Metalurg's back player, Filip Mirkulovski got award '13 November' as the best athlete in Skopje for 2013. His coach, Lino Cervar was voted for best coach according to the popular TV magazine 'Backstage' .

Last years players from Metalurg and Vardar have constantly been receiving awards for best athletes in Skopje, and the last two months of the year are traditionally reserved for this election.

Macedonian national team player played at World Championships in Spain in January, came to EHF CL's quarter-finals with Metalurg, and has in June celebrated placement for the upcoming EHF EURO 2014 in Denmark in January 2014.

At the moment, he is injured, and probably will not play on the first derby Metalurg - Vardar on Thursday (November 14.) in group phase of EHF Champions League, but should be ready to fight in a second match on November 24.

 

Speaking of the Macedonian CL derby, it will be first time in history that two teams from one country are playing each other in group phase of EHF Champions League. Metalurg and Vardar will become that history. Two of the best clubs in SEHA GSS league have chance to continue to Last 16.

In the past duels between Metalurg - Vardar were big just speaking of Skopje and now it has advanced to Balkan and in the end whole Europe. They will meet each other on Thursday (20:00 in Boris Trajkovski hall) in the first of two matches in EHF  CL's group C, that can decide which team will be closer to the next, Last 16 phase.

- On derby games like this one motivation is usually important just like some good moves and it all in the end comes to one or two goals. I expect goalkeepers' saves to be decisive or some individuals performances. This match will be very different than the one in September in SEHA league. Now everyone is aware of what this game brings, said Andon Boskovski, coach of Vardar.

Metalurg sees this as a duel of two rivals, not enemies.

- In sports hall we expect rival, not an enemy. I see Vardar as a rival.We had them as our rivals in the championship, in SEHA, and now in EHF Champions League. I appreciate and respect Vardar and all their efforts to make a mega club, said Lino Cervar, Metalurg's coach.

Due to problems with players injuries before the match coach Lino Cervar is specially considering which players will be put on the squad list and whether it's necessary to risk some bigger injuries by putting some players in. It is certain that Filip Mirkulovski will not be in team because he is still injured, Nikola Markoski who has measles and Peter Topic which is exempt from the club. Uncertain is also Pavel Atman because of a hematom on his muscle because of which he was on therapy in Slovenia, together with Velko Markoski and Ace Jonoski.

 

The only problem for Vardar is Alex Dushebaev's injury  He was spared in recent weeks but medical team hopes that he will be able to play on Thursday night.