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20.09.2011, 09:00 VELUX EHF Champions League countdown, part 17: Kadetten Schaffhausen (CH) |
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A new fortress for KadettenThe BBC Arena shall become the new fortress of Kadetten Schaffhausen: After a very strong performance in the last seasons, the Swiss champions are planning to advance further on in the top-level handball tournament. New home arena
Last season they managed to proceed to the Last 16. And after winning the first leg against favourites Montpellier MAHB, the Swiss team from the river Rhine could even dream about more, but failed in France one year after having reached the EHF Cup final. Important players left the club But the new season in the VELUX EHF Champions League will bring some changes to Schaffhausen: Three key players have left the club: Superb Icelandic goalkeeper Björgvin Gustavsson (Magdeburg) and Estonian top scorer Mait Patrail (Lemgo) transferred to Germany, experienced Czech wing Jan Filip to St. Gallen. Young talent signed But in contrast to this, Kadetten made a real transfer coup by signing Christian Dissinger. The young German was recently awarded Most Valuable Player of the Junior World Championship in Greece, where he also won the Gold medal. In addition Schaffhausen signed some players from Swiss and Austrian clubs. Same season goals But despite missing some of last season’s stars, the objectives remained the same: to become Swiss champions and to reach the Last 16 of the VELUX EHF Champions League.
Manager Peter Leutwyler says: "We want to repeat our successful last season and hope to reach the knock-out stage again. But teams like Barcelona, Chambery or Zagreb are clear favourites in our group." Good pre-season Right at the start of the new season Kadetten showed their dominant role in Switzerland by beating Bern in the Super Cup final 38:25. Also Schaffhausen participated at several international tournaments in the season preparation. Start against title defenders And right the first match in the VELUX EHF Champions League will be a big one: they face FC Barcelona Intersport. "A dream will come true for every player, as it is the highlight in any handball player’s career to face Barcelona," is the opinion of all at Kadetten side. And even as they are outsiders against the defending champions, the objective for the four remaining home games is clearly focused: Winning at BBC Arena to go on to the Last 16.
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And after several changes in venue they have found their new home in the newly built BBC Arena in Schaffhausen.
But the team of coach Petr Hrachovec has got to face strong and experienced opponents like defending champions FC Barcelona Intersport, the strong Croatian side Zagreb and the French runners-up Chambery in the Group Stage.
Three questions to coach Petr Hrachovec
Newcomers: Arunas Vaskevicius (GC Amicitia Zürich), Andrija Pendic (HSC Suhr Aarau), Ruben Schelbert (RTV Basel), Marko Vukelic (HC Kriens-Luzern), Nik Tominec (RK Maribor/SLO),Christian Dissinger (TSG Ludwigshafen-Friesenheim/GER)