THW Kiel’s Omeyer hoping for double
THW Kiel are chasing the Bundesliga and VELUX EHF Champions League double after a great start to the season.
They won their opening 13 games in the German league, and are also looking likely to reach the last 16 in Europe’s premier club competition.
The team’s trophy-laden French goalkeeper Thierry Omeyer spoke to the EHF in an exclusive interview after an emphatic 35:24 at Partizan Belgrade in a one-sided VELUX EHF Champions League Group D match, which left second in the group with seven points from five games, one behind leaders Kobenhavn.
Although it was THW Kiel’s Czech sharpshooter Filip Jicha who drew most of the plaudits after rifling in 11 goals, Omeyer was also at the heart of his team’s victory with a string of superb saves.
“We had a very strong start to the game because we wanted to show Partizan that we came here fully focused, and we are happy to have come away from Belgrade with a win. Taking a nine-goal lead into the dressing room at half time was crucial,” Omeyer said.
Having won the double in 2010, Kiel were able to retain neither of the two major trophies last season, and while they did manage to win the German Cup it was scant consolation their efforts.
And Omeyer acknowledged the club was hungry to reinforce its stranglehold on the silverware despite facing top quality opposition.
“We have big objectives this year because we want to win the Bundesliga and hopefully the Champions League too. We have made a great start to the Bundesliga, winning our opening 13 games.
“In Europe’s premier club competition, however, it will be very difficult because there are many good teams. I think we have a good squad and the primary goal is to reach the Final Four,” Omeyer underscored.
“Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Hamburg, Montpellier and Veszprem are very strong and they will be our main rivals for the silverware in Europe. There are six or seven teams capable of reaching the Final Four and it will need a big effort,” he added.
Having won it all with THW Kiel since he joined the German giants in 2006, Omeyer is also keen to help France maintain their dominance when the Olympic, World and European champions set out to defend their continental crown at EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia in January.
“We want to stay on top, obviously, but we are aware that everyone will want to beat us in the European Championship. We will have a very difficult opening game against Spain in our Preliminary Round Group C and it’s not going to get any easier in the latter stages of the tournament because it will be an exceptionally strong field in Serbia.
“We will have to keep our concentration throughout the competition to challenge for the medals.”
TEXT: Andrew McSteen
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