New faces for a new era in Vojvodina
Vojvodina - Nova lica za novu eru
Serbian champions Vojvodina from Novi Sad will open the new chapter of club’s history in the upcoming season with the new head-coach, some new faces in the roster, but most important - with playing in VELUX EHF Champions League for the first time as well as in SEHA GAZPROM League. European Handball Federation has decided to award Vojvodina's performance in EHF Cup last season by giving them a direct place in Europe's best club competition this season.
The biggest change in the Serbian team is linked with the position of a head-coach. Đorđe Ćirković left the club after two successful seasons in which Vojvodina has managed to reach two domestic titles as well as their first triple crown (League, Cup and Super Cup), in season 2014/2015. Čirkovuć will from the next season coach Romanian Constanta. Nikola Marković, former coach of Red Star Belgrade, Konjuh Živinice, Železničar Niš and Jugović Kać will try to replace Čirković in the best possible way this season. Marković also leads Serbian U19 national team which will compete on WCh in Russia meaning that Vojvodina will be without head-coach in the first part of preparations for the new season.
Two biggest names which have decided to part company with the team from Novi Sad are goalkeeper Miroslav Kocić (Besiktas MOGAZ) and left back Uroš Elezović (Lehwiya, Qatar), both members of Serbian NT, while Montenegrin NT line-player Vuk Lazović signed contract with German TUS Lubbecke.
The biggest signing is Russian defensive giant Aleksey Rastvorcev, who can also be useful in attack on left back position. Reinforcements are also pivot Goran Trkulja who spent last season in Spanish Bidasoa, 207 cm high left back Milan Vučković (from Požarevac) and former member of Radnički Kragujevac - right wing Aleksandar Gugleta.
Darko Jevtić, Vojvodina's director:
- I am much more satisfied than in the same period last year. I can without doubt say that we now have a much better team than we did last season. We've signed players who can play on the central position - 3 and 4, in defensive system. We have longer bench now and more solutions in attack. Even if we don’t sign any other player before the start of the season, I am pleased with what we have done.
Vojvodina will try to find the right form before the official start of the season on tournaments in Belgrade (Marinko Kelečević memorial, August 15/16) and in Doboj.
The first match of the season is reserved for SEHA GAZPROM League's Round 1 and Serbian derby - Vojvodina versus Spartak Vojput.