventualities that　we　can not influence,　above all　the health of the players."

Knowing that they can count on their highly faithful and frenetic spectators, the arena in Podgorica has become a fortress.

Anf that is what Buducnost want to prove against the Group Stage opponents from Midtjylland, Thüringen and a qualificant.

As some players changed, also the position of the marketing manager was assigned newly by Lazar Vukcevic. Everything is set to go far this season.

And Buducnost know how to win titles, as they have taken four European Cups in their club history and won in total 39 national titles (championships and cups).

Three questions to coach Dragan Adzic

Dragan Adzic: The opponents　in our group　are respectable representatives of　handball superpower countries　and,　but　our placement in the group will depend only from ourselves.

I expect　tough matches,　but also to reach the　Main　Round.

Dragan Adzic: For me　and for　my　players,　participation　in the EHF Champions League　is like a dream　in which　we have to　prove ourselves　on the best possible　level.

We expect that　in the new　season　our　club　will remain for very long in　the top　club　competition, because it is　priceless　for our　small country　and handball　sport.

Dragan Adzic: Györ have　the strongest　team　on paper this season,　and therefore everything less than winning the EHF Champions　League　trophy would be a straight　failure for them.

Larvik　are still　consisting of players　of the Norwegian national team, that represents the strongest　in the world.　

Oltchim Valcea have a　stronger and more stable　squad than last　season.

Krim　have new　players　and new coaching staff　and are a very serious team. In addition Itxako, Dynamo　and Buducnost can go for the trophy.

Club facts – Buducnost Podgorica (MNE)

Newcomers: Maja Savic (Viborg HK/DEN), Clara Woltering (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Dragana Cvijic (RK Krim/SLO), Adriana Gabriela Tacalie (CS Oltchim Valcea/ROU), Dijana Jovetic (Esbjerg HK/DEN), Ivana Bozovic (Biseri)

Left the club: Sanela Knezovic (CS Oltchim Valcea/ROU), Marija Jovanovic (CS Oltchim Valcea/ROU), Dragana Pecevska (Metalurg Skopje/MKD), Gabriella Kindl (end of career), Jovanka Radicevic (Györi Audi ETO/HUN)

Coach: Dragan Adzic, since 2010

Qualification for the 2011/2012 EHF Women’s Champions League season: Montenegrin champions

EHF Women’s Champions League records:
Participations (including 2011/2012 season): 17
Semi-finalist: 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2010/11
Quarter-finals: 2002/03, 2003/04
Last 16: 1995/96
Group Phase/Champions League: 1996/97, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2009/10

Other EC records:
Cup Winners Cup: Winner 1984/85, 2005/06, 2009/10
IHF Cup Winner 1986/87

Montenegrin champion: 23 times (1985,1989,1990,1992-2011)
Montenegrin Cup winner: 16 times (1984,1989, 1995-1998, 2000-2002, 2005-2011)

Further information

Find more information on Buducnost Podgorica HERE.

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TEXT: Björn Pazen