This is the season in which Eurofarm Pelister should achieve the greatest success - concluded club president Zoran Sterjev before the start of the season, and a few weeks later first results arrived. Firstly the team triumphed for the 13th time at the international tournament in Struga, and a few days later it achieved an even greater success booking a ticket for SEHA - Gazprom League Final 4 for the first time after a dramatic quarter-final encounter versus Meshkov Brest.
 
The team that appears to be a well-balanced mix of experienced internationals and young players is also the biggest favorite for the national championship title in North Macedonia. Bitola is back on the handball scene and it looks like it is there to stay.
 
Eurofarm Pelister went through a major reconstruction this summer with coach Zeljko Babic as well as players Marton Szekely, Rainier Taboada, Nemanja Obradovic, Stipe Mandalinic, Josip Peric, Mateo Maras, Josip Bozic Pavletic, Elmir Gradjan and Nikola Markoski all leaving Bitola. The club managed to sign multiple experienced internationals during the summer transfer window as well as Danish coach Lars Walter (56), former coach of Azoty Pulavy, Kadetten Schaffhausen, Wisla Plock, Baia Mare, Gorenje, Esbjerg etc.
 
Between posts, Eurofarm Pelister managed to bring in a player from German Bundesliga – Slovenian international Urban Lesjak who arrived from Hannover and immediately proved himself by winning the ‘best goalkeeper’ award in the tournament in Struga. Lesjak will share goalkeeping minutes with young Marko Kizic. On the far left, young Cvetan Kuzmanovski was promoted from the B-team joining Goce Ojleski and Bojan Madjoski. Back line is looking stacked with Tunisian national team player Mohamed Soussi, French international Rudy Seri, young and talented Emilian Gjorgovski, Milorad Kukoski who is in charge of defence, home player Mario Tankovski, Portuguese Wilson Davayes, and Pavle Atanasievic. On the right, they have Martin Velkovski and newly-acquired Ousamma Hosni. Mirko Radovic, Eurofarm’s newly-promoted captain is mainly taking care of the right wing duties although he occasionally helps on the right back position. Joining him on the far right are Nenad Kosteski and Nikola Stoileski. Line players are Zarko Peshevski and Russian international Denis Vasilev. With two of them, line duties should be in good hands as Peshevski already won the MVP award in the tournament in Struga.
 
Apart from national competitions and SEHA - Gazprom League, Eurofarm also has a place in the EHF European League group stage which starts in October.

Photo credit: kolektiffimages