Media Guide VELUX EHF Champions League Season 2014/15 Qualification

Transcription

1 Media Guide VELUX EHF Champions League Season 2014/15 Qualification

2 Table of contents Foreword 3 Media Contacts 4 Playing system diagram - stages and dates 5 Season Overview 6 Draw results overview - who qualifies to which group 7 Qualification Tournament 1 8 HC Brest Meshkov 9 HC Vojvodina 12 Tatran Presov 14 Targos HC Bevo 17 Qualification Tournament 2 19 HC Motor Zaporozhye 20 FC Porto 23 Alpla HC Hard 26 Junior Fasano 29 Qualification Tournament 3 31 HCM Constanta 32 Haslum HK 35 Besiktas MOGAZ HT 37 Hubo Initia Hasselt 39 Important regulations - extra-time and penalty throws 42 Past winners 43 2

3 Foreword Welcome to the qualification of the VELUX EHF Champions League 2013/14 On the first weekend of September 2014, the 12 matches that will determine the final fixtures of the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League will be played in venues across Europe. These qualification tournaments are the last challenge standing between twelve teams and the remaining three places in the group phase. With no wildcard tournament, there is much excitement surrounding the three events organised in a semi-final format. For the teams, there is only one objective and that is to be in first place at the end of the Qualification Tournament; it is all or nothing. Playing for the final spot in Group A, HC Meshkov Brest of Belarus is back in the EHF Champions League for the first time in six years. The players from HC Vojvodina of Serbia are hoping that it will be third time lucky as they return to the qualification. The Slovakian titans, TATRAN Presov, are the veterans of this group with this season marking their 11th participation in the competition. Finally, to this group, we welcome VELUX EHF Champions League newcomers, Targos Bevo HV from the Netherlands. Group D awaits the winner of the second qualification tournament. HC Motor Zaporozhye from Ukraine was drawn into Group 2 on the top spot; this is the second Champions League appearance for the team having reached the Last 16 in the previous season. Having made it to the Group Phase of the competition last season, the players of Futebol Clube de Porto from Portugal hope to extend their stay in the competition once again. It has been many years since the Austrians from Alpla HC Hard felt the demands of the group phase, but they are back and ready for the challenge. The second, and final, debutant of the EHF Champions League is the team of Junior Fasano of Italy. The third and final qualification tournament has a place reserved for the winner in Group B in the next stage of the VELUX EHF Champions League. All the teams in qualification group three have varying levels of Champions League experience. There is the veteran, HCM Constanta of Romania who made it to the Last 16 of the competition in the previous season. Haslum Handballklubb of Norway enters the qualification stage for the third time. Besiktas from Turkey are, once again, hoping to make it past the qualification stage, and team Hubo Initia Hasselt (BEL) are back in the EHF Champions League after a fifteen year hiatus. There are exciting matches ahead for all. To the fans, I welcome you all to the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League Qualification Tournaments; to the teams, I wish you all the very best of luck! Jean Brihault EHF President 3

4 EHF/M Media contacts Media matters Vlado Brindzak Media and Communications European Handball Federation brindzak@eurohandball.com TV and Radio Miguel Mateo Marcellán Media Manager EHF Marketing GmbH mateo@ehfmarketing.com Clubs Media contacts GROUP 1 HC Meshkov Brest (BLR) Alexandr Kulbaka office@bgk-meshkova.com RK Vojvodina (SRB) Nemanja Protic nemanjapro@gmail.com Tatran Presov (SVK) Branko Benko manager@tatranpresov.sk Targos Bevo HC (NED) Inne Linssen i.linssen@planet.nl GROUP 2 HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) Dmitriy Karpushchenko hkmotor@yandex.ru FC Porto (POR) Joana Moreira joana.moreira@fcporto.pt Alpla HC Hard (AUT) Dominik Faigle dominik.faigle@hchard.at Junior Fasano (ITA) Francesco Ancona anconaf14@gmail.com GROUP 3 HCM Constanta (ROU) Ali Nurhan hcmconstanta@yahoo.com Haslum HK (NOR) Knut Guldbrandsen knut@byggfornyelse.no Besiktas JK (TUR) Berk Karahan berk.karahan@bjk.com.tr Initia Hasselt (BEL) Frank Van Roost fvanroost@hotmail.com 4

5 VELUX EHF Champions League 2014/15 playing system Qualification Tournaments Group Phase Last 16 Quarter-finals FINAL4 4 vs. 1 vs. vs. 3 vs. 2 vs. vs. 2 vs. 1 vs. vs. Semi-finals vs. vs. 3 rd Place Match vs. vs. vs. vs. Home Matches 5 Total Matches Final vs. Season 2014/15 playing dates Qualification Tournaments Group Phase Last 16 Quarter-finals FINAL4 12 teams 4 groups with 6 teams each 16 teams 8 teams 4 teams 3 tournaments with semi-finals and finals first leg second leg first leg second leg /

6 VELUX EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2014/15 Qualification Tournaments Group Phase Last 16 Quarterfinals FINAL4 4 groups with 6 teams 16 teams 8 teams 4 teams (1) 06./ (2) / tournaments (3) first leg first leg tournament (4) NATION (5) played in semi finals and finals 1 GER 1 THW Kiel 2 ESP 1 FC Barcelona 3 HUN 1 MKB MVM Veszprem 4 POL 1 KS VIVE Targi Kielce 5 DEN 1 KIF Kolding 6 MKD 1 HC Metalurg 7 SLO 1 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 8 FRA 1 Dunkerque Grand Littoral 9 CRO 1 RK Zagreb 10 RUS 1 Chekhovskie Medvedi 11 SUI 1 Kadetten Schaffhausen 12 SWE 1 Alingsas HK 13 GER 2 Rhein Neckar Löwen 14 ESP 2 Naturhouse La Rioja 15 HUN 2 Pick Szeged 16 POL 2 Orlen Wisla Plock S.A. 17 GER 3 SG Flensburg Handewitt 18 DEN 2 Aalborg Handbold 19 MKD 2 HC Vardar 20 FRA 2 PSG HB 21 FRA 3 Montpellier AH 22 UKR 1 HC Motor Zaporozhye 23 BLR 1 HC Meshkov Brest 24 ROU 1 HCM Constanta 25 SRB 1 RK Vojvodina 26 POR 1 FC Porto 27 NOR 1 Haslum HK 28 SVK 1 Tatran Presov 29 AUT 1 Alpla HC Hard 30 TUR 1 Besiktas JK 31 NED 1 Targos Bevo HC 32 BEL 1 Initia Hasselt 33 ITA 1 Junior Fasano 3 groups with 4 teams 4th placed teams of CL Qualification Tournaments go to the EHF Cup Qualification Rd 2, 2nd and 3rd placed teams of CL Qualification Tornaments go to the EHF Cup Qualification Rd (6) (7) (8) (9) second leg second leg (10) DRAWS: 26 June 2014 in Vienna 27 June 2014 in Vienna 24 February March April 2015 Winners of the 3 Qualification tournaments 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed team from each group 8 Winners of VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 4 Winners of VELUX EHF Champions League Quarterfinals status:

7 Draw results overview - who qualifies to which group QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENTS Group 1 Brest Meshkov (BLR) vs Targos Bevo HC (NED) HC Vojvodina Novi Sad (SRB) vs Tatran Presov (SVK) GROUP PHASE Group A THW Kiel (GER) HC Metalurg (MKD) HC First Gas Company Zagreb (CRO) Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP) PSG HB (FRA) Winner Qualification Group 1 Group 3 HCM Constanta (ROU) vs Hubo Initia Hasselt (BEL) Haslum HK (NOR) vs Besiktas JK (TUR) Group B FC Barcelona (ESP) KIF Kolding (DEN) Alingsas HK (SWE) Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) Winner Qualification Group 3 Group C MKB-MVM Veszprem (HUN) RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko (SLO) Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) HC Vardar (MKD) Montpellier AH (FRA) Group 2 HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) vs Junior Fasano (ITA) FC Porto (POR) vs Alpla HC Hard (AUT) Group D KS Vive Targi Kielce (POL) Dunkerque Grand Littoral (FRA) Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI) Pick Szeged (HUN) Aalborg Handbold (DEN) Winner Qualification Group 2 7

8 Qualification Tournament 1 Brest, Belarus Qualification Tournament 1 HC Meshkov Brest (BLR) Targos Bevo HC (NED) HC Vojvodina (SRB Tatran Presov (SVK) Group A THW Kiel (GER) HC Metalurg (MKD) HC First Gas Company Zagreb (CRO) Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP) Paris Saint-Germain Handball (FRA) 1./1 QT 2nd ranked team - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 3 3rd ranked team - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 3 4th ranked team - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 2 vs Winner HV KRAS Volendam (NED)/HK Topolcany (SVK) Match schedule (all times local) Saturday, 6 September 2014: Semi-finals 1 16:00 HC Vojvodina vs TATRAN Presov 2 18:30 HC Meshkov Brest vs Targos Bevo HC Sunday, 7 September 2014: Third place match 16:00 Loser Semi-final 1 vs Loser Semi-final 2 Final 18:30 Winner Semi-final 1 vs Winner Semi-final 2 Playing hall Sportshall Victoria Leningradskaya Brest Belarus Capacity: 3,500 Preview: The national champions of Belarus, Serbia, Slovakia and the Netherlands meet in the Sportshall Victoria of Brest, Belarus this weekend in Qualification Group 1 for one ticket to the VELUX EHF Champions League group phase. They are all national champions of their respective nations. Hosts HC Breskov Minsk from Belarus, HC Vojvodina from Serbia, TATRAN Presov from Slovakia and Dutch Targos Bevo HC. However, only of the four teams will make it into the Group phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League, while the rest of them continue in the EHF Cup. The champions of Serbia and Slovakia will be the first teams to take the court of the Sportshall Victoria in possession Saturday. Both were also in the Champions League qualifiers last year, but both failed to qualify. Having been in the EHF Cup group phase for the last two seasons, TATRAN will be eager to change that into a comeback to the Champions League group phase, where their latest appearance was in the season, when they finished last in Group B. Having failed to qualify for the Champions League three years in a row will have sharpened the appetite for something better by the Slovakian title holders. Last season Belarus was represented in the Champions League by Dinamo Minsk who did not make it any further than the group phase, though. This year it is Meshkov Brest s turn to defend the honour of Belarusian club handball on European top level. While Brest have not been in the Champions League since the season when the ended a series of four successive years in the group phase their adversaries Targos Bevo have never been in the Champions League before. So far, the Dutch champions have been any further in Europe than Round 2 of the EHF Cup and the Cup Winners Cup, and head coach Martin Vlijm is of course well aware of the challenge that awaits his team. We will have to be at our peak all the time. Every game is a final, and what we are going to do the entire season will be decided within this one weekend, he said. 8

9 GROUP 1 HC Meshkov Brest (BLR) With the withdrawal of Dinamo Minsk, the team that dominated Belarusian handball in the last five seasons, from the league due to financial problems, left the title race wide open. Before Dinamo Minsk s domination, Meshkov Brest held first position for a number of years and after six years the national championship trophy is back in Brest. Meshkov Brest were in fine form throughout the season and justified their role as favourite going into the finals by beating SKA Minsk 28:26 and 27:22 to take the title, their sixth overall. Past achievements Playing hall Sportshall Victoria Leningradskaya Brest Belarus Capacity: 3,500 Club Address: HC Meshkov Brest Leningradskaya Brest Belarus office@bgk-meshkova.com VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 6 Group Matches (4): 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08 Qualification (1): 2008/09 Other Cup Winners Cup: quarter-final 2011/12 Belarusian league: 6 titles ( , 2014) Belarusian cup: 7 titles Media Contact: Alexandr Kulbaka office@bgk-meshkova.com Online information: Website: Facebook: bgkmeshkova Twitter: bgk_meshkova Kit colours Light Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: yellow Dark Player shirt: red Player short: red Goalkeeper shirt: green/black 9

10 HC Meshkov Brest (BLR) Biggest win: 28:22 (11:12) v Wisla Plock SSA POL (h), :24 (15:12) v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH (h), Biggest defeat: 36:17 (16:08) v GOG Gudme DEN (a), Longest winning run: 1 match ( ) 1 match ( ) 1 match ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 1 match ( ) 1 match ( ) 1 match ( ) Longest losing run: 10 matches ( ) 10 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 10 matches ( ) 10 matches ( ) Most goals: 31 v RK Gorenje Velenje SLO 31:29W (h), v THW Kiel GER 31:37L (h), Most goals opponent: 39 v BM Ciudad Real ESP 39:29L (a), Most goals both teams: 68 v THW Kiel GER 31:37L (h), v BM Ciudad Real ESP 39:29L (a), Fewest goals: 17 v GOG Gudme DEN 36:17L (a), v RK Gorenje Velenje SLO 27:17L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 22 v Wisla Plock SSA POL 28:22W (h), Fewest goals both teams: 44 v RK Gorenje Velenje SLO 27:17L (a), VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 2004/05 Brestskiy HC Meshkovo BLR : th Gr. C 2005/06 Brest HC Meshkov BLR : th Gr. E 2006/07 Brest HC Meshkov BLR : th Gr. B 2007/08 HC Meshkov Brest BLR : th Gr. H Total :

11 HC Meshkov Brest (BLR) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight 90 Aleh Astrashapkin BLR Right Back Maxim Babichev BLR Line Player Maksim Baranau BLR Right Wing Janko Bozovic AUT Right Back Vitali Charapenka BLR Goalkeeper Dzmitry Kamyshyk BLR Left Back Ivan Karacic BIH Centre Back Nikola Manojlovic SRB Left Back Dzmitry Nikulenkau BLR Centre Back Dzmitry Patotski BLR Goalkeeper Ivan Pesic CRO Goalkeeper Simon Razgor SLO Left Wing Dzianis Rutenka BLR Right Wing Viachaslau Shumak BLR Line Player Siarhei Shylovich BLR Right Back David Spiler SLO Centre Back Rastko Stojkovic SRB Line Player Ljubo Vukic CRO Left Wing

12 GROUP 1 RK Vojvodina (SRB) The defending champions were given a run for their money in the Serbian Super Handball League play-offs from the likes of Radnički Kragujevac and the Challenge Cup finalists RK Metaloplastika Šabac. RK Vojvodina secured the all-important win in the dying minutes of their last play-off match, defeating Crvena Zvezda 33:30 in Novi Sad to lift the coveted trophy. Despite finishing top of the league on two occasions, in 2005 and 2013, the now three-time champions RK Vojvodina are yet to make their VELUX EHF Champions League debut, after failing short of securing a place in the group phase of the competition in all their previous attempts. Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participation (including 2014/15 season): 3 Qualification (2): 2005/06, 2013/14 Playing hall Sportska Hala Slana Bara Sentandrejski put 106, Novi Sad, Serbia Capacity: 1,400 Other Cup Winners Cup: Last /12 Serbian league: 3 titles (2005, 2013, 2014) Serbian cup: 3 titles Club Address: RK Vojvodina Sentandrejski put 106B Novi Sad Serbia Media contact: Nemanja Protic Tel: nemanjapro@gmail.com Online information: Website: Facebook: RK Vojvodina Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: red Goalkeeper shirt: blue Dark Player shirt: white Player short: red Goalkeeper shirt: blue 12

13 RK Vojvodina (SRB) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight 1 Luka Arsenic SRB Goalkeeper Nikola Arsenic SRB Centre Back Danimir Curkovic SRB Back Uros Elezovic SRB Left Back Mladen Ivanovic SRB Right Wing Milan Jovanovic SRB Left Back Radoslav Loncarski SRB Back Zoran Nikolic SRB Line Player Bojan Perovic SRB Goalkeeper Stefan Ranisavljevic SRB Right Back Strahinja Stankovic SRB Right Wing Neven Stjepanovic BIH Right Back Bojan Todorovic SRB Centre Back Vladislav Veselinov BIH Line Player

14 GROUP 1 Tatran Presov (SVK) It was another busy season for Tatran Presov as the perennial champions of Slovakia fought on multiple fronts, playing the domestic Extraliga, the Slovakian Cup and the regional SEHA league, where they won the regular season only to finish fourth at the final tournament. After missing the VELUX EHF Champions League for the second straight year they also did not qualify for the EHF Cup Quarter-finals so the only remedy for the ambitious club from eastern Slovakia were the eleventh cup trophy and the tenth national championship title with an untarnished record of 36 league victories. Even without their coach Peter Hatalcik, who missed the final part of the season due to a serious injury in a biking accident, they prevailed over the surprising finalist HK Topolcany 3:0 in the best-of-five series. Right after the season s end Hatalcik, whose injury requires a lengthy recovery period, was replaced by the former national team coach Peter David. Past achievements Playing hall City Hall Presov Jana Pavla II Presov Slovakia Capacity: 3,500 Club Address: TATRAN Presov Holleho Presov Slovakia Media contact: Branko Benko manager@tatranpresov.sk VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 11 Last 16 (1): 2004/05 Last 32 (1): 1993/94 Group Matches (4): 2005/06, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2010/11 Qualification (4): 2009/10, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14 Other EHF Cup Quarter-final 2011/12, Last /95, 1995/96, Group Phase 2012/13, Round /10, Round /07 Cup Winners Cup Quarter-final 205/06, Last /08, 2008/09, Round /03 Slovak league: 10 titles (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) Slovak cup: 11 titles Online information: Facebook: TatranPresovHandballTeamSlovakia Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: green Dark Player shirt: green Player short: green Goalkeeper shirt: black 14

15 Tatran Presov (SVK) Biggest win 37:24 (17:11) v RK Metkovic CRO (h), Biggest defeat: 42:25 (22:12) v MKB Veszprém KC HUN (a), Longest winning run: 2 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 2 matches ( ) 2 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 7 matches ( ) 7 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 12 matches ( ) Most goals: 37 v RK Metkovic CRO 37:24W (h), Most goals opponent: 42 v MKB Veszprém KC HUN 42:25L (a), v GOG Svendborg TGI Gudme DEN 42:32L (a), Most goals both teams: 74 v GOG Svendborg TGI Gudme DEN 42:32L (a), Fewest goals: 20 v HSV Hamburg GER 32:20L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 18 v RK Metkovic CRO 18:29W (a), Fewest goals both teams: 47 v RK Metkovic CRO 18:29W (a), v HC Banik Karvina CZE 22:25L (h), VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 2004/05 Tatran Presov SVK : /8-finals 2005/06 Tatran Presov SVK : rd Gr. F 2007/08 Tatran Presov SVK : rd Gr. D 2008/09 Tatran Presov SVK : rd Gr. D 2010/11 TATRAN Presov SVK : th Gr. B Total :

16 Tatran Presov (SVK) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight 28 Radoslav Antl SVK Left Wing Tomas Cip CZE Right Wing Vasja Furlan SLO Centre Back Jakub Hrstka CZE Left Wing Michal Kopco SVK Line Player Dainis Kristopans LAT Right Back Dominik Krok SVK Left Back Jakub Krupa CZE Goalkeeper Radovan Pekar SVK Left Back Andrej Petro SVK Line Player Oliver Rabek SVK Left Back Alexandr Radcenko CZE Centre Back Viacheslav Sadovyi UKR Left Back Lubos Sarpataky SVK Right Wing Milos Sarpataky SVK Centre Back Juraj Urban SVK Left Back Lukas Urban SVK Centre Back Tomas Urban SVK Right Wing Svetislav Verkic SRB Goalkeeper Matej Vernarsky SVK Goalkeeper Richard Wilga SVK Left Wing

17 GROUP 1 Targos Bevo HC (NED) bevo hc After three thrilling games in the final against OCI/LIONS, Eurotech/Bevo HC celebrated their first Dutch championship. In the Netherlands, the championship finals are played best of three, and this year all three matches were decided by a margin of only one goal and in all three matches the away team was triumphant. Bevo won the first match 22:21, then it was the LIONS turn to win by one, 27:26, and finally, Bevo took the last and deciding win away in Sittard. Having been up by five goals during the match, Bevo won 29:28 and became Dutch champions for the first time. Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 1 Playing hall* Topsporthal Fitland XL Sittard Netherlands Capacity: 2,200 *to be confirmed Other EHF Cup: round /06 Cup Winners Cup: round /08 Dutch league: 1 title (2014) Club Address: Targos Bevo HC Alexanderstraat AB Panningen Netherlands Media contact: Inne Linssen i.linssen@planet.nl Online information: Website: Facebook: bevohandball Kit colours Light Player shirt: yellow Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: orange Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: black 17

18 Targos Bevo HC (NED) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight 8 Pim Augustinus NED Right Back Sonni de Jonge NED Right Back Nick de Kuyper NED Back Max de Lange NED Left Back Merijn Haenen NED Right Wing Robin Jansen NED Left Back Ephrahim Jerry NED Left Back Niek Jordens NED Line Player Ron Klemann NED Back Bram Knippenbergh NED Back Dario Polman NED Centre Back Bart Ravensbergen NED Goalkeeper Robin Smits NED Left Back Karim Tamim SUI Line Player Thijs van de Mortel NED Goalkeeper Jeroen van den Beucken NED Left Wing Mark van den Beucken NED Goalkeeper Nick van den Beucken NED Left Back Bram van Grunsven NED Goalkeeper Daan Versleeuwen NED Right Back Dennis Vlijm NED Left Wing Eelco Weevers NED Right Wing

19 Qualification Tournament 2 Qualification Tournament 2 HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) Junior Fasano (ITA) Futebol Clube do Porto (POR) Alpla HC Hard (AUT) Hard, Austria Group D KS Vive Targi Kielce (POL) Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral (FRA) Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI) MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN) Aalborg Handball (DEN) 1./2 QT 2nd ranked team - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 3 3rd ranked team - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 3 4th ranked team - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 2 vs Winner Maccabi CASTRO Tel Aviv (ISR)/HC Potaissa Tudra (ROU) Match schedule (all times local) Friday, 5 September 2014: Semi-finals :00 HC Motor Zaporozhye vs Junior Fasano :30 Futebol Clube do Porto vs Alpla HC Hard Saturday, 6 September 2014: Third place match 17:00 Loser Semi-final 1 vs Loser Semi-final 2 Final 19:30 Winner Semi-final 1 vs Winner Semi-final 2 Playing hall Sporthalle am See See Straße 60, 6971 Hard, Austria Capacity: 2,300 Head-to-heads in the EC: Zaporozhye vs Hard EHF Cup Last 32 27:26 (12:14) Hard vs Zaporozhye EHF Cup - Last 32 22:33 (09:17) Hard vs Junior Fasano Cup Winners Cup Round 2 34:26 (18:08) Junior Fasano vs Hard Cup Winners Cup Round 2 22:34 (10:16) Preview: The 2014/15 seasons of the VELUX EHF Champions League throws off on Friday with Qualification Group 2 semi-finals in Hard, Austria.At 17:00 hrs. on Friday evening, the first ball will be thrown in the new VELUX EHF Champions League season. It marks the time Qualification Group 2 throws off at Sporthalle am See in Hard with Austrian champions Alpla HC as hosts to the finest clubs from Portugal, Ukraine and Italy. These clubs are HC Motor Zaporozhye, Last 16 participants in the competition last season, Futebol Clube do Porto from Portugal, group phase participants last year, and finally Italian Junior Fasano, whose finest European result thus far is reaching Round 2 of the Cup Winners Cup in the 2008/09 season. Only the winner among the four teams will reach the group phase and can look forward to playing in Group D. Here, the opponents will be Polish champions KS Vive Targi Kielce, French champions Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral, as well Swiss title holders Kadetten Schaffhausen, plus two runners-up from their national leagues last season: Hungarian side Pick Szeged and Denmark s Aalborg Handball. For Motor Zaporozhye, this match will be the start of the Ukrainian champions attempt to emulate the success of last season s Champions League campaign. Back then, the Zappers reached the Last 16 from a fourth place finish in Group A. Having made it that far, though, the Ukrainian team could not do much against THW Kiel in the knock-out phase, as the Germans took both matches comfortably. Having more European experience and a number of internationals in their team, Motor should be favourites against Junior Fasano who are making their first attempt to qualify for the Champions League with a team consisting entirely of Italian players, with one exception in the form of Montenegrin left back Zelijko Beharevic. Last year Porto were also in the qualification tournament for the group phase and were highly successful, as the Portuguese champions managed to win the tournament and qualify for the group phase, where they finished fifth in Group B. With a taste of the big time, Porto are keen on repeating that achievement this weekend. First up will be the hosts Alpla HC Hard, who are expecting a tough weekend. 19

20 GROUP 2 HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) While in the previous season the champion of Ukraine was decided with two play-off final matches, in which Motor won 2:0 against ZTR Zaporozhye, this season the championship had a straight home and away playing format, without play-offs. In the best Ukrainian league six teams competed for the title and this season turned out to be the most successful for Motor as the team showed their domination by winning all twenty matches in the championship and successfully defended their title which is the second in the club s history. The league win granted them a place in the qualification round of the VELUX EHF Champions League, where they hope to emulate last season s Last 16 appearance. HC Portovik finished in the second position while the most successful Ukrainian team ZTR Zaporozye took bronze. Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 2 Last 16: 2013/14 Playing hall Palace of Sports Sportivna Plasha 1 Kiev Ukraine Capacity: 6,897 Other EHF Cup: Group Phase 2012/13 Cup Winners Cup: Quarter-finals 2011/12 Ukrainian league: 2 titles (2013, 2014) Ukrainian cup: 1 title Club Address: HC Motor Zaporozhye Ivanova Str Zaporozhye Ukraine Media contact: Dmitriy Karpushchenko hkmotor@yandex.ru Online information: Website: Facebook: HC-Motor Kit colours Light Player shirt: white/red Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: yellow/black Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: red/black 20

21 HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) Biggest win 18:24 (10:14) v St. Petersburg HC RUS (a), Biggest defeat: 44:27 (20:13) v MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN (a), Longest winning run: 2 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 2 matches ( ) 2 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 3 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 3 matches ( ) Most goals: 31 v Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER 31:31D (a), v HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO 31:30W (h), Most goals opponent: 44 v MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN 44:27L (a), Most goals both teams: 71 v MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN 44:27L (a), Fewest goals: 24 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 18:24W (a), Fewest goals opponent: 18 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 18:24W (a), Fewest goals both teams: 42 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 18:24W (a), VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 2013/14 HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR : /8-finals Total :

22 HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight 13 Inal Aflitulin RUS Centre Back Sergii Burka UKR Left Back Vladyslav Dontsov UKR Right Back Dmytro Doroshchuk UKR Line Player Egor Evdokimov RUS Line Player Valentyn Koshovy UKR Goalkeeper Artem Kozakevych UKR Right Wing Iurii Kubatko UKR Right Wing Kostyantyn Kurylenko UKR Left Back Sergiy Onufryienko UKR Right Back Angel Perez de Inestrosa ESP Centre Back Yevgen Sapun UKR Goalkeeper Olexandr Shevelev UKR Line Player Oleg Skopintsev RUS Left Wing Mykola Stetsyura UKR Right Back Richard Stochl SVK Goalkeeper Aliaksandr Tsitou BLR Line Player Ievgen Zhuk UKR Left Wing Stanislav Zhukov UKR Left Back

23 GROUP 2 FC Porto Vitalis (POR) FC Porto kept the national title in their grasp, but with only a one-point advantage over Lisbon it was a close call. In fact, you could almost say that Lisbon shot themselves in the foot when, two days from the end of the league, they managed to let a two-goal lead slip in the dying seconds against Porto and drew the game 28:28. Porto saw an open road to the title in front of him and thanks to a 25:19 win at home against Benfica took title number 19 in the club s history, which is a national record. Past achievements Playing hall Dragao Caixa Via Futebol Clube do Porto, Porto, Portugal Capacity: 2,225 Club Address: FC Porto Vitalis Estadio do Dragao vi FC Porto Entrada Poente, Piso Porto Portugal VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 8 Last 16 (1): 1999/2000 Group Phase (1): 2013/14 Qualification (5): 2004/2005, 2009/2010, 2010/2011, 2011/2012, 2012/2013 Other Cup Winners Cup: Quarter-finals 2000/2001, 2001/2002 Portuguese league: 18 titles (1954, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) Portuguese cup: 7 titles Media contact: Joana Moreira Tel: joana.moreira@fcporto.pt Online information: Website: Facebook: FC-Porto Kit colours Light Player shirt: white/blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: grey/blue Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: Dark blue Goalkeeper shirt: grey/blue 23

24 FC Porto Vitalis (POR) Biggest win 27:24 (15:11) v KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN (h), Biggest defeat: 35:23 (16:13) v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL (a), Longest winning run: 1 match ( ) 1 match ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 1 match ( ) 1 match ( ) 1 match ( ) Longest losing run: 3 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 3 matches ( ) 3 matches ( ) Most goals: 30 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 30:35L (h), Most goals opponent: 35 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 30:35L (h), Most goals both teams: 65 v KS Vive Targi Kielce POL 30:35L (h), Fewest goals: 20 v KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN 25:20L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 21 v Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral FRA 22:21W (h), Fewest goals both teams: 43 v Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral FRA 22:21W (h), VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 2013/14 FC Porto Vitalis POR : th Gr. B Total :

25 FC Porto Vitalis (POR) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight 29 Miguel Alves POR Right Wing Daymaro Amador Salina CUB Line Player Alfredo Bravo CUB Goalkeeper Yoel Cuni Morales CUB Right Back Gilberto Duarte POR Left Back Joao Ferraz POR Right Back Alexis Hernandez Borges CUB Line Player Hugo Laurentino POR Goalkeeper Miguel Martins POR Centre Back Edgar Mendes Ribeiro Landim POR Left Back Ricardo Moreira POR Right Wing Nuno Miguel Pereira Goncalves POR Left Back Nuno Roque POR Centre Back Hugo Santos POR Left Wing Mick Schubert DEN Left Wing Leandro Semedo CPV Left Back David Sousa POR Goalkeeper

26 GROUP 2 Alpla HC Hard (AUT) Alpla Hard retained their Austrian title, but by no means had it easy after battling through a difficult campaign where they lost six games throughout the season. After narrowly finishing top of both the regular season and championship round, the team from western Austria had little difficulty in the play-offs, until they faced Raffreisen Fivers in a repeat of the previous season s final. The best-of-three series went all the way after both sides won their respective home games. In the decider, Hard made full use of their home advantage to win 31:28 and book their place in VELUX EHF Champions League qualification for the second season on the trot. Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participation (including 2014/15 season): 4 Group Matches (1): 2003/04 Qualification (1): 2012/13 Playing hall Sporthalle am See See Straße Hard Austria Capacity: 2,300 Club Address: Alpla HC Hard Seestraße Hard Austria Other Challenge Cup: Runners-up 2007/08, Semi-final 2004/05, Quarter-finals 2000/01, 2006/07 Austrian champions: 4 titles (2003, 2012, 2013, 2014) Austrian Cup winners: 3 titles Media contact: Hansjörg Füssinger Tel: hjf@dentconsult.at Online information: Website: Facebook: AlplaHard Kit colours Player shirt: red Player short: red Goalkeeper shirt: black, white, grey 26

27 Alpla HC Hard (AUT) Biggest win N/A Biggest defeat: 33:22 (15:09) v Chehovski Medvedi Moscow RUS (a), Longest winning run: N/A Longest unbeaten run: N/A Longest losing run: 6 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 6 matches ( ) Most goals: 26 v Chehovski Medvedi Moscow RUS 26:30L (h), Most goals opponent: 33 v Chehovski Medvedi Moscow RUS 33:22L (a), Most goals both teams: 56 v Chehovski Medvedi Moscow RUS 26:30L (h), v C.BM. Ademar Leon ESP 24:32L (h), Fewest goals: 18 v Montpellier HB FRA 18:27L (h), Fewest goals opponent: 27 v Montpellier HB FRA 18:27L (h), Fewest goals both teams: 45 v Montpellier HB FRA 18:27L (h), VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 2003/04 Alpla HC Hard AUT : th Gr. D Total :

28 Alpla HC Hard (AUT) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight 24 Daniel Dicker AUT Left Back Golub Doknic MNE Goalkeeper Lukas Herburger AUT Line Player Michael Jochum AUT Left Wing Philipp Jochum AUT Goalkeeper Michael Knauth AUT Right Wing Kresimir Kozina CRO Line Player Marko Krsmancic SRB Centre Back Mitar Markez SRB Right Wing Luca Raschle AUT Left Wing Rene Pascal Rigas AUT Right Wing Roland Schlinger AUT Left Back Manuel Schmid AUT Centre Back Franz-Stefan Stockbauer AUT Goalkeeper Marko Tanaskovic SRB Right Back Lukas Vogelauer AUT Back Thomas Weber AUT Right Wing Frederik Wüstner AUT Back Gerald Zeiner AUT Centre Back Boris Zivkovic AUT Right Back

29 GROUP 2 Junior Fasano (ITA) After losing in the semi-final last season against Bozen, Junior Fasano took their revenge and beat the same opponent in the final this season, gaining the first title of its history. The club from the south-east of the country only won thanks to scoring more away goals after a draw on aggregate. Fasano lost 24:25 at home in the first leg of the final, putting themselves in a very bad position, but, in their trademark fashion, they turned the situation around and won 27:26 in Bozen, securing the title to make it a double after their earlier cup triumph. Fasano did not make things easy for themselves on their run to the title. For example, they lost by eight goals in the first leg of the semi-final against Carpi, before winning by ten at home in the return leg. Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 1 Playing hall Palaflorio Via Archimede Bari Italy Capacity: 4,540 Other Challenge Cup: round /08, 2010/11 Italian league: 1 title (2014) Italian cup: 1 title Club Address: Junior Fasano Via Brandi Fasano Italy Media contact: Francesco Ancona anconaf14@gmail.com Online information: Website: Facebook: Junior.Fasano Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: grey Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: red 29

30 Junior Fasano (ITA) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight 23 Zeljko Beharevic MNE Left Back Bruno Brzic ITA Centre Back Martino Cedro ITA Goalkeeper Leonardo De Santis ITA Centre Back Paolo De Santis ITA Left Back Vito Fovio ITA Goalkeeper Umberto Giannoccaro ITA Line Player Vito Claudio Marino ITA Line Player Flavio Messina ITA Wing Martin Luis Molineri ITA Right Wing Francesco Rubino ITA Right Back Felice Sabatelli ITA Left Wing

31 Qualification Tournament 3 Hasselt, Belgium Qualification Tournament 3 HCM Constanta (ROU) Hubo Initia Hasselt (BEL) Haslum Handballklubb (NOR) Besiktas MOGAZ HT (TUR) Group B FC Barcelona (ESP) KIF Kolding Kobenhavn (DEN) Alingsas HK (SWE) Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 1./3 QT 2nd ranked team - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 3 3rd ranked team - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 3 4th ranked team - EHF Cup, Qualification Round 2 vs Winner HC Olimpus-85-USEFS (MDA)/Oroshazi FKSE-Linamar (HUN) Match schedule (all times local) Saturday, 6 September 2014: Semi-finals 1 17:30 Haslum Handballklubb vs Besiktas MOGAZ HT 2 20:00 HCM Constanta vs Hubo Initia Hasselt Sunday, 7 September 2014: Third place match 14:45 Loser Semi-final 1 vs Loser Semi-final 2 Final 17:00 Winner Semi-final 1 vs Winner Semi-final 2 Playing hall* Sporthal Alverberg Herckenrodesingel Hasselt, Belgium Capacity: 2,400 Head-to-heads in the EC: Haslum Handballklubb vs Besiktas JK Haslum HK vs Besiktas JK EHF Cup Last 32 31:20 (19:10) Besiktas JK vs Haslum HK EHF Cup Last 32 37:25 (18:09) Preview: For the first time in history a qualification group for the VELUX EHF Champions League is taking place in Belgium, as Hasselt is the venue of Group 3. The winner takes it all was the title of an international hit by the Swedish pop group ABBA back in And those are exactly the key words for the qualification groups for the VELUX EHF Champions League. Only the group winner reaches the group phase, and this is of course also the case, when Group 3 is carried out in the Sporthal Alverberg in Hasselt, Belgium this weekend. Belgian champions Hubo Initia Hasselt are hosting the group which consists of the hosts and three other national champions HCM Constanta from Romania, Besiktas MOGAZ HT from Turkey and Haslum Handballklub from Norway. On Saturday the four teams meet in two semi-finals, from which the winners decide the only group phase ticket between them Sunday. The winner qualifies for Group B of the group phase, where the opponents will be none other than ruling Champions League winners SG Flensburg-Handewitt or Spanish champions FC Barcelona. Neither team has been in Champions League group phase before. Besiktas were in the qualification tournament last year too, but the Turkish champions failed to qualify. This year they will hope to do better. So will Haslum, where head coach Tom-Eirik Skarpsno is facing the challenge of replacing one of the greatest talents in Norwegian handball for many years, Sander Sagosen who has left for Danish Aalborg Handball. After four years in succession in the Champions League and even reaching the last 16 in the season Constanta missed the group phase last year. Many people expect that to be changed this season, as they tend to see the Romanian champions as favourites in this group. However, Constanta s head coach Zvonko Sundovski sees the group as equal. His opponent in the first match, Initia coach Luc Boiten is a bit uncertain as to what to expect. As far as I know, the Constanta team has changed because of some problems they have had. However, Constanta, Haslum and Besiktas are all very good teams, and no matter which one of them we meet, we will have to play our very best in order to stand a chance, Boiten tells ehfcl.com. 31

32 GROUP 3 HCM Constanta (ROU) Ironically the Romanian powerhouse of the recent years failed to finish the season on a high note as they lost the final game to Stiinta Dedeman Bacau. However, their sole loss of the season (19:24) caused no harm to Constanta as the defending champions won the first encounter in the final round of the best three Romanian teams by nine goals. In the main round the Black Sea sailors, who also waged a successful campaign in Europe progressing all the way to the EHF Cup Finals in Berlin, lost only two points after a pair of away draws and topped the standings five points ahead of Turda. In the play-off round HCM eliminated another European cups regulars from Odorhei 2:0 in a best-of-three series, seeing them into the final round. While the third team of the finals Turda left empty-handed, both Constanta and Bacau finished with nine points, but Constanta took the title with their superior goal difference. Past achievements Playing hall Romeo Iamandi - Buzau Str. Mesteacanului Nr. 1 Buzau Romania Capacity: 2,230 Club Address: HCM Constanta str. Mircea cel Batran no 99B, e Constanta Romania Media contact: Ali Nurhan hcmconstanta@yahoo.com VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 9 Last 16 (1): 2009/10 Group Phase (6): 2004/05, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13 Qualification (1): 2013/14 Other Cup Winners Cup Semi-final: 2005/06 Quarter-final: 2006/07, 2008/09 Round 4: 2002/03 Challenge Cup Semi-final: 2003/2004 Round 4: 2000/01 Romanian league: 9 titles (2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) Romanian cup: 6 titles Online information: Facebook: HCM-Constanta-Officiel Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: blue/red/green Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: blue 32

33 HCM Constanta (ROU) Biggest win 34:23 (14:09) v AC PAOK GRE (h), Biggest defeat: 35:14 (16:07) v THW Kiel GER (a), Longest winning run: 3 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 3 matches ( ) 3 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 10 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 10 matches ( ) Most goals: 37 v Montpellier HB FRA 37:33W (h), Most goals opponent: 47 v THW Kiel GER 47:31L (a), Most goals both teams: 78 v THW Kiel GER 47:31L (a), Fewest goals: 14 v THW Kiel GER 35:14L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 17 v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 22:17W (h), Fewest goals both teams: 39 v HC Metalurg MKD 20:19W (h), v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 22:17W (h), VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 2004/05 HCM Constanta ROU : th Gr. A 2006/07 CS HCM Constanta ROU : rd Gr. E 2007/08 HCM Constanta ROU : th Gr. B 2009/10 HCM Constanta ROU : /8-finals 2010/11 HCM Constanta ROU : th Gr. D 2011/12 HCM Constanta ROU : th Gr. C 2012/13 HCM Constanta ROU : th Gr. B Total :

34 HCM Constanta (ROU) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight 22 Aleksandar Adzic MNE Left Back Branislav Angelovski MKD Centre Back Florin Bogdan Baican ROU Line Player Goran Bogunovic CRO Alexandru Florin Bucataru ROU Goalkeeper George Ionut Buricea ROU Left Wing Albert Georgian Cristescu ROU Line Player Dalibor Cutura SRB Centre Back Mihai Catalin Popescu ROU Goalkeeper Mladen Rakcevic MNE Marius Sadoveac ROU Right Wing Alexandru Viorel Simicu ROU Left Back Ramon Alin Somlea ROU Left Back Ionut Rudi Stanescu ROU Goalkeeper Marius Stavrositu ROU Centre Back Laurentiu Mihai Toma ROU Right Wing Predrag Vujadinovic SRB Left Wing

35 GROUP 3 Haslum HK (NOR) Even though the Norwegian season ends with a play-off, the winner of the league is the official national champion. This year Haslum HK took the title for the third time within the last four years, and also for the third time in history. In the deciding match in the last round, Haslum defeated last year s champions Elverum HH as clearly as 36:27. After that triumph, it was really no big deal for them to see Elverum go on to win the play-offs. Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 3 Qualification (2): 2011/12, 2012/13 Playing hall* Rykkinhallen Leirdueveien 7 Rykkin Norway Capacity: 2,000 *to be confirmed Other Cup Winners Cup: Last /07 Norwegian league: 3 titles (2011, 2012, 2014) Norwegian cup: 3 titles Club Address: Haslum HK Gjonnesjordet Bekkestua Norway Media contact: Knut Guldbrandsen knut@byggfornyelse.no Online information: Website: Facebook: haslum-hk Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: multicolour Dark Player shirt: red Player short: red Goalkeeper shirt: multicolour 35

36 Haslum HK (NOR) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight 1 Havard Aasheim NOR Goalkeeper Sander Andreassen NOR Back Sebastian Barthold NOR Left Wing Jonathan Berens NOR Centre Back Christoffer Brännberger SWE Line Player Jakob Gjoen NOR Havard Bjornskau Johannesen NOR Right Back Erlend Mamelund NOR Left Back Knut Nikolai Mehl NOR Line Player Joakim Patriksson SWE Centre Back August Baskar Pedersen NOR Left Wing Anders Roe NOR Back Edvard Sandvik NOR Left Back Simen Nicolay Schoenningsen NOR Right Back Petter Skarpenes NOR Right Wing Magnus Soendena NOR Wing Vegard Soerlie Tennfjord NOR Line Player Trond Tjemsland NOR Goalkeeper

37 GROUP 3 Besiktas MOGAZ HT (TUR) Once again Besiktas JK were a dominant force in the Turkish league last season. Apart from the two inexplicable stumbles against bottom end teams (a draw at Antalyiaspor and a defeat at Yeditepe) the Black Eagles were class of their own in the regular season leaving a tandem of two Ankara-based clubs ten points behind in the final standings. On the way to the final Besiktas easily overcame both Genclerbirligi in the quarter-finals and Bursa Nilufer in the semi-finals and completed their faultless ride by sweeping Ankara Ozel Idare in the best-of-five series, although they won no game by a larger margin than two goals and secured the title only after a 26:25 extra time win in the third game. Right after they raised their sixth straight, and tenth overall, championship trophy not only did they extend a contract with their shooting stalwart Ramazan Döne, but also signed two international reinforcements as Croatian winger Ivan Nincevic and Chilean centre back Erwin Feuchtmann arrived in Istanbul. Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 8 Qualification (6): 2005/06, 2007/08, 2009/10, 2010/2011, 2011/12, 2012/13 Playing hall Haldun Alagas Sport Complex Alemdag Caddesi No Ümraniye, Istanbul Turkey Capacity: 2,468 Club Address: Besiktas MOGAZ HT Suleyman Seba Cd. No Besiktas - Istanbul Turkey Other EHF Cup: Last /99, 2005/06, 2010/11 Challenge Cup: Semi-final 2008/09, Quarter-final 2002/03 Turkish champions: 10 titles (1981, 1982, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) Turkish Cup winners: 10 titles Media contact: Berk Karahan Tel: berk.karahan@bjk.com.tr Online information: Facebook: Besiktas Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: green Dark Player shirt: green Player short: green Goalkeeper shirt: black 37

38 Besiktas MOGAZ HT (TUR) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight 7 Ömer Ozan Arifoglu TUR Right Back Ercan Asikoglu TUR Right Wing Muhammed Taha Ayar TUR Line Player Senol Boyar TUR Centre Back Oguzhan Büyük TUR Left Wing Josip Buljubasic CRO Back Volkan Caliskan TUR Centre Back Mesut Cebi TUR Goalkeeper Ugur Coban TUR Left Wing Predrag Dacevic SRB Left Back Ibrahim Demir TUR Goalkeeper Ramazan Döne TUR Right Back Bülent Erkol TUR Right Wing Erwin Jan Feuchtmann Perez GER Left Back Berkay Gulyurt TUR Centre Back Yigit Ilgin TUR Left Wing Tolga Kirli TUR Goalkeeper Viktor Ladyko UKR Centre Back Ömer Mercan TUR Right Back Ivan Nincevic CRO Left Wing Tolga Özbahar TUR Line Player Yunus Özmusul TUR Goalkeeper David Rasic SRB Left Back Kubilay Yilmaz TUR Right Wing

39 GROUP 3 Hubo Initia Hasselt (BEL) For the second year in a row, the two-legged final for the Belgian championship was a meeting between Achilles Bocholt and Initia Hasselt. And once again, Hasselt took the title. Bocholt had the home advantage in the first match, but that did not stop Hasselt from dominating the match and going four goals up several times before winning 26:23 at the end. The second match, with Hasselt on home court, was dominated by Bocholt for parts of the game, and the visitors were even leading 18:14, before Hasselt came back and secured the title through a narrow 26:25 win. Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2014/15 season): 8 Last 32: 1993/94, 1994/95, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00 Playing hall* Sporthal Alverberg Herckenrodesingel Hasselt Belgium Capacity: 2,400 *to be confirmed Other Challenge Cup: quarter-final 2012/13 Belgian league: 13 titles (1984, 1985, 1986, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2011, 2013, 2014) Belgian cup: 10 titles Benelux league: 1 title (2014) Club Address: Hubo Initia Hasselt Meldertstraat 58/ Hasselt Belgium Media contact: Frank Van Roost fvanroost@hotmail.com Online information: Website: Facebook: InitiaHCHasselt Kit colours Light Player shirt: red Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: black Dark Player shirt: green Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: yellow 39

40 Hubo Initia Hasselt (BEL) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Height Weight 18 Cedric Barthels BEL Line Player Mark Boers NED Robbert Bogaerts BEL Left Wing Sander Brouwers BEL Right Wing Ignace Broux BEL Left Wing Jeroen Carpentier BEL Left Wing Joris Carpentier BEL Left Wing Adrien Cusumano BEL Left Wing Bram Dewit BEL Jente Haesevoets BEL Right Wing Tim Houbrechts BEL Line Player Xander Jackers BEL Back Glenn Janssens BEL Right Back Bart Köhlen NED Right Wing Ben Kranzen BEL Left Wing Jef Lettens BEL Goalkeeper Simon Ooms BEL Line Player Niels Poncelet BEL Back Tom Robyns BEL Centre Back Ruben Roelants BEL Centre Back Bram Van der Goten BEL Line Player Tomas Vanderstraeten BEL Right Back Jelle Vonckx BEL Goalkeeper

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