 Ambitious Ukrainians looking to a bright future
It was their first attempt to enter the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase – and it proved to be very successful: after becoming Ukrainian champions for the first time (and leaving local rivals ZTR behind in the finals), HC Motor Zaporozhye managed to win their qualification tournament in Novi Sad (Serbia) in a clear and powerful way.
Banja Luka were anything but a high hurdle in the semi-final, and the Ukrainian champions were just as convincing against host Vojvodina, winning 36:24 in the final.
Although Zaporozhye are a debutant in the competition, a huge number of well-known faces will return, especially those arriving from Belarusian champions Dinamo Minsk.
Coach Sergey Bebeshko, who had led Dinamo to the last 16 in the previous season, brought four top players with him from Minsk, including stars like Vladyslav Ostroushko and Sergiy Onufriyenko – who were the key players in qualification.
To strengthen the defence, Zaporozhye signed experienced Slovakian goalkeeper Richard Stochl from Russian record champions Chekhovskie Medvedi.
After qualifying for the Group Phase of the newly structured EHF Cup in the 2012/13 season,
Motor Zaporozhye made another important step on international ground. In group A, the Ukrainian champions will face internationally experienced opponents like Veszprém, Zagreb, Celje, Rhein-Neckar Löwen and Russian neighbours from St. Petersburg.
Despite the big names it is the clear of objective to keep the “Motor” running to the last 16, as team captain Mikhail Tsap says:
“Despite Motor’s first participation in a top competition like this, we have enough experienced players and a strong coach. I hope we will be able to proceed to the next stage.
“However every single match will be very tough and we must show all our skills like we did in qualification.
“We have strong contenders, but with all respect to them we can beat any team. There is no fear for our rivals, even with giants like Veszprem and Löwen,” says a confident Tsap.
As there are currently no injured players, Zaporozhye start their campaign in good shape. They will play their home matches in the “Lokomotiv” arena (capacity 4500) in Kharkov meaning the falcon, mascot and logo of the club, will have to travel.
Three questions to coach Sergey Bebeshko:
What are your expectations for the upcoming season of the VELUX EHF Champions League - concerning your objectives and your group opponents?
Sergey Bebeshko: It’s not a secret, that in domestic area we should repeat last year’s success to win both trophies – gold medals in league and cup. In the Champions League, I aim to qualify for the last 16, my favourites in group are Veszprém and Löwen. With the rest of opponents we can play on an equal level.
What does the participation in the VELUX EHF Champions League mean to you and your club?
Sergey Bebeshko: The VELUX EHF Champions League is a very important and the most desired club competition. Fact is that having reached the groups is historical for our ambitious club, but we're looking forward for a new fresh start. I want to start another long term tradition and to make Motor a regular participant in the Champions League. I want to promote HC Motor as high as possible and my goal is reaching a better level than I achieved with my former club Dinamo Minsk in the last 16. So it will be great if Motor reach the quarter-finals.
What teams are your personal favourites to reach the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and for winning the title this season – and why?
Sergey Bebeshko: In my opinion Barcelona, Veszprém, Kielce and Hamburg are the main favourites and I think Kielce are able to win the tournament.
HC MOTOR Zaporozhye (UKR)
Coach: Sergey Bebeshko (before HC Dinamo-Minsk, since July 2013). Former coach Nikolay Stepanets has become Bebeshko’s first assistant.
Newcomers: Aleksandr Tsitou (HC SKA-Minsk), Oleg Skopintsev (HC Dinamo-Minsk), Vladyslav Ostroushko (HC Dinamo-Minsk), Sergiy Onufriyenko (HC Dinamo-Minsk), Alexandr Shevelev (HC Dinamo-Minsk), Richard Stochl (Chekhovskie Medvedi)
Left the club: Nikolay Sorokin (Permskie medvedi, Russia),Denis Mirzoev (SKIF Krasnodar, Russia), Evgeniy Kalinichenko (SKIF Krasnodar, Russia), Pavel Gurkovskiy (n/a),Oleg Gladyr (retired), Michael Revin (Dijon Bourgogne HB, France), Sergey Sulima (n/a), Stanislav Zhukov (ZNTU-ZAS, Ukraine),Yuriy Shamrylo (ZNTU-ZAS, Ukraine)
Qualification for the 2013/2014 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Winner of the qualification tournament 3, Ukrainian champion
VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2013/2014season): 1
Other EC records:
EHF Cup:
Group Phase 2012/2013
Cup Winners’ Cup:
Quarter-finalist 2011/2012
Ukrainian champion: 2012/2013
Ukrainien Cup winner: 2012/2013
TEXT: Björn Pazen / cor
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