Macedonian duel without uncertainty

Македонски дуел без неизвесност

Vardar

Macedonian SEHA Gazprom league duel between Vardar and Maks Strumica is not covered with uncertainty with Vardar being clear favorites.

Vardar is currently fifth on the table, but with ambitions to climb much higher, and Maks Strumica so far have just two points and are still winless. This makes the game more than clear considering current form of the teams and players’ performances.

Although a series of three consecutive defeats in recent matches, this is for Vardar the game which should restore confidence winning points and to returning to the top of the table in SEHA Gazprom League.

Maks Strumica will enter the match weakened for three players: Dejan Pecakovski, Jovica Mladenovski and Mirko Majič who left the club. Anyway "thin bench" of Strumica will now be even more challenging for coach Marjan Andonov to find a way to compete against Macedonian’s best.

Raul Gonzalez , Vardar’s coach:

"We need to win three points, because at the moment we are on the 5th place and if we want to qualify to SEHA Gazprom F4 tournament we have to win. In fact, we have many injured players and we still do not know who will play against Strumica, but this afternoon we have training and we will check the situation with our injuries. For us it is very important to play well, because against Kielce in EHF Champions League game our attack wasn’t as we wanted and tomorrow it must be corrected. We have to play serious game and give our maximum in this match.

Mijajlo Marsenić, Vardar’s player:

Tomorrow’ game against Strumica comes after three defeats in the EHF Champions League. We have to use this SEHA Gazprom game like preparation before another match in the Champions League against Kolding. We have to use it as an opportunity to gain back our self-confidence, which was little bit distorted in this period. Therefore we have to play well and win before the match against Kolding.

Marjan Andonov, Maks Strumica’s coach:

Vardar are absolute favorites especially considering our roster problems which we’re expecting to end soon. We have to try to adopt some new players into the system by February. Once again, Vardar are clear favorites.

Zlatko Vezenkovski, Maks Strumica’s player:

We know that Vardar is strong team which competes in EHF Champions League and is fighting for the first place in the group. We are weakened, without classic left back and shooters. We’ll play without pressure, we will do our best, and nothing more to expect from this game. Only thing we can get is experience.