Countdown, part 8: Vive Targi Kielce
After raising the Polish champions trophy again after one year of absence, Vive Targi Kielce now want to climb the European throne. Though having a well-balanced and experienced squad already the Poles signed top stars Karol Bielecki, Ivan Cupic and Krzystof Lijewski from Rhein Neckar Löwen and Manuel Strlek from Zagreb, which means they have an all Croatian wing duo now. Only Mariusz Jurasik (who will remain youth coach), Mateusz Zaremba and Patryk Kuchczinski left the club. Coach Bogdan Wenta, who fully concentrates on Kielce after resigning as coach of the national team, is aiming high in the upcoming season, their tenth in the EHF Champions League.
 After becoming champions again, more than 5000 fans celebrated the team on the main square in Kielce – and the number of “like” buttons on their website has increased to 19.000 fans. A special service is the club TV in cooperation with www.ehfTV.com. This channel will present the whole VELUX EHF Champions league season to the fans.
In the end of preparation for the upcoming season Vive Targi Kielce had proved their strength by winning the tournament “Galeria Echo Kielce Cup” against IK Sävehof, US Dunkerque, Tatran Presov, aside Kielce won twice against their Group Stage opponent Sävehof at the Heide Cup in Germany.
“We wish to qualify for the VELUX EHF FINAL4. But that's not only our objective. All over Europe around ten clubs have the same dream. We get stronger every year, but also we have to be patient. In every game of the VELUX EHF Champions League we have to play against strong team, we have to be concentrated. Otherwise we can lose some important points. That's the beauty of handball at the highest level. We are proud that we can be a part of the Champions League for the fourth season in a row,” said club president Bertus Servaas.
“One more step to the VELUX EHF FINAL4. Last year Kielce was part of the Last 16, so the minimum objective for this season is the quarterfinal. But becoming champions in the Polish league is a must to qualify directly for the next season of the Champions League again.”
Team captain Grzegorz Tkaczyk thinks the same way. “We compete in a very interesting group this season. In last season we played in the “group of death” and finished third. But then we disappointingly lost against Cimos Koper in the Last 16. So this year we want to make one more step. If we can add some luck, maybe we manage to qualify for the FINAL4. It will not be so easy, but we really have a very good team.”
 KS Vive Targi Kielce (POL)
Coach: Bogdan Wenta, since 2008
Qualification for the 2012/2013 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Polish champions
Newcomers: Krzysztof Lijewski (Rhein Neckar Löwen), Karol Bielecki (Rhein Neckar Löwen), Ivan Cupić (Rhein Neckar Löwen), Manuel Strlek (Croatia Zagreb)
Left the club: Patryk Kuchczynski (Zabrze), Mateusz Zaremba (Pogon Szczecin),
Mariusz Jurasik
VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2012/2013 season): 10
Last 16 (4): 1993/94, 1994/95, 2009/10, 2011/12
Last 32 (2): 1996/97, 1998/99
Group Matches (3): 1999/2000, 2003/04, 2010/11
Other EC records:
11 participations in other ECs
Polish champion: 9 times (1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012)
Polish Cup winner: 9 times (1985, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
Further information
Find more information on Kielce HERE.
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TEXT: Björn Pazen
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