Part 4 - Group C - European Handball Federation

Media Guide 

VELUX EHF Champions League 

Season 2012/2013 

Group Phase 

Group C

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

GROUP C – expert´s view 

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 

RK Gorenje Velenje 

KS Vive Targi Kielce 

Chambéry Savoie Handball 

St. Petersburg HC 

HC Metalurg 

Schedule of matches 

3 

4 

7 

10 

13 

16 

19 

22 

2

TEAMS 

1. Bjerringbro-Silkeborg (replaced AG København) 

2. Gorenje Velenje 

3. KS Vive Targi Kielce 

4. Chambéry Savoie Handball 

5. St. Petersburg HC 

6. HC Metalurg Skopje 

Expert Francois-Xavier Houlet says: 

In my opinion this group is wide open. Kielce remarkably strengthened themselves and the 

team now consists many experienced world class players. It underlines the Polish champion’s 

ambitions to claim the top spot in this in the group. 

Chambery’s new season’s slogan is «change in wake of continuity». New signings Bertrand and 

Guillaume Gille as well as new coach Cavalli know the club very well. I think they have a good 

chance to reach one of the first three spots. 

Skopje and Velenje will probably also vie for a spot in the Last 16. Like the Macedonian national 

team at the EHF EURO 2012 in January, the team of Metalurg, coached by the successful Lino 

Červar, wants to show Europe what they are capable of. Their motivation is backed by many 

national team players and the raucous support they receive from their fans. 

The young team from St Petersburg continues its development, but Torgovanov’s players don’t 

yet seem to be at a stage where they can challenge the big guns. 

Silkeborg took the Danish spot of the bankrupt AG København. The main goal should be to fare 

better than in the 2011/12 season in which they failed to win a single point. 

3

BJERRINGBRO- 

SILKEBORG 

(Denmark) 

Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions 

League 2012/13: Danish runners-up (instead 

of AG Kobenhavn) 

Season Preview: 

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg finished, like in 2011, 

second in the Danish league below AG 

København. In contrast to the previous season 

this spot did not guarantee direct qualification 

for the VELUX EHF Champions League Group 

Phase. The Danish side were in preparation for 

the Wild Card Tournament, when the national 

champions were declared bankrupted. 

Bjerringbro now is the representative of the 

Danish league in the group stage. 

Head coach Carsten Albrecktsen has to cope 

with a major loss, namely that of the Danish 

national team goalkeeper Niklas Landin who 

has made the move to German side Rhein 

Neckar Löwen. Apart from the departure of top 

players like Audray Tuzolana or Miha Žvižej, 

the Danish outfit are hoping to finish in a better 

position than they did in their debut season, 

namely finishing without a point. 

For the first part of Group Phase Bjerringbro 

have to play their games in the MIDT Arena in 

Kjellerup, 13 kilometres away from Silkeborg. 

“We are very proud to play in the Champions 

League again this year. To play in this 

competition is one of the main goals for the 

club and we have a great opportunity to 

promote some of our big sponsors all over 

Europe. Last year we had a really tough group, 

and this year we now have a great chance to 

show, that we learned a lot last year,” said EC 

manager Christian Lynnerup . 

“The group has a big favourite in Kielce but the 

remaining five teams play on the same level, I 

hope that we will see an exciting Group Phase, 

where nothing is decided before the last round. 

Our players, leaders, administration, fans and 

sponsors are ready once again to participate in 

the most prestigious handball competition in 

the world.” 

Club Address: 

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 

Vestre Ringvej 7 

8850 Bjerringbro 

Denmark 

Contact numbers: 

Tel. +45-86-680560 

Email: cl@bjerringbro-silkeborg.dk 

Arena: 

Silkeborg hallerne A 

Ansvej 114 

8600 Silkeborg 

Capacity: 2000 

OR 

MIDT Arena 

Hasselvej 15, 8620 

Kjellerup Municipality 

Media contact: 

Christian Lynnerup 

+45 4011 8987 

cl@bjerringbro-silkeborg.dk 

Online: 

Club website: www.thw-provinzial.de 

Twitter: @mja_dk/bsv 

Facebook: bjerringbrosilkeborg 

ehfCL.com 

Club achievements: 

EHF Champions League: 

Participations (including 2012/13 season): 3 

Qualification (1): 2011 

Group Phase (1): 2012 

4

The squad 

No. First Name Family Name Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height 

66 Kasper Young Andersen DEN Right wing 20.12.1993 77 191 

22 Theis Baagöe DEN Left back 12.11.1992 94 205 

16 Jannick Green Krejberg DEN Goalkeeper 29.09.1988 93 198 

3 Benjamin Jakobsen DEN Line player 09.09.1991 95 191 

13 Chris Holm Jörgensen DEN Centre back 28.10.1986 84 187 

15 Dennis Staunstrup Kirkegaard DEN Right wing 04.06.1981 87 186 

23 Simon Westh Kristiansen DEN Right back 25.01.1984 93 191 

11 Rasmus Lauge Schmidt DEN Centre back 20.06.1991 101 196 

18 Mathias Pugholm Madsen DEN Left back 10.04.1982 100 198 

10 Casper Ulrich Mortensen DEN Left wing 14.12.1989 95 190 

26 Kasper Nielsen DEN Back 09.06.1975 95 194 

8 Mads Oris Nielsen DEN Left back 17.03.1981 102 198 

2 Nicolaj Schytt Nielsen DEN Right back 12.02.1994 70 175 

7 Nikolaj Oris Nielsen DEN Right back 26.09.1986 100 197 

9 Gudmundur Arni Olafsson ISL Right wing 24.09.1990 74 181 

31 Fredrik Schilling DEN Left wing 03.09.1989 69 180 

1 Dane Sijan SRB Goalkeeper 05.02.1977 120 195 

19 Henrik Toft Hansen DEN Line player 18.12.1986 108 200 

New signings (including former club): 

• Dane Sijan (Viborg HK), 

• Casper U Mortensen (Viborg HK), 

• Chris Jørgensen (Nordsjælland 

Håndbold), 

• Benjamin Jakobsen (Skanderborg 

Håndbold), 

• Henrik Toft Hansen (AG Kobenhavn) 

Left the club (including new club): 

• Niklas Landin (Rhein Neckar Löwen), 

• Miha Žvižej (Toulouse), 

• Audray Tuzolana (Tremblay), 

• Esben Lie Hansen (Dunkerque), 

• Fredrik Petersen (HSV Hamburg) 

5

Key players 

Rasmus Lauge: 

Many European top clubs would like to sign the 21-year-old, but Lauge 

continues playing for his Danish home club. His star rose at the 2012 

EHF EURO in Serbia, when his goals in the Main Round first secured 

Denmark first a berth in the Semi-final and in the end the podium’s top 

spot. Lauge can play on the centre back and the left back position and 

scored 35 goals in his first VELUX EHF Champions League season 

2011/12. 

Kasper Nielsen: 

At age 37 Nielsen is Silkeborg’s most experienced player. His clear 

strength is the defence. In 2007 he was EHF Champions League 

finalist with German side SG Flensburg-Handewitt where he played 

four years in total, He joined Silkeborg in 2010 and was also part of 

the Danish national team that won the 2012 EHF EURO. 

Henrik Toft Hansen: 

When AG Kobenhavn went bankrupt in July 2012, Henrik Toft 

Hansen had to look for a new club – and found it at Silkeborg. The line 

player is the brother of THW Kiel’s Rene Toft Hansen and also his 

sister is playing for the Danish national team. Together with his 

brother he was part of the Danish EHF EURO 2012 winners in Serbia. 

Coach 

Carsten Albrektsen: 

He was something like a missionary from 2007 until 2009 when 

Albrektsen was the first coach of the British men’s national team, 

preparing their first steps for the Olympic Games in London. While 

acting as coach in Bjerringbro Silkeborg. Albrektsen’s biggest 

successes were finishing twice as runners-up in the Danish league, 

which subsequently led to the qualification for the Group Phase of the 

VELUX EHF Champions League. He stayed in Germany, his first club as 

a coach was Hameln, followed by Magdeburg and Gummersbach – and 

he also coached the Icelandic national team until 2007. In 2008 he 

became coach of THW Kiel. 

6

RK GORENJE VELENJE 

(Slovenia) 


League 2012/13 season: Slovenian 

champions 


For the sixth time Gorenje Velenje have 

qualified for the VELUX EHF Champions 

League, but it is only the second time they were 

crowned Slovenian champions. 

In passing out RK Celje in the final stages of the 

season Velenje took the title and left VELUX 

EHF Champions League 2011/12 quarterfinalist 

Cimos Koper behind them. 

The “wasps” will need to replace one of their 

best defence specialists: Nikola Manojlovic who 

left to play for Koper. However, what they lost 

in Manojlovic they gained in the signing of 

Slovenian international Luka Dobelšek. 

Like in 2010 Velenje is aiming to make it to the 

knock-out stages of the VELUX EHF 

Champions League. On home ground the team 

of coach Branko Tamše want to defend their 

title against strong opponents. 

The new club manager Tomaž Juršič said: “We 

are glad to be part of the European Handball 

elite in the VELUX EHF Champions 

League.“ However, Juršič is weary of their 

opponents. “We have a tough group with 

strong opponents like Chambery, Kielce, St. 

Petersburg, Bjeringbro and Metalurg. We will 

do everything in our power to qualify for the 

Last 16, which would be a big achievement,” he 

added. 

For the team captain Marko Bezjak the team 

spirit and the support from the stands in their 

Rdeča dvorana are decisive in helping them to 

go on and win big matches: “We have a good 

team which gets along well with each other on 

and off the field. We will never surrender and 

especially we will not allow ourselves to lose 

points in front of our home fans.” 

Club Address: 

Gorenje Velenje 

Saleska Cesta 3 

3320 Velenje 

Slovenia 


Tel. +386-3-8986440 

Fax. +386-3-8986443 

Email: office@rk-gorenje.com 

Arena: 

Rdeča Dvorana 

Saleska cesta 3 

3320 Velenje 



Tanija Rednak 

+386 38986440 

tanija.rednak@rk-gorenje.com 

Online: 

Club website: www.rk-gorenje.com/si 

Twitter: @rk_gorenje_v 

Facebook: rkgorenjevelenje 

ehfCL 




Last 16 (2): 2006, 2010 

Main Round (1): 2008 

Group Phase (1): 2005 


EHF Cup 

Finalists 2008/2009 

Slovenian champions: 2008/09, 2011/12, six 

times runners-up 

Slovenian Cup winners: 2002/03, seven times 

finalist 

7

The squad 


37 Dino Bajram SLO Line player 25.09.1983 110 193 

6 Marko Bezjak SLO Centre back 26.06.1986 87 184 

12 Nejc Brglez SLO Goalkeeper 28.02.1993 95 190 

17 Klemen Cehte SLO Left back 10.05.1986 94 193 

13 Darko Cingesar SLO Centre back 25.07.1990 85 183 

30 Luka Dobelsek SLO Centre back 12.01.1983 93 191 

11 Jure Dolenec SLO Right back 06.12.1988 90 190 

77 Marko Dujmovic SLO Left back 19.09.1985 94 191 

22 Matej Gaber SLO Line player 22.07.1991 110 198 

1 Ivan Gajic SRB Goalkeeper 17.05.1979 105 191 

31 Janez Gams SLO Left wing 08.11.1985 86 180 

23 Rok Golcar SLO Right wing 23.12.1985 86 189 

71 Tine Marusic SLO Left wing 23.06.1994 80 185 

5 Niko Medved SLO Left wing 26.03.1990 83 182 

4 Fahrudin Melic MNE Right wing 22.07.1984 90 183 

18 David Miklavcic SLO Right back 29.01.1983 98 195 

44 Mitja Nosan SLO Left back 09.01.1990 98 198 

55 Rok Ovnicek SLO Centre back 29.01.1995 80 180 

60 Jaka Poznic SLO Line player 30.03.1993 100 198 

8 Peter Pucelj SLO Line player 06.12.1982 100 193 

15 Samo Rutar SLO Line player 26.02.1984 101 190 

16 Emir Taletovic SLO Goalkeeper 09.01.1990 93 189 


• Darko Cingesar (Jeruzalem Ormož), 

• Luka Dobelšek (Wisla Plock), 

• Mitja Nosan (RD Ribnica) 


• Nikola Manojlović (Cimos Koper), 

• Rok Šimič (RK Maribor Branik) 

8

Key players 

Luka Dobelšek: 

Following two seasons at former Polish champions Wisla Plock, 

Dobelsek has now returned to the club where it all started. In 2001 

he played his first international season with Velenje where he played 

part in many big successes over the past ten years. Now the 

playmaker’s role is clearly defined. He needs to replace Nikola 

Manojlovic, who joined Koper. 

Marko Bezjak: 

The “Wasps’” captain is a key player in the defence nowadays, after 

he had been one of the top shooters the seasons before. In his third 

VELUX EHF Champions League season Bezjak will share the 

playmaker role with Dobelsek. 

Jure Dolenec: 

The 23-year-old tall sharp shooter started his career at Drustvo 

Termo in Slovenia, before changing to Mercur and now the right 

back plays his second season in Velenje. Despite his young age 

Dolenec is already a key player in the young Slovenian national team 

and was one of their best scorers at the EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia. 

Coach 

Branko Tamše: 

Since 2001 Branko Tamše is the head coach of Gorenje, but ten 

more years the 34 year old Slovenian is part of the club. Before 

becoming head coach Tamše was among the coaching team of the 

current Slovenian champions. The major task of the former youth 

and junior national team player is to rebuild a young team with 

hungry talents. 

9

KS VIVE TARGI KIELCE 

(Poland) 


League 2012/13 season: Polish champions 


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 Čupić and Krzystof 

Lijewski from Rhein Neckar Löwen and Manuel 

Štrlek 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. 

In the end of preparation Kielce had proved 

their strength by winning the tournament 

“Galeria Echo Kielce Cup” against IK Sävehof, 

US Dunkerque, Tatran Prešov, aside Kielce 

won twice against their group opponent 

Sävehof at the Heide Cup in Germany. 

“We wish to qualify for the FINAL4, but all over 

Europe there are around ten clubs with the 

same dream. We get stronger every year, but 

also we have to be patient. In every game of the 

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. 

Club Address: 

KS Vive Targi Kielce 

ul. Robotnicza 5 

25-662 Kielce 

Poland 


Tel. +48-41-3451044 

Fax. +48-41-3451044 

Email: klub@vivetargi.pl 

Arena: 

Hala M.O.S.I.R – Legionow 

ul. Boczna 15A 

25-093 Kielce 



Sebastian Kozubek 

+48 505031244 

s.kozubek@vivetargi.pl 

Online: 

Club website: www.vivetargi.pl 

Twitter: @vivetargikielce 

Facebook: kielce 

ehfCL.com 

Club achievements 

EHF Champions League records: 


Last 16 (4): 1994, 1995, 2010, 2012 

Group Phase (3): 2000, 2004, 2011 

Polish champions: 9 titles(1993, 1994, 1996, 

1998, 1999, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012) 

Polish Cup winners: 9 titles 

10

The squad 


8 Karol Bielecki POL Left back 23.01.1982 101 202 

16 Kamil Buchcic POL Goalkeeper 16.06.1992 79 182 

21 Denis Buntic CRO Right back 13.11.1982 93 198 

1 Marcus Cleverly DEN Goalkeeper 15.06.1981 92 188 

27 Ivan Cupic CRO Right back 22.03.1986 75 178 

2 Piotr Grabarczyk POL Line player 31.10.1982 99 200 

15 Mateusz Jachlewski POL Left wing 27.12.1984 88 185 

26 Filip Jastrzab POL Goalkeeper 27.09.1994 84 185 

5 Michal Jurecki POL Left back 27.10.1984 110 198 

19 Krzysztof Lijewski POL Right back 07.07.1983 94 198 

22 Zeljko Musa CRO Line player 08.01.1986 103 200 

9 Thorir Olafsson ISL Right wing 28.11.1979 78 189 

24 Tomasz Rosinski POL Centre back 24.02.1984 85 192 

18 Rastko Stojkovic SRB Line player 12.07.1981 104 191 

17 Manuel Strlek CRO Left wing 01.12.1988 84 182 

78 Slawomir Szmal POL Goalkeeper 02.10.1978 90 190 

6 Grzegorz Tkaczyk POL Left back 22.12.1980 94 194 

4 Bartlomiej Tomczak POL Left wing 07.09.1985 90 186 

23 Uros Zorman SLO Centre back 09.01.1980 96 189 


• Krzysztof Lijewski (Rhein Neckar 

Löwen), 

• Karol Bielecki (Rhein Neckar Löwen), 

• Ivan Čupić (Rhein Neckar Löwen), 

• Manuel Štrlek (Croatia Zagreb) 


• Patryk Kuchczynski (Zabrze), 

• Mateusz Zaremba (Pogon Szczecin), 

• Mariusz Jurasik 

11

Key players 

Sławomir Szmal: 

The former World Handball Player of the Year is one of the key 

players in the Polish national champions’ defence. The goalkeeper 

played several years for Rhein Neckar Löwen in Germany. His biggest 

success so far was a silver medal with the national team at the 2007 

World Championship and a bronze medal at the 2009 World 

Championship.. 

Ivan Čupić: 

The newly signed Croatian right wing was the second best goal scorer 

at the London 2012 Olympic Games. His star rose when became an 

all-star team member and silver medallist at the 2009 World 

Championship on home soil. Čupić, who lost one finger in a tragic 

accident in 2008, continued his excellent game and won silver with 

Croatia at the EHF EURO 2010 and bronze at London 2012. With his 

fellow Croatian Manuel Strlek he is prone to increase the speed on 

the wings and the number of Kielce’s counter attack goals. 

Karol Bielecki: 

Despite having lost sight on his left eye following an accident during an 

international in June 2010, Bielecki returned to the court as good as 

ever before. The left back started his career with a great performance 

at the 2004 EHF EURO. He then played for German clubs and 

returned to his home country before the current season. Bielecki is 

known for his “hammer shots” and has the same medal tally as his 

teammate Slawomir Szmal. 

Coach 

Bogdan Wenta: 

Up until June, Bogdan Weta was in acting as a coach on two different 

fronts; coaching Kielce and he was the head coach of the Polish men’s 

national team, but after becoming runners-up at the Men's World 

Championship in 2007 and collecting a bronze medal at the Men's 

World Championship in 2009 he resigned from his position after 

failing to qualify for the London Olympic Games. The 51-year-old 

Wenta was a player in Spain, Germany and even played for the 

German national team after changing his citizenship. Directly after 

finishing his active career Wenta became assistant coach in Flensburg 

(GER), and become Polish national team coach in 2004 then acted as 

head coach at Magdeburg from 2006 onwards. Since 2008 Wenta is 

coach in Kielce and constantly has led his team to the VELUX EHF 

Champions League. 

12

CHAMBERY SAVOIE 

HANDBALL (France) 


League 2012/13 season: French runners-up 


A new coach, two world class brothers and 

the hopes to reach the knock-out stage of the 

VELUX EHF Champions League: After twelve 

years Philippe Gardent left Chambery to 

coach aspiring club Paris Handball. His 

successor is his former assistant Mario Cavalli, 

who now will be assisted by the top player 

returning to the club: Guillaume Gille. He 

arrives from Hamburg, together with his 

brother Bertrande and will join their youngest 

sibling Benjamin. Jean-Christophe Aulas will 

take on the role as the new goalkeeper coach. 

Xavier Barachet left Chambery and will wear 

the Madrid jersey next season. After missing 

out on the Last 16 in the 2011/12 season, 

Chambery is aiming to make an 

improvement on last season. 

Season’s objectives are clear – to qualify for 

the Last 16 of the VELUX EHF Champions 

League and in the French League to obtain a 

ticket for the next edition of the European top 

club competition. “Kielce are very strong but 

all the other teams in our group are on the 

same level. This is a positive thing, but also 

somewhat dangerous. It will be a very open 

group,” club manager Laurent Munier 

predicted. 

“The Champions League for us is the final 

step in the long road of hard work throughout 

the season. When I hear the Champions 

League anthem, it is music to my ears, almost 

like an award for me. Now we have to work 

hard to go further in this competition,” coach 

Mario Cavalli said. 

“We have to win all out games in our home 

arena Le Phare, if we want to qualify for the 

next stage. The away games are going to be 

difficult for us. I think our level should be high 

enough to reach the Last 16,” coach added. 

Club Address: 

Chambery Savoie Handball 

688 Avenue des Follaz 

73000 Chambery 

France 


Tel. +33-4-79706050 

Fax. +33-4-79330901 

Email:laurent.munier@chamberysavoiehandball.com 

Arena: 

Le Phare 

800 avenue du Grand Arietaz 

73000 Chambery 



Noémie Catalan 

+33 0479706055 

noemie.catalan@chamberysavoiehandball.com 

Online: 

Club website: www.chamberysavoihandball.com 

Twitter: ChamberySH_Hand 

Facebook: CSH73 

ehfCL.com 




Last 16 (3): 2004, 2007, 2011 

Main Round (1): 2009 

Group Phase (3): 2002, 2010, 2012 

French champion: 2001 (runners-up: 1998,1999, 

2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 

2011, 2012) 

French Cup winners: 2002 

13

The squad 


26 David Ampere FRA Right wing 21.04.1993 78 180 

13 Edin Basic BIH Centre back 04.05.1979 94 190 

77 Damir Bicanic CRO Left back 26.06.1985 98 195 

27 Antoine Blanc FRA Left wing 18.07.1994 93 191 

28 Killian Buffard FRA Right wing 09.05.1994 72 175 

2 Laurent Busselier FRA Left wing 27.11.1976 80 183 

14 Thomas Capella FRA Right back 13.06.1990 88 190 

25 Gregoire Detrez FRA Line player 22.05.1981 96 185 

29 Maxime Diot FRA Goalkeeper 28.02.1993 84 188 

16 Cyril Dumoulin FRA Goalkeeper 02.02.1984 103 199 

9 Benjamin Gille FRA Line player 03.05.1982 91 191 

10 Bertrand Gille FRA Line player 24.03.1978 98 187 

11 Guillaume Gille FRA Centre back 12.07.1976 97 192 

1 Nebojsa Grahovac BIH Goalkeeper 11.02.1984 94 191 

20 Loic Laurent FRA Centre back 12.06.1992 86 190 

24 Johannes Marescot FRA Line player 04.04.1994 96 193 

15 Olivier Marroux FRA Right wing 09.01.1986 78 176 

17 Simon Mayayo FRA Left back 09.12.1991 98 198 

12 Mathieu Merceron FRA Goalkeeper 07.01.1993 100 200 

19 Timothey Nguessan FRA Left back 18.09.1992 96 192 

6 Karel Nocar CZE Centre back 28.02.1977 95 185 

5 Alix Kevynn Nyokas FRA Right back 28.06.1986 80 192 

7 Yannick Palma FRA Right back 13.01.1989 98 192 

8 Marko Panic BIH Right back 10.03.1991 101 197 

23 Pierre Paturel FRA Line player 26.01.1989 92 196 

18 Cedric Paty FRA Right wing 25.07.1981 86 194 

30 Kevin Rondel FRA Line player 22.02.1992 98 192 

21 Queido Traore FRA Centre back 15.10.1994 86 185 

22 Alexandre Tritta FRA Right back 09.12.1994 88 186 


• Kevynn Nyokas (Paris), 

• Marko Panić (Banja Luka), 

• Guillaume Gille (HSV Hamburg), 

• Bertrande Gille (HSV Hamburg) 


• Florian Botti (end of career), 

• Benjamin Massot-Pellet (Billere), 

• Guillaume Marroux (Valence), 

• Xavier Barachet (Atletico Madrid), 

• Bertrand Roine (Qatar) 

14

Key players 

Betrand Gille: 

After ten highly successful ten years at HSV Hamburg Bertrand Gille 

returned to the club at which his handball career started. In the 

meantime the line player and former World Handball Player of the 

Year became double Olympic champion (2008, 2012), three-time 

world (2001, 2009, 2011) champion and double European 

champion (2006, 2010). Back in Chambery, Gille shall guarantee a 

stable defence and goals from the six metre line. 

Guillaume Gille: 

Guillaume is always on the side of his brother. Like Bertrand, 

Guillaume has literally won every title the world of handball has to 

offer. Beside his role as the playmaker and “spiritus rector” on the 

court, Guillaume Gille is already Chambery’s assistant coach and is 

supposed to take over the team from the 2013/14 season. 

Damir Bičanić: 

The left back and Croatian national team member learnt his handball 

skills at the famous school of RK Zagreb. In 2008 he transferred to 

Ademar Leon, before arriving at Chambery two years later. Hitting the 

net 52 times in ten matches, the 27 year old shooter became 

Chambery’s top scorer in the previous VELUX EHF Champions League 

season. 

Coach 

Mario Cavalli: 

Only Barcelona’s Xavi Pascual and Montpellier’s Patrice Canayer can 

look back upon such a long period in the same club as new Chambery 

coach Mario Cavalli. Born in Chambery he joined the club as a player in 

1976, before becoming part of the coaches’ team. After eleven years 

as an assistant of Philippe Gardent (now at Paris Handball) the 49- 

year-old Cavalli is the in charge from this season onwards. His biggest 

success until now was becoming French champions in 2001. 

15

ST. PETERSBURG HC 

(Russia) 


League 2012/13 season: Russian runners-up 


Once again HC St Petersburg qualified for the 

VELUX EHF Champions League last season, but 

again they had no chance against domestic 

rivals Chekhovskie Medvedi after two final 

defeats in the Russian play-offs. This season, 

coach Dmitriy Torgovanov will once again try 

to improve his team's international aspirations, 

and after narrowly missing the Last 16 twice in 

the past two seasons hopes are high of 

reaching the knock-out stage for the first time. 

But this season Torgovanov will also have to 

integrate six new players into his ranks as well 

as coach, while nine of his former charges left 

the club - including top star Vadim Bogdanov 

and goalkeeper legend Alexej Kostygov. 

But despite the changes in personnel the 

objectives at the Baltic Sea club are the same as 

in the previous seasons: ranking among the top 

teams in Russia and qualify for the Last 16 in 

the VELUX EHF Champions League. 

New club director Sergey Ziza, the successor of 

Vladimir Ovanesov, is confident: "Only the 

best teams of Europe compete in the VELUX 

EHF Champions League, and we are among 

them for the third straight time. Though I know 

that all matches will be tough and a matter of 

nerves, I hope for the third time that we can 

manage to reach the Last 16. We want to show 

the whole of Europe our brilliant and 

memorable style of handball." 

Top player Eldar Nasyrov, like his team-mates, 

is hungry for success on international level. 

"Everyone in the team is very glad to be taking 

part in the VELUX EHF Champions League. 

Some of us are participating for the third time 

and some for the first time, but all of us have a 

great hunger for getting the best possible 

results and to show that kind of handball, which 

will make Europe talk about the team from 

Saint Petersburg," he said. 

Club Address: 

St. Petersburg HC 

9 linia 20, lit.A, pom. 2-H 

199004 St. Petersburg 

Russia 


Tel. +7-81-27142845 

Fax. +7-81-27142845 

Email: spbhandball@yandex.ru 

Arena: 

Sport Hall "Olimpiyskiy" Chekhov 

Poligrafistov Str. 30 

142300 Chekhov 



Stanislav Fedorov 

+7 9213098342 

stasfedorov@mail.ru 

Online: 

Club website: www.spbhandball.ru 

ehfCL.com 




Group Phase (2): 2011, 2012 

Russian champions: - (runners-up: 2010, 2011, 

2012) 

16

The squad 


16 Yan Belyaev RUS Goalkeeper 05.06.1992 78 190 

4 Alexander Bykov RUS Line player 14.05.1991 119 202 

23 Dmitry Chernykh RUS Centre back 23.06.1992 84 187 

17 Anatolii Chezlov RUS Left back 23.04.1987 92 195 

14 Nikita Dolganov RUS Left back 12.03.1993 80 189 

50 Evgeny Dudik RUS Centre back 26.09.1995 79 186 

99 Alexei Grigoriev RUS Right back 19.02.1983 103 196 

21 Dmitrii Kiselev RUS Right back 15.11.1994 98 193 

51 Sergey Kiselev RUS Right wing 14.08.1992 78 184 

12 Aliaksei Kishou BLR Goalkeeper 23.09.1986 94 193 

7 Sergey Kuzmin RUS Left wing 02.02.1988 77 182 

9 Dmitrii Lauzhin RUS Left wing 04.05.1991 85 192 

2 Eldar Nasyrov RUS Left back 14.07.1986 92 188 

14 Mikhail Niazhura BLR Line player 09.12.1980 120 198 

20 Andrei Novoselov RUS Right wing 25.08.1986 74 177 

22 Igor Polyakov RUS Left wing 22.03.1979 93 193 

98 Maksim Popov RUS Goalkeeper 06.03.1998 105 190 

13 Alexander Pyshkin RUS Line player 13.04.1987 105 195 

94 Ivan Saltykov RUS Goalkeeper 16.04.1994 82 198 

10 Alexander Sanashkin RUS Right wing 18.03.1987 85 180 

15 Yury Semenov RUS Left back 30.07.1990 107 194 

1 Vitalii Shitsco RUS Goalkeeper 09.09.1987 95 198 

19 Gleb Smakhtin RUS Left back 28.06.1995 96 200 


• Mikhail Niazhura (HC Dinamo Minsk), 

• Aliaksei Kishou (Zarya Kaspiya, 

Astrakhan), 

• Andrei Novoselov and Yury Semenov 

(both Locomotiv-Polyot Cheljabinsk), 

• Alexey Grigorev (HC Motor 

Zaporozhye), 

• Sergei Kuzmin (Sungul Snezhinsk) 


• Andrey Lyashenko (HC Motor 

Zaporozhye), 

• Ruslan Gaboev and Nikita Samarskiy 

(both SKIF Krasnodar), 

• Alexey Shindin, Ivan Pronin and Artem 

Vyshnevskyy (all HC Dinamo Poltava), 

• Gennadiy Komok (ZTR Zaporozhye), 

• Alexey Kostygov (Kaustik Volgograd), 

• Vadim Bogdanov (HC Dinamo Minsk) 

17

Key players 

Eldar Nasyrov: 

The left back scored 42 goals in each of the previous two VELUX 

EHF Champions League seasons and became one of St. Petersburg’s 

major scorers. He joined the Russian side two years ago and is now 

one of those young players who want to get selected for the Russian 

national team by showing strong performances on the club level. 

Alexei Grigoriev: 

The left handed player is an important factor in St. Petersburg’s 

game, especially for their defence. Aged 29, Grigoriev is one of the 

most experienced players in the young squad of the Russian 

runners-up. After being part of his home team Astrakhan for a long 

time he changed to Brest in Belarus and Saporoschje in Ukraine, 

before returning to his home country this season. 

Igor Polyakov: 

Left wing Polyakov played his first international season with his 

former club Rostov in 1998. Afterwards the counter attack specialist 

played for different teams including several years for former 

Ukrainian champions Portovik. In 2010 he started playing in St. 

Petersburg. 

Coach 

Dmitri Torgovanov: 

After a highly successful career as a player Torgovanov started 

coaching at St. Petersburg in 2009 – and his team became threetime 

Russian runners-up. Torgovanov, nicknamed Pino, is 40 years 

old and was Olympic champion, twice world champion and once 

European champion with the Russian National team. On a club level 

he played most of his career in Germany, for the clubs Essen, Wallau 

and Hamburg. His “coaching teacher” is Vladimir Maximov, the 

Russian legend. 

18

HC METALURG 

(FYR Macedonia) 


League 2012/13 season: of the Qualification 

Tournament 2, Macedonian champions 


The Last 16 is the minimum objective and the 

quarter-finals is their dream – Macedonian 

double winners count on their defence and the 

experience of their coach. 

The home arena is a fortress commanded by 

“minister of defence”, goalkeeper Darko Stanić, 

is like a wall and the coach is highly experienced 

– all ingredients fit for Metalurg Skopje to be as 

successful as in the previous season in the year 

of their 40th anniversary. 

After winning their third straight double as 

Macedonian champions and cup winners 

Metalurg had no problems in qualifying for the 

Group Phase. In the same constellation like in 

2011 the team of coach Lino Červar beat 

Haslum in the final – but in contrast to the 

previous season with a clear result of 30:20 

and even on the Norwegian home ground. 

In the VELUX EHF Champions League 

2011/12 season Metalurg were one of the 

surprises, reaching the Last 16, which then was 

their final destination after being closely 

eliminated by RK Zagreb. 

So the first part of the knock-out stage is their 

minimum objective this season again, but 

Metalurg even dream of reaching the quarterfinal 

for the first time in club history. 

The squad nearly remained the same after 

Stanić confirmed to stay at Skoppje and not 

leave to German side Göppingen. Instead of 

the goalkeeper, Žarko Marković was 

transferred to the two times EHF Cup winner. 

Right before the qualification tournament 

Milan Vučičević already left Metalurg again after 

arriving from Kolubara before the start of the 

preparation. 

Captain Naumče Mojsovski is aiming high: “Our 

group is completely open for all six teams. So, I 

hope we can repeat our result from the 

previous season and make some surprises. 

We have the strength to reach a good result.” 

Club Address: 

HC Metalurg 

ul. Jane Lukroski 6 

1000 Skopje 

FYRO Macedonia 


Tel. +389-2-3073088 

Fax. +389-2-3172621 

Email: zoran.cvetanovski@gmail.com 

Arena: 

Boris Trajkovski 

bul. 8 Septemvri bb 

Skopje 



Zoran Cvetanovski 

+389 78223505 

zoran.cvetanovski@gmail.com 

Online: 

Club website: http://www.rkmetalurg.mk/ 

Twitter: @РК-Металург 

Facebook: РК-Металург 

ehfCL.com 




Last 16 (1): 2012 

Group Matches (2): 2007, 2009 


Other EC records: 

9 participations in other EC 

Macedonian champion:5 titles (2006, 2008, 

2010, 2011, 2012) 

Macedonian Cup winner: 5 titles 

19

The squad 


71 Stefche Alshovski MKD Left wing 01.10.1972 89 189 

20 Petar Angelov MKD Goalkeeper 08.03.1977 103 192 

23 Damir Batinovic CRO Centre back 18.08.1987 93 193 

4 Vancho Dimovski MKD Line player 04.04.1979 110 187 

17 Tihomir Doder SRB Centre back 08.08.1979 92 194 

9 Goce Georgievski MKD Right wing 12.02.1987 83 185 

29 Ace Jonovski MKD Left back 29.12.1980 104 200 

12 Stefan Kimevski MKD Goalkeeper 31.12.1990 88 193 

10 Miladin Kozlina SLO Left back 11.02.1983 115 199 

3 Milan Levov MKD Right back 05.04.1987 87 186 

5 Borjan Madjovski MKD Left back 08.05.1994 88 198 

11 Dejan Manaskov MKD Left wing 26.08.1992 78 181 

14 Velko Markoski MKD Left back 05.04.1986 100 194 

98 Tadej Matijasic SLO Left wing 22.01.1994 74 174 

13 Filip Mirkulovski MKD Centre back 14.09.1983 91 189 

16 Nikola Mitrevski MKD Goalkeeper 03.10.1985 84 188 

15 Zlatko Mojsoski MKD Right wing 15.11.1981 81 180 

18 Naumce Mojsovski MKD Centre back 17.06.1980 92 187 

8 Levko Naumovski MKD Line player 29.06.1980 105 205 

44 Zharko Peshevski MKD Line player 11.04.1991 110 195 

2 Mladen Rakcevic MNE Line player 10.02.1982 105 179 

1 Darko Stanic SRB Goalkeeper 08.10.1978 102 191 

19 Mitko Stoilov MKD Back 04.02.1983 107 195 

24 Nikola Stojchevski MKD Back 09.08.1984 83 185 


• Tihomir Doder (H.C. Vardar Pro), 

• Milan Vučičević (Kolubara) 


• Žarko Marković (FA Göppingen), 

• Milan Vučičević (Kolubara), 

• Nikola Stojčevski (Qatar), 

• Jovica Mladenovski(Tinex Prolet) 

20

Key players 

Darko Stanić: 

He got his nickname “minister of defence” during the successful EHF 

EURO 2012, where the Serbian was awarded best goalkeeper of the 

tournament and won the silver medal with his team. Stanić was 

supposed to transfer to Göppingen, but then signed with Skopje, 

where he wants to finish his career. His reflexes and his calmness make 

Stanic of the best current goalkeepers in the world. 

Naumče Mojsovski: 

The Macedonian left back has been making a constant impact for the 

past three years – in the Macedonian national team as well as at 

Metalurg. Besides top star Kiril Lazarov he is the top scorer for the 

Macedonians, for Metalurg he is shooter and playmaker in one 

person. 

Filip Mirkulovski: 

Once Metalurg, always Metalurg is the motto of the Skopje centre 

back, as he goes into his eleventh international season for the 

Macedonian champions. He is also one of the key player in the 

Macedonian national team. 

Coach 

Lino Červar: 

Medals pave his way: Lino Červar was the most successful coach of the 

Croatian men’s national team, becoming Olympic (2004) and world 

champion (2003), and collecting several more medals like two world 

championship silver medals in 2005 and 2009 or EHF EURO silver 

2008 and 2010. Parallel to his work for the Croatian Federation, 

Červar was coach of RK Zagreb for a long period after several other 

jobs for example in Italy. In 2009 he resigned from his position at 

Zagreb and became Metalurg coach – a job he focuses on completely 

since resigning from the Croatian national team in 2010. 

21

Group C matches won draw lost goal-difference points 

1 DEN Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 

2 SLO Gorenje Velenje 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 

3 POL KS Vive Targi Kielce 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 

4 FRA Chambery Savoie Handball 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 

5 RUS St. Petersburg HC 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 

6 MKD HC Metalurg 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0 

MatchID: 201311020102- 

061 SLO Gorenje Velenje vs. RUS St. Petersburg HC 

29.09.2012 20:00 Velenje / SLO 

Ref.: Fleisch, Rieber GER Del.: Sokol CRO 

062 POL KS Vive Targi Kielce vs. DEN Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 

30.09.2012 17:00 Kielce / POL 

Ref.: Marin Lorente, Garcia Serradilla ESP Del.: Van der Helm NED 

063 FRA Chambery Savoie Handball vs. MKD HC Metalurg 

30.09.2012 19:00 Chambery / FRA 

Ref.: Geipel, Helbig GER Del.: Huelin ESP 

065 MKD HC Metalurg vs. SLO Gorenje Velenje 

06.10.2012 18:00 Skopje / MKD 

2012/13 Men's European Cup EHF Champions League 


066 RUS St. Petersburg HC vs. POL KS Vive Targi Kielce 

06.10.2012 19:00 Chekhov / RUS 

064 DEN Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs. FRA Chambery Savoie Handball 

07.10.2012 17:00 Kjellerup / DEN 

068 POL KS Vive Targi Kielce vs. SLO Gorenje Velenje 

13.10.2012 17:00 Kielce / POL 

069 RUS St. Petersburg HC vs. FRA Chambery Savoie Handball 

13.10.2012 19:00 Chekhov / RUS 

067 DEN Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs. MKD HC Metalurg 

14.10.2012 17:00 Kjellerup / DEN 

072 SLO Gorenje Velenje vs. DEN Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 

17.10.2012 20:00 Velenje / SLO 

070 MKD HC Metalurg vs. RUS St. Petersburg HC 

20.10.2012 18:00 Skopje / MKD 

071 FRA Chambery Savoie Handball vs. POL KS Vive Targi Kielce 

21.10.2012 19:00 Chambery / FRA 

22 

EHF Report | 09.24.2012 11:58 | 7/12

075 MKD HC Metalurg vs. POL KS Vive Targi Kielce 

18.11.2012 18:00 Skopje / MKD 



073 FRA Chambery Savoie Handball vs. SLO Gorenje Velenje 

18.11.2012 19:00 Chambery / FRA 

074 RUS St. Petersburg HC vs. DEN Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 

18.11.2012 20:00 Chekhov / RUS 

076 SLO Gorenje Velenje vs. FRA Chambery Savoie Handball 

24.11.2012 16:30 Velenje / SLO 

078 POL KS Vive Targi Kielce vs. MKD HC Metalurg 

24.11.2012 17:00 Kielce / POL 

077 DEN Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs. RUS St. Petersburg HC 

25.11.2012 17:00 Silkeborg / DEN 

081 MKD HC Metalurg vs. FRA Chambery Savoie Handball 

01.12.2012 18:00 Skopje / MKD 

079 RUS St. Petersburg HC vs. SLO Gorenje Velenje 

01.12.2012 19:00 Chekhov / RUS 

080 DEN Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs. POL KS Vive Targi Kielce 

02.12.2012 17:00 Silkeborg / DEN 

083 SLO Gorenje Velenje vs. MKD HC Metalurg 

09.02.2013 16:30 Velenje / SLO 

084 POL KS Vive Targi Kielce vs. RUS St. Petersburg HC 

09.02.2013 17:00 Kielce / POL 

082 FRA Chambery Savoie Handball vs. DEN Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 

10.02.2013 17:00 Chambery / FRA 

086 POL KS Vive Targi Kielce vs. FRA Chambery Savoie Handball 

16.02.2013 17:00 Kielce / POL 

085 RUS St. Petersburg HC vs. MKD HC Metalurg 

16.02.2013 19:00 Chekhov / RUS 

087 DEN Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs. SLO Gorenje Velenje 

17.02.2013 17:00 Silkeborg / DEN 

23 

EHF Report | 09.24.2012 11:58 | 8/12

089 SLO Gorenje Velenje vs. POL KS Vive Targi Kielce 

23.02.2013 16:30 Velenje / SLO 



088 MKD HC Metalurg vs. DEN Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 

24.02.2013 17:00 Skopje / MKD 

090 FRA Chambery Savoie Handball vs. RUS St. Petersburg HC 

24.02.2013 19:00 Chambery / FRA 

24 

EHF Report | 09.24.2012 11:58 | 9/12

Title sponsor 

Premium sponsors 

Regional 

Premium sponsors 

Partners

Part 4 - Group C - European Handball Federation

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?