12.01.2016, 04:20
Adzic: Better to lose now than later

NEWS REPORT: Buducnost's 20-month streak comes to an end, however, it sparked a flurry of contract extensions, which will keep a lot of key players at the club until the end of next year

Adzic: Better to lose now than later

Buducnost’s 20-month run without defeat ended last Saturday as the Montenegrin powerhouse lost 22:20 in Audi Arena.

This run brings their streak of 20 wins and two draws to an end, and is their first loss since 4 May 2014 when the same Györi Audi ETO KC defeated Buducnost in the MVM EHF FINAL4 2014.

"If we had to be defeated, it is better now than in the later stages.

"I believe this defeat will bring us back to life, and give us the same energy which allowed us to be invincible for 20 months,” commented Dragan Adzic.

Buducnost in Györ didn’t get into their stride, both in defence and in attack, especially when Dragan Adzic’s team didn’t manage to make the most of their powerplays, scoring just two and conceding four goals during the 10 minutes when they had a numerical advantage on the court.

"We were not right in any part of the game. Otherwise, we would have won.

"Everywhere we were slightly weaker than Györ. We have defeated ourselves because we were our own worse enemy.

"We allowed Györ to play so well in defense and attack. Nevertheless, we are already looking forward to our next game against Vardar.

"It will be difficult because they have not felt the burden of knocks and sore legs left after the World Championship in Denmark," Adzic concluded.

Five contract extensions and more to come

Just a few days after the defeat to Györ, Buducnost have started to build a team for next season.

Left back Cristina Neagu, right back Katarina Bulatovic, line players Dragana Cvijic and Suzana Lazovic and left wing Biljana Pavicevic have all signed new one-year contracts, which are valid until the summer of 2017.

Katarina Bulatovic won the Women's EHF Champions League four times (two with Buducnost, one with Györi Audi ETO KC and Oltchim Rm. Valcea), and her wish is to win two more.

"I am very happy to stay for another season, also because we will keep this year's team, which will be our advantage next season," commented Bulatovic.

Cristina Neagu came to Buducnost in 2013 and after a great comeback after a series of injuries she realised her dream by winning the Champions League in 2015 - in the season where she was also top scorer of the competition.

Neagu signs the deal on the back of being awarded MVP at 22nd IHF World Championship in Denmark.

Serbian Dragana Cvijic, one of the best players in Europe in her position, came to Buducnost in 2011 from Krim Mercator, and with Buducnost won two Women's EHF Champions League titles (2011/12, 2014/15), losing the final in 2014, and four regional league trophies.

Defense specialist Suzana Lazovic started playing in Buducnost, and made her Women’s EHF Champions League debut in 2008 at the age of 16.

Lazovic also won two EHF Champions League titles and five trophies in the domestic league.

Biljana Pavicevic, a Montenegrin national team player, with Majda Mehmedovic make one of the best tandems of left wings in the Champions League.

After she returned to Buducnost, in 2012, she lifted the most important trophy of her career - the Women’s EHF Champions League 2014/15.

TEXT: Saša Jončić / bc