 The only way is up for Sävehof
While the men’s team of Sävehof IK failed to defend their Swedish championship title, the women remained on course to win their fourth consecutive championship on domestic ground.
And as Sweden, due to the EHF seeding list, again has been awarded a direct qualification place, Sävehof avoided the qualification round, which proved too much for them two years ago.
So coach Henrik Signell will be on the international stage again and in the 2013/14 season his team will face Krim, Metz and Leipzig in the Group Phase.
The hopes are high to finish more successful than one year ago, when they ranked fourth, winning only one single match (at Volgograd).
The only new player is Icelandic Birna Berg Haraldsdottir (now the only non-Swedish player), while five players left the Gothenburg located team, which is aiming to win the fifth straight Swedish league title and to proceed to the Women’s EHF Champions League Main Round for the first time in their club history.
Team manager Susanna Laursen hopes for a clear improvement:
“We are happy to be here again. Our goal is to do it better than last year. We have kept all players which we wanted and think that we have developed both as a team and individually.
But we are in a tough group, but we know that we are a good team too,” says Laursen, with whom team captain Ida Odén agrees with.
“We are looking forward to play games against this kind of opponents and we know that all teams are excellent, but we also know we are a good team and we can beat every team if we do well,” says the 26-year-old right back.
Three questions to coach Henrik Signell:
What are your expectations for the upcoming season of the Women’s EHF Champions League - concerning your objectives and your group opponents?
Henrik Signell: We had many good matches last year which were close until the end, but it is the points which count. We have many experienced players in our team and they know how it is to play this kind of matches – that’s important.
We know it will be really tough to go to the next stage, but we think we have a chance and we will do what we can to take it.
What does the participation in the Women’s EHF Champions League mean to you and your club?
Henrik Signell: It really means a lot. We have played in eight Swedish finals in a row and took gold seven times, so for the club and also for the women it is motivating to play against the best teams.
What teams are your personal favourites to win the Women’s EHF Champions League season – and why?
Henrik Signell: Krim are my favourite because they are a big club with really good players on all positions with a huge amount of experience.
IK Sävehof (SWE)
Coach: Henrik Signell, since 2012
Newcomers (including former club): Birna Berg Haraldsdottir (Fram, ISL)
Left the club (including new club): Martina Adamsson Jensen (Skara HF), Josefine Olsson (Sparvagen), Linnea Arrhenius (Fredrikstad, NOR), Susanna Andreasson (BK Heid), Fredrika Zeidler (Karra HF)
Qualification for the 2013/2014 EHF Women’s Champions League season: Swedish champions
EHF Women’s Champions League records:
Participations (including 2013/2014 season): 6
Group Phase: 2007/08, 2010/11, 2012/13
Qualification: 2006/07, 2011/12
Other EC records:
Cup Winners’ Cup:
Last 16: 2011/12
Swedish champion: 1993, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
TEXT: Björn Pazen / cor
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