09.10.2013, 04:10
Kastratovic to lead Montenegro at EHF EURO 2014

NEWS REPORT: Montenegrin head coach receives a three-year extension to his contract only days after he had been dismissed from his club handball position at the helm of Vardar Skopje

Kastratovic to lead Montenegro at EHF EURO 2014

Good news follows bad news, or as Zoran Kastratovic puts it “two good things do not go together”. After he had been dismissed from his post as Vardar head coach on Monday, the good news came on Wednesday in the form of an extension of his contract as head coach of Montenegro’s national team.

It is expected that a new three-year contract will be signed at the end of October when the team gathers in Podgorica during the men’s national team week.

Kastratovic’s former contract had expired on 30 June. “I got the offer, and I accepted it. The signing of the contract is just formality,” he said.

"I spoke with the Montenegrin handball federation’s President, Predrag Boskovic. We agreed on the basic principles of cooperation, plans and the concept for the national team.

Predrag Boskovic was also satisfied that an agreement was reached.

"With his work and the commitment he has shown so far, Kastratovic deserved to continue working with Montenegro’s men’s team."

Kastratovic was named Montenegro’s head coach in June 2011 and he managed to achieve results with the team like no one else before.

In June 2012, Montenegro beat Sweden in the World Championship Play-offs, thus qualifying for the final tournament in Spain – it was the first time Montenegro had reached the World Championship.

They then also qualified for the EHF EURO 2014 in Denmark, finishing second behind Czech Republic but ahead of 2007 world champions, Germany.

His next steps will now be to summon the team for the national team week at the end of this month during Montenegro will face FYR Macedonia in a double-header.

National team director Blazo Lisicic resigns

While Kastratovic’s time with the Montenegrin national team continues, another era came to an end with Blazo Lisicic, national team director and Vice President of the nation’s handball federation, handing in his resignation, stating “personal, family and private reasons” for the decision.

"I have lot of personal things waiting for me in the next period. I would not be able to be there and work in the way I wanted.

"I am satisfied with my work in the last two years, though, always can be better. Sometimes it was better, sometimes worse. I do not know, it's better that others speak about that," he said.

Predrag Boskovic said that he spoke with Lisicic many times about this situation.

"Blazo will always be welcome to Montenegro’s handball federation, because he showed that he deserves to be part of a successful story such as handball in Montenegro."

TEXT: Saša Jončić / ts