Media GuideVELUX EHF Champions League Season 2012/2013Group Phase

Group C

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GROUP C – expert´s view Bjerringbro-Silkeborg RK Gorenje Velenje KS Vive Targi Kielce Chambéry Savoie Handball St. Petersburg HC HC Metalurg Schedule of matches

3 4 7 10 13 16 19 22

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TEAMS 1. Bjerringbro-Silkeborg (replaced AG København) 2. Gorenje Velenje 3. KS Vive Targi Kielce 4. Chambéry Savoie Handball 5. St. Petersburg HC 6. HC Metalurg Skopje Expert Francois-Xavier Houlet says: In my opinion this group is wide open. Kielce remarkably strengthened themselves and the team now consists many experienced world class players. It underlines the Polish champion’s ambitions to claim the top spot in this in the group. Chambery’s new season’s slogan is «change in wake of continuity». New signings Bertrand and Guillaume Gille as well as new coach Cavalli know the club very well. I think they have a good chance to reach one of the first three spots. Skopje and Velenje will probably also vie for a spot in the Last 16. Like the Macedonian national team at the EHF EURO 2012 in January, the team of Metalurg, coached by the successful Lino Červar, wants to show Europe what they are capable of. Their motivation is backed by many national team players and the raucous support they receive from their fans. The young team from St Petersburg continues its development, but Torgovanov’s players don’t yet seem to be at a stage where they can challenge the big guns. Silkeborg took the Danish spot of the bankrupt AG København. The main goal should be to fare better than in the 2011/12 season in which they failed to win a single point.

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BJERRINGBRO-SILKEBORG (Denmark)

Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2012/13: Danish runners-up (instead of AG Kobenhavn)

Season Preview: Bjerringbro-Silkeborg finished, like in 2011, second in the Danish league below AG København. In contrast to the previous season this spot did not guarantee direct qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase. The Danish side were in preparation for the Wild Card Tournament, when the national champions were declared bankrupted. Bjerringbro now is the representative of the Danish league in the group stage. Head coach Carsten Albrecktsen has to cope with a major loss, namely that of the Danish national team goalkeeper Niklas Landin who has made the move to German side Rhein Neckar Löwen. Apart from the departure of top players like Audray Tuzolana or Miha Žvižej, the Danish outfit are hoping to finish in a better position than they did in their debut season, namely finishing without a point. For the first part of Group Phase Bjerringbro have to play their games in the MIDT Arena in Kjellerup, 13 kilometres away from Silkeborg. “We are very proud to play in the Champions League again this year. To play in this competition is one of the main goals for the club and we have a great opportunity to promote some of our big sponsors all over Europe. Last year we had a really tough group, and this year we now have a great chance to show, that we learned a lot last year,” said EC manager Christian Lynnerup . “The group has a big favourite in Kielce but the remaining five teams play on the same level, I hope that we will see an exciting Group Phase, where nothing is decided before the last round. Our players, leaders, administration, fans and sponsors are ready once again to participate in the most prestigious handball competition in the world.”

Club Address: Bjerringbro-Silkeborg Vestre Ringvej 7 8850 Bjerringbro Denmark Contact numbers: Tel. +45-86-680560 Email: cl@bjerringbro-silkeborg.dk Arena: Silkeborg hallerne A Ansvej 114 8600 Silkeborg Capacity: 2000 OR MIDT Arena Hasselvej 15, 8620 Kjellerup Municipality Media contact: Christian Lynnerup +45 4011 8987 cl@bjerringbro-silkeborg.dk Online: Club website: www.thw-provinzial.de Twitter: @mja_dk/bsv Facebook: bjerringbrosilkeborg ehfCL.com Club achievements: EHF Champions League: Participations (including 2012/13 season): 3 Qualification (1): 2011 Group Phase (1): 2012

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The squad

No. First Name Family Name Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height 66 Kasper Young Andersen DEN Right wing 20.12.1993 77 191 22 Theis Baagöe DEN Left back 12.11.1992 94 205 16 Jannick Green Krejberg DEN Goalkeeper 29.09.1988 93 198

3 Benjamin Jakobsen DEN Line player 09.09.1991 95 191 13 Chris Holm Jörgensen DEN Centre back 28.10.1986 84 187 15 Dennis Staunstrup Kirkegaard DEN Right wing 04.06.1981 87 186 23 Simon Westh Kristiansen DEN Right back 25.01.1984 93 191 11 Rasmus Lauge Schmidt DEN Centre back 20.06.1991 101 196 18 Mathias Pugholm Madsen DEN Left back 10.04.1982 100 198 10 Casper Ulrich Mortensen DEN Left wing 14.12.1989 95 190 26 Kasper Nielsen DEN Back 09.06.1975 95 194

8 Mads Oris Nielsen DEN Left back 17.03.1981 102 198 2 Nicolaj Schytt Nielsen DEN Right back 12.02.1994 70 175 7 Nikolaj Oris Nielsen DEN Right back 26.09.1986 100 197 9 Gudmundur Arni Olafsson ISL Right wing 24.09.1990 74 181

31 Fredrik Schilling DEN Left wing 03.09.1989 69 180 1 Dane Sijan SRB Goalkeeper 05.02.1977 120 195

19 Henrik Toft Hansen DEN Line player 18.12.1986 108 200

New signings (including former club):

• Dane Sijan (Viborg HK), • Casper U Mortensen (Viborg HK), • Chris Jørgensen (Nordsjælland

Håndbold), • Benjamin Jakobsen (Skanderborg

Håndbold), • Henrik Toft Hansen (AG Kobenhavn)

Left the club (including new club): • Niklas Landin (Rhein Neckar Löwen), • Miha Žvižej (Toulouse), • Audray Tuzolana (Tremblay), • Esben Lie Hansen (Dunkerque), • Fredrik Petersen (HSV Hamburg)

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Key players

Rasmus Lauge: Many European top clubs would like to sign the 21-year-old, but Lauge continues playing for his Danish home club. His star rose at the 2012 EHF EURO in Serbia, when his goals in the Main Round first secured Denmark first a berth in the Semi-final and in the end the podium’s top spot. Lauge can play on the centre back and the left back position and scored 35 goals in his first VELUX EHF Champions League season 2011/12.

Kasper Nielsen: At age 37 Nielsen is Silkeborg’s most experienced player. His clear strength is the defence. In 2007 he was EHF Champions League finalist with German side SG Flensburg-Handewitt where he played four years in total, He joined Silkeborg in 2010 and was also part of the Danish national team that won the 2012 EHF EURO.

Henrik Toft Hansen: When AG Kobenhavn went bankrupt in July 2012, Henrik Toft Hansen had to look for a new club – and found it at Silkeborg. The line player is the brother of THW Kiel’s Rene Toft Hansen and also his sister is playing for the Danish national team. Together with his brother he was part of the Danish EHF EURO 2012 winners in Serbia.

Coach

Carsten Albrektsen: He was something like a missionary from 2007 until 2009 when Albrektsen was the first coach of the British men’s national team, preparing their first steps for the Olympic Games in London. While acting as coach in Bjerringbro Silkeborg. Albrektsen’s biggest successes were finishing twice as runners-up in the Danish league, which subsequently led to the qualification for the Group Phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League. He stayed in Germany, his first club as a coach was Hameln, followed by Magdeburg and Gummersbach – and he also coached the Icelandic national team until 2007. In 2008 he became coach of THW Kiel.

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RK GORENJE VELENJE (Slovenia)

Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2012/13 season: Slovenian champions

Season Preview: For the sixth time Gorenje Velenje have qualified for the VELUX EHF Champions League, but it is only the second time they were crowned Slovenian champions. In passing out RK Celje in the final stages of the season Velenje took the title and left VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12 quarter-finalist Cimos Koper behind them. The “wasps” will need to replace one of their best defence specialists: Nikola Manojlovic who left to play for Koper. However, what they lost in Manojlovic they gained in the signing of Slovenian international Luka Dobelšek. Like in 2010 Velenje is aiming to make it to the knock-out stages of the VELUX EHF Champions League. On home ground the team of coach Branko Tamše want to defend their title against strong opponents. The new club manager Tomaž Juršič said: “We are glad to be part of the European Handball elite in the VELUX EHF Champions League.“ However, Juršič is weary of their opponents. “We have a tough group with strong opponents like Chambery, Kielce, St. Petersburg, Bjeringbro and Metalurg. We will do everything in our power to qualify for the Last 16, which would be a big achievement,” he added. For the team captain Marko Bezjak the team spirit and the support from the stands in their Rdeča dvorana are decisive in helping them to go on and win big matches: “We have a good team which gets along well with each other on and off the field. We will never surrender and especially we will not allow ourselves to lose points in front of our home fans.”

Club Address: Gorenje Velenje Saleska Cesta 3 3320 Velenje Slovenia Contact numbers: Tel. +386-3-8986440 Fax. +386-3-8986443 Email: office@rk-gorenje.com Arena: Rdeča Dvorana Saleska cesta 3 3320 Velenje Capacity: 3100 Media contact: Tanija Rednak +386 38986440 tanija.rednak@rk-gorenje.com Online: Club website: www.rk-gorenje.com/si Twitter: @rk_gorenje_v Facebook: rkgorenjevelenje ehfCL Club achievements: EHF Champions League: Participations (including 2012/13 season): 6 Last 16 (2): 2006, 2010 Main Round (1): 2008 Group Phase (1): 2005 Qualification (1): 2011 EHF Cup Finalists 2008/2009 Slovenian champions: 2008/09, 2011/12, six times runners-up Slovenian Cup winners: 2002/03, seven times finalist

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The squad

No. First Name Family Name Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height 37 Dino Bajram SLO Line player 25.09.1983 110 193

6 Marko Bezjak SLO Centre back 26.06.1986 87 184 12 Nejc Brglez SLO Goalkeeper 28.02.1993 95 190 17 Klemen Cehte SLO Left back 10.05.1986 94 193 13 Darko Cingesar SLO Centre back 25.07.1990 85 183 30 Luka Dobelsek SLO Centre back 12.01.1983 93 191 11 Jure Dolenec SLO Right back 06.12.1988 90 190 77 Marko Dujmovic SLO Left back 19.09.1985 94 191 22 Matej Gaber SLO Line player 22.07.1991 110 198

1 Ivan Gajic SRB Goalkeeper 17.05.1979 105 191 31 Janez Gams SLO Left wing 08.11.1985 86 180 23 Rok Golcar SLO Right wing 23.12.1985 86 189 71 Tine Marusic SLO Left wing 23.06.1994 80 185

5 Niko Medved SLO Left wing 26.03.1990 83 182 4 Fahrudin Melic MNE Right wing 22.07.1984 90 183

18 David Miklavcic SLO Right back 29.01.1983 98 195 44 Mitja Nosan SLO Left back 09.01.1990 98 198 55 Rok Ovnicek SLO Centre back 29.01.1995 80 180 60 Jaka Poznic SLO Line player 30.03.1993 100 198

8 Peter Pucelj SLO Line player 06.12.1982 100 193 15 Samo Rutar SLO Line player 26.02.1984 101 190 16 Emir Taletovic SLO Goalkeeper 09.01.1990 93 189

New signings (including former club):

• Darko Cingesar (Jeruzalem Ormož), • Luka Dobelšek (Wisla Plock), • Mitja Nosan (RD Ribnica)

Left the club (including new club): • Nikola Manojlović (Cimos Koper), • Rok Šimič (RK Maribor Branik)

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Key players

Luka Dobelšek: Following two seasons at former Polish champions Wisla Plock, Dobelsek has now returned to the club where it all started. In 2001 he played his first international season with Velenje where he played part in many big successes over the past ten years. Now the playmaker’s role is clearly defined. He needs to replace Nikola Manojlovic, who joined Koper.

Marko Bezjak: The “Wasps’” captain is a key player in the defence nowadays, after he had been one of the top shooters the seasons before. In his third VELUX EHF Champions League season Bezjak will share the playmaker role with Dobelsek.

Jure Dolenec: The 23-year-old tall sharp shooter started his career at Drustvo Termo in Slovenia, before changing to Mercur and now the right back plays his second season in Velenje. Despite his young age Dolenec is already a key player in the young Slovenian national team and was one of their best scorers at the EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia.

Coach

Branko Tamše: Since 2001 Branko Tamše is the head coach of Gorenje, but ten more years the 34 year old Slovenian is part of the club. Before becoming head coach Tamše was among the coaching team of the current Slovenian champions. The major task of the former youth and junior national team player is to rebuild a young team with hungry talents.

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KS VIVE TARGI KIELCE (Poland)

Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2012/13 season: Polish champions

Season Preview: After raising the Polish champions trophy again after one year of absence, Vive Targi Kielce now want to climb the European throne. Though having a well-balanced and experienced squad already the Poles signed top stars Karol Bielecki, Ivan Čupić and Krzystof Lijewski from Rhein Neckar Löwen and Manuel Štrlek from Zagreb, which means they have an all Croatian wing duo now. Only Mariusz Jurasik (who will remain youth coach), Mateusz Zaremba and Patryk Kuchczinski left the club. Coach Bogdan Wenta, who fully concentrates on Kielce after resigning as coach of the national team, is aiming high in the upcoming season, their tenth in the EHF Champions League. After becoming champions again, more than 5000 fans celebrated the team on the main square in Kielce – and the number of “like” buttons on their website has increased to 19.000 fans. In the end of preparation Kielce had proved their strength by winning the tournament “Galeria Echo Kielce Cup” against IK Sävehof, US Dunkerque, Tatran Prešov, aside Kielce won twice against their group opponent Sävehof at the Heide Cup in Germany. “We wish to qualify for the FINAL4, but all over Europe there are around ten clubs with the same dream. We get stronger every year, but also we have to be patient. In every game of the Champions League we have to play against strong team, we have to be concentrated. Otherwise we can lose some important points. That's the beauty of handball at the highest level. We are proud that we can be a part of the Champions League for the fourth season in a row,” said club president Bertus Servaas.

Club Address: KS Vive Targi Kielce ul. Robotnicza 5 25-662 Kielce Poland Contact numbers: Tel. +48-41-3451044 Fax. +48-41-3451044 Email: klub@vivetargi.pl Arena: Hala M.O.S.I.R – Legionow ul. Boczna 15A 25-093 Kielce Capacity: 4000 Media contact: Sebastian Kozubek +48 505031244 s.kozubek@vivetargi.pl Online: Club website: www.vivetargi.pl Twitter: @vivetargikielce Facebook: kielce ehfCL.com Club achievements EHF Champions League records: Participations (including 2012/13 season): 10 Last 16 (4): 1994, 1995, 2010, 2012 Group Phase (3): 2000, 2004, 2011 Polish champions: 9 titles(1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012) Polish Cup winners: 9 titles

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The squad

No. First Name Family Name Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height 8 Karol Bielecki POL Left back 23.01.1982 101 202

16 Kamil Buchcic POL Goalkeeper 16.06.1992 79 182 21 Denis Buntic CRO Right back 13.11.1982 93 198

1 Marcus Cleverly DEN Goalkeeper 15.06.1981 92 188 27 Ivan Cupic CRO Right back 22.03.1986 75 178

2 Piotr Grabarczyk POL Line player 31.10.1982 99 200 15 Mateusz Jachlewski POL Left wing 27.12.1984 88 185 26 Filip Jastrzab POL Goalkeeper 27.09.1994 84 185

5 Michal Jurecki POL Left back 27.10.1984 110 198 19 Krzysztof Lijewski POL Right back 07.07.1983 94 198 22 Zeljko Musa CRO Line player 08.01.1986 103 200

9 Thorir Olafsson ISL Right wing 28.11.1979 78 189 24 Tomasz Rosinski POL Centre back 24.02.1984 85 192 18 Rastko Stojkovic SRB Line player 12.07.1981 104 191 17 Manuel Strlek CRO Left wing 01.12.1988 84 182 78 Slawomir Szmal POL Goalkeeper 02.10.1978 90 190

6 Grzegorz Tkaczyk POL Left back 22.12.1980 94 194 4 Bartlomiej Tomczak POL Left wing 07.09.1985 90 186

23 Uros Zorman SLO Centre back 09.01.1980 96 189

New signings (including former club):

• Krzysztof Lijewski (Rhein Neckar Löwen), • Karol Bielecki (Rhein Neckar Löwen), • Ivan Čupić (Rhein Neckar Löwen), • Manuel Štrlek (Croatia Zagreb)

Left the club (including new club): • Patryk Kuchczynski (Zabrze), • Mateusz Zaremba (Pogon Szczecin), • Mariusz Jurasik

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Key players

Sławomir Szmal: The former World Handball Player of the Year is one of the key players in the Polish national champions’ defence. The goalkeeper played several years for Rhein Neckar Löwen in Germany. His biggest success so far was a silver medal with the national team at the 2007 World Championship and a bronze medal at the 2009 World Championship..

Ivan Čupić: The newly signed Croatian right wing was the second best goal scorer at the London 2012 Olympic Games. His star rose when became an all-star team member and silver medallist at the 2009 World Championship on home soil. Čupić, who lost one finger in a tragic accident in 2008, continued his excellent game and won silver with Croatia at the EHF EURO 2010 and bronze at London 2012. With his fellow Croatian Manuel Strlek he is prone to increase the speed on the wings and the number of Kielce’s counter attack goals.

Karol Bielecki: Despite having lost sight on his left eye following an accident during an international in June 2010, Bielecki returned to the court as good as ever before. The left back started his career with a great performance at the 2004 EHF EURO. He then played for German clubs and returned to his home country before the current season. Bielecki is known for his “hammer shots” and has the same medal tally as his teammate Slawomir Szmal.

Coach

Bogdan Wenta: Up until June, Bogdan Weta was in acting as a coach on two different fronts; coaching Kielce and he was the head coach of the Polish men’s national team, but after becoming runners-up at the Men's World Championship in 2007 and collecting a bronze medal at the Men's World Championship in 2009 he resigned from his position after failing to qualify for the London Olympic Games. The 51-year-old Wenta was a player in Spain, Germany and even played for the German national team after changing his citizenship. Directly after finishing his active career Wenta became assistant coach in Flensburg (GER), and become Polish national team coach in 2004 then acted as head coach at Magdeburg from 2006 onwards. Since 2008 Wenta is coach in Kielce and constantly has led his team to the VELUX EHF Champions League.

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CHAMBERY SAVOIE HANDBALL (France)

Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2012/13 season: French runners-up

Season Preview: A new coach, two world class brothers and the hopes to reach the knock-out stage of the VELUX EHF Champions League: After twelve years Philippe Gardent left Chambery to coach aspiring club Paris Handball. His successor is his former assistant Mario Cavalli, who now will be assisted by the top player returning to the club: Guillaume Gille. He arrives from Hamburg, together with his brother Bertrande and will join their youngest sibling Benjamin. Jean-Christophe Aulas will take on the role as the new goalkeeper coach. Xavier Barachet left Chambery and will wear the Madrid jersey next season. After missing out on the Last 16 in the 2011/12 season, Chambery is aiming to make an improvement on last season. Season’s objectives are clear – to qualify for the Last 16 of the VELUX EHF Champions League and in the French League to obtain a ticket for the next edition of the European top club competition. “Kielce are very strong but all the other teams in our group are on the same level. This is a positive thing, but also somewhat dangerous. It will be a very open group,” club manager Laurent Munier predicted. “The Champions League for us is the final step in the long road of hard work throughout the season. When I hear the Champions League anthem, it is music to my ears, almost like an award for me. Now we have to work hard to go further in this competition,” coach Mario Cavalli said. “We have to win all out games in our home arena Le Phare, if we want to qualify for the next stage. The away games are going to be difficult for us. I think our level should be high enough to reach the Last 16,” coach added.

Club Address: Chambery Savoie Handball 688 Avenue des Follaz 73000 Chambery France Contact numbers: Tel. +33-4-79706050 Fax. +33-4-79330901 Email:laurent.munier@chamberysavoiehandball.com Arena: Le Phare 800 avenue du Grand Arietaz 73000 Chambery Capacity: 4600 Media contact: Noémie Catalan +33 0479706055 noemie.catalan@chamberysavoiehandball.com Online: Club website: www.chamberysavoihandball.com Twitter: ChamberySH_Hand Facebook: CSH73 ehfCL.com Club achievements: EHF Champions League: Participations (including 2012/13 season): 8 Last 16 (3): 2004, 2007, 2011 Main Round (1): 2009 Group Phase (3): 2002, 2010, 2012 French champion: 2001 (runners-up: 1998,1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012) French Cup winners: 2002

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The squad

No. First Name Family Name Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height 26 David Ampere FRA Right wing 21.04.1993 78 180 13 Edin Basic BIH Centre back 04.05.1979 94 190 77 Damir Bicanic CRO Left back 26.06.1985 98 195 27 Antoine Blanc FRA Left wing 18.07.1994 93 191 28 Killian Buffard FRA Right wing 09.05.1994 72 175

2 Laurent Busselier FRA Left wing 27.11.1976 80 183 14 Thomas Capella FRA Right back 13.06.1990 88 190 25 Gregoire Detrez FRA Line player 22.05.1981 96 185 29 Maxime Diot FRA Goalkeeper 28.02.1993 84 188 16 Cyril Dumoulin FRA Goalkeeper 02.02.1984 103 199

9 Benjamin Gille FRA Line player 03.05.1982 91 191 10 Bertrand Gille FRA Line player 24.03.1978 98 187 11 Guillaume Gille FRA Centre back 12.07.1976 97 192

1 Nebojsa Grahovac BIH Goalkeeper 11.02.1984 94 191 20 Loic Laurent FRA Centre back 12.06.1992 86 190 24 Johannes Marescot FRA Line player 04.04.1994 96 193 15 Olivier Marroux FRA Right wing 09.01.1986 78 176 17 Simon Mayayo FRA Left back 09.12.1991 98 198 12 Mathieu Merceron FRA Goalkeeper 07.01.1993 100 200 19 Timothey Nguessan FRA Left back 18.09.1992 96 192

6 Karel Nocar CZE Centre back 28.02.1977 95 185 5 Alix Kevynn Nyokas FRA Right back 28.06.1986 80 192 7 Yannick Palma FRA Right back 13.01.1989 98 192 8 Marko Panic BIH Right back 10.03.1991 101 197

23 Pierre Paturel FRA Line player 26.01.1989 92 196 18 Cedric Paty FRA Right wing 25.07.1981 86 194 30 Kevin Rondel FRA Line player 22.02.1992 98 192 21 Queido Traore FRA Centre back 15.10.1994 86 185 22 Alexandre Tritta FRA Right back 09.12.1994 88 186

New signings (including former club):

• Kevynn Nyokas (Paris), • Marko Panić (Banja Luka), • Guillaume Gille (HSV Hamburg), • Bertrande Gille (HSV Hamburg)

Left the club (including new club): • Florian Botti (end of career), • Benjamin Massot-Pellet (Billere), • Guillaume Marroux (Valence), • Xavier Barachet (Atletico Madrid), • Bertrand Roine (Qatar)

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Key players

Betrand Gille: After ten highly successful ten years at HSV Hamburg Bertrand Gille returned to the club at which his handball career started. In the meantime the line player and former World Handball Player of the Year became double Olympic champion (2008, 2012), three-time world (2001, 2009, 2011) champion and double European champion (2006, 2010). Back in Chambery, Gille shall guarantee a stable defence and goals from the six metre line.

Guillaume Gille: Guillaume is always on the side of his brother. Like Bertrand, Guillaume has literally won every title the world of handball has to offer. Beside his role as the playmaker and “spiritus rector” on the court, Guillaume Gille is already Chambery’s assistant coach and is supposed to take over the team from the 2013/14 season.

Damir Bičanić: The left back and Croatian national team member learnt his handball skills at the famous school of RK Zagreb. In 2008 he transferred to Ademar Leon, before arriving at Chambery two years later. Hitting the net 52 times in ten matches, the 27 year old shooter became Chambery’s top scorer in the previous VELUX EHF Champions League season.

Coach

Mario Cavalli: Only Barcelona’s Xavi Pascual and Montpellier’s Patrice Canayer can look back upon such a long period in the same club as new Chambery coach Mario Cavalli. Born in Chambery he joined the club as a player in 1976, before becoming part of the coaches’ team. After eleven years as an assistant of Philippe Gardent (now at Paris Handball) the 49-year-old Cavalli is the in charge from this season onwards. His biggest success until now was becoming French champions in 2001.

15

ST. PETERSBURG HC (Russia)

Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2012/13 season: Russian runners-up

Season Preview: Once again HC St Petersburg qualified for the VELUX EHF Champions League last season, but again they had no chance against domestic rivals Chekhovskie Medvedi after two final defeats in the Russian play-offs. This season, coach Dmitriy Torgovanov will once again try to improve his team's international aspirations, and after narrowly missing the Last 16 twice in the past two seasons hopes are high of reaching the knock-out stage for the first time. But this season Torgovanov will also have to integrate six new players into his ranks as well as coach, while nine of his former charges left the club - including top star Vadim Bogdanov and goalkeeper legend Alexej Kostygov. But despite the changes in personnel the objectives at the Baltic Sea club are the same as in the previous seasons: ranking among the top teams in Russia and qualify for the Last 16 in the VELUX EHF Champions League. New club director Sergey Ziza, the successor of Vladimir Ovanesov, is confident: "Only the best teams of Europe compete in the VELUX EHF Champions League, and we are among them for the third straight time. Though I know that all matches will be tough and a matter of nerves, I hope for the third time that we can manage to reach the Last 16. We want to show the whole of Europe our brilliant and memorable style of handball." Top player Eldar Nasyrov, like his team-mates, is hungry for success on international level. "Everyone in the team is very glad to be taking part in the VELUX EHF Champions League. Some of us are participating for the third time and some for the first time, but all of us have a great hunger for getting the best possible results and to show that kind of handball, which will make Europe talk about the team from Saint Petersburg," he said.

Club Address: St. Petersburg HC 9 linia 20, lit.A, pom. 2-H 199004 St. Petersburg Russia Contact numbers: Tel. +7-81-27142845 Fax. +7-81-27142845 Email: spbhandball@yandex.ru Arena: Sport Hall "Olimpiyskiy" Chekhov Poligrafistov Str. 30 142300 Chekhov Capacity: 3000 Media contact: Stanislav Fedorov +7 9213098342 stasfedorov@mail.ru Online: Club website: www.spbhandball.ru ehfCL.com Club achievements: EHF Champions League: Participations (including 2012/13 season): 3 Group Phase (2): 2011, 2012 Russian champions: - (runners-up: 2010, 2011, 2012)

16

The squad

No. First Name Family Name Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height 16 Yan Belyaev RUS Goalkeeper 05.06.1992 78 190

4 Alexander Bykov RUS Line player 14.05.1991 119 202 23 Dmitry Chernykh RUS Centre back 23.06.1992 84 187 17 Anatolii Chezlov RUS Left back 23.04.1987 92 195 14 Nikita Dolganov RUS Left back 12.03.1993 80 189 50 Evgeny Dudik RUS Centre back 26.09.1995 79 186 99 Alexei Grigoriev RUS Right back 19.02.1983 103 196 21 Dmitrii Kiselev RUS Right back 15.11.1994 98 193 51 Sergey Kiselev RUS Right wing 14.08.1992 78 184 12 Aliaksei Kishou BLR Goalkeeper 23.09.1986 94 193

7 Sergey Kuzmin RUS Left wing 02.02.1988 77 182 9 Dmitrii Lauzhin RUS Left wing 04.05.1991 85 192 2 Eldar Nasyrov RUS Left back 14.07.1986 92 188

14 Mikhail Niazhura BLR Line player 09.12.1980 120 198 20 Andrei Novoselov RUS Right wing 25.08.1986 74 177 22 Igor Polyakov RUS Left wing 22.03.1979 93 193 98 Maksim Popov RUS Goalkeeper 06.03.1998 105 190 13 Alexander Pyshkin RUS Line player 13.04.1987 105 195 94 Ivan Saltykov RUS Goalkeeper 16.04.1994 82 198 10 Alexander Sanashkin RUS Right wing 18.03.1987 85 180 15 Yury Semenov RUS Left back 30.07.1990 107 194

1 Vitalii Shitsco RUS Goalkeeper 09.09.1987 95 198 19 Gleb Smakhtin RUS Left back 28.06.1995 96 200

New signings (including former club):

• Mikhail Niazhura (HC Dinamo Minsk), • Aliaksei Kishou (Zarya Kaspiya,

Astrakhan), • Andrei Novoselov and Yury Semenov

(both Locomotiv-Polyot Cheljabinsk), • Alexey Grigorev (HC Motor

Zaporozhye), • Sergei Kuzmin (Sungul Snezhinsk)

Left the club (including new club): • Andrey Lyashenko (HC Motor

Zaporozhye), • Ruslan Gaboev and Nikita Samarskiy

(both SKIF Krasnodar), • Alexey Shindin, Ivan Pronin and Artem

Vyshnevskyy (all HC Dinamo Poltava), • Gennadiy Komok (ZTR Zaporozhye), • Alexey Kostygov (Kaustik Volgograd), • Vadim Bogdanov (HC Dinamo Minsk)

17

Key players

Eldar Nasyrov: The left back scored 42 goals in each of the previous two VELUX EHF Champions League seasons and became one of St. Petersburg’s major scorers. He joined the Russian side two years ago and is now one of those young players who want to get selected for the Russian national team by showing strong performances on the club level.

Alexei Grigoriev: The left handed player is an important factor in St. Petersburg’s game, especially for their defence. Aged 29, Grigoriev is one of the most experienced players in the young squad of the Russian runners-up. After being part of his home team Astrakhan for a long time he changed to Brest in Belarus and Saporoschje in Ukraine, before returning to his home country this season.

Igor Polyakov: Left wing Polyakov played his first international season with his former club Rostov in 1998. Afterwards the counter attack specialist played for different teams including several years for former Ukrainian champions Portovik. In 2010 he started playing in St. Petersburg.

Coach

Dmitri Torgovanov: After a highly successful career as a player Torgovanov started coaching at St. Petersburg in 2009 – and his team became three-time Russian runners-up. Torgovanov, nicknamed Pino, is 40 years old and was Olympic champion, twice world champion and once European champion with the Russian National team. On a club level he played most of his career in Germany, for the clubs Essen, Wallau and Hamburg. His “coaching teacher” is Vladimir Maximov, the Russian legend.

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HC METALURG (FYR Macedonia)

Qualification for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2012/13 season: of the Qualification Tournament 2, Macedonian champions

Season Preview: The Last 16 is the minimum objective and the quarter-finals is their dream – Macedonian double winners count on their defence and the experience of their coach. The home arena is a fortress commanded by “minister of defence”, goalkeeper Darko Stanić, is like a wall and the coach is highly experienced – all ingredients fit for Metalurg Skopje to be as successful as in the previous season in the year of their 40th anniversary. After winning their third straight double as Macedonian champions and cup winners Metalurg had no problems in qualifying for the Group Phase. In the same constellation like in 2011 the team of coach Lino Červar beat Haslum in the final – but in contrast to the previous season with a clear result of 30:20 and even on the Norwegian home ground. In the VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12 season Metalurg were one of the surprises, reaching the Last 16, which then was their final destination after being closely eliminated by RK Zagreb. So the first part of the knock-out stage is their minimum objective this season again, but Metalurg even dream of reaching the quarter-final for the first time in club history. The squad nearly remained the same after Stanić confirmed to stay at Skoppje and not leave to German side Göppingen. Instead of the goalkeeper, Žarko Marković was transferred to the two times EHF Cup winner. Right before the qualification tournament Milan Vučičević already left Metalurg again after arriving from Kolubara before the start of the preparation. Captain Naumče Mojsovski is aiming high: “Our group is completely open for all six teams. So, I hope we can repeat our result from the previous season and make some surprises. We have the strength to reach a good result.”

Club Address: HC Metalurg ul. Jane Lukroski 6 1000 Skopje FYRO Macedonia Contact numbers: Tel. +389-2-3073088 Fax. +389-2-3172621 Email: zoran.cvetanovski@gmail.com Arena: Boris Trajkovski bul. 8 Septemvri bb Skopje Capacity: 7000 Media contact: Zoran Cvetanovski +389 78223505 zoran.cvetanovski@gmail.com Online: Club website: http://www.rkmetalurg.mk/ Twitter: @РК-Металург Facebook: РК-Металург ehfCL.com Club achievements: EHF Champions League: Participations (including 2012/13 season): 5 Last 16 (1): 2012 Group Matches (2): 2007, 2009 Qualification (1): 2011 Other EC records: 9 participations in other EC Macedonian champion:5 titles (2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012) Macedonian Cup winner: 5 titles

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The squad

No. First Name Family Name Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height 71 Stefche Alshovski MKD Left wing 01.10.1972 89 189 20 Petar Angelov MKD Goalkeeper 08.03.1977 103 192 23 Damir Batinovic CRO Centre back 18.08.1987 93 193

4 Vancho Dimovski MKD Line player 04.04.1979 110 187 17 Tihomir Doder SRB Centre back 08.08.1979 92 194

9 Goce Georgievski MKD Right wing 12.02.1987 83 185 29 Ace Jonovski MKD Left back 29.12.1980 104 200 12 Stefan Kimevski MKD Goalkeeper 31.12.1990 88 193 10 Miladin Kozlina SLO Left back 11.02.1983 115 199

3 Milan Levov MKD Right back 05.04.1987 87 186 5 Borjan Madjovski MKD Left back 08.05.1994 88 198

11 Dejan Manaskov MKD Left wing 26.08.1992 78 181 14 Velko Markoski MKD Left back 05.04.1986 100 194 98 Tadej Matijasic SLO Left wing 22.01.1994 74 174 13 Filip Mirkulovski MKD Centre back 14.09.1983 91 189 16 Nikola Mitrevski MKD Goalkeeper 03.10.1985 84 188 15 Zlatko Mojsoski MKD Right wing 15.11.1981 81 180 18 Naumce Mojsovski MKD Centre back 17.06.1980 92 187

8 Levko Naumovski MKD Line player 29.06.1980 105 205 44 Zharko Peshevski MKD Line player 11.04.1991 110 195

2 Mladen Rakcevic MNE Line player 10.02.1982 105 179 1 Darko Stanic SRB Goalkeeper 08.10.1978 102 191

19 Mitko Stoilov MKD Back 04.02.1983 107 195 24 Nikola Stojchevski MKD Back 09.08.1984 83 185

New signings (including former club):

• Tihomir Doder (H.C. Vardar Pro), • Milan Vučičević (Kolubara)

Left the club (including new club):

• Žarko Marković (FA Göppingen), • Milan Vučičević (Kolubara), • Nikola Stojčevski (Qatar), • Jovica Mladenovski(Tinex Prolet)

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Key players

Darko Stanić: He got his nickname “minister of defence” during the successful EHF EURO 2012, where the Serbian was awarded best goalkeeper of the tournament and won the silver medal with his team. Stanić was supposed to transfer to Göppingen, but then signed with Skopje, where he wants to finish his career. His reflexes and his calmness make Stanic of the best current goalkeepers in the world.

Naumče Mojsovski: The Macedonian left back has been making a constant impact for the past three years – in the Macedonian national team as well as at Metalurg. Besides top star Kiril Lazarov he is the top scorer for the Macedonians, for Metalurg he is shooter and playmaker in one person.

Filip Mirkulovski: Once Metalurg, always Metalurg is the motto of the Skopje centre back, as he goes into his eleventh international season for the Macedonian champions. He is also one of the key player in the Macedonian national team.

Coach

Lino Červar: Medals pave his way: Lino Červar was the most successful coach of the Croatian men’s national team, becoming Olympic (2004) and world champion (2003), and collecting several more medals like two world championship silver medals in 2005 and 2009 or EHF EURO silver 2008 and 2010. Parallel to his work for the Croatian Federation, Červar was coach of RK Zagreb for a long period after several other jobs for example in Italy. In 2009 he resigned from his position at Zagreb and became Metalurg coach – a job he focuses on completely since resigning from the Croatian national team in 2010.

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MatchID: 201311020102-

Group C matches won draw lost goal-difference points1 DEN Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 02 SLO Gorenje Velenje 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 03 POL KS Vive Targi Kielce 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 04 FRA Chambery Savoie Handball 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 05 RUS St. Petersburg HC 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 06 MKD HC Metalurg 0 0 0 0 0:0 0 0

061 SLO Gorenje Velenje vs. RUS St. Petersburg HC  29.09.2012 20:00    Velenje / SLO    Ref.: Fleisch, Rieber GER   Del.: Sokol CRO

062 POL KS Vive Targi Kielce vs. DEN Bjerringbro-Silkeborg  30.09.2012 17:00    Kielce / POL    Ref.: Marin Lorente, Garcia Serradilla ESP   Del.: Van der Helm NED

063 FRA Chambery Savoie Handball vs. MKD HC Metalurg  30.09.2012 19:00    Chambery / FRA    Ref.: Geipel, Helbig GER   Del.: Huelin ESP

065 MKD HC Metalurg vs. SLO Gorenje Velenje  06.10.2012 18:00    Skopje / MKD   

066 RUS St. Petersburg HC vs. POL KS Vive Targi Kielce  06.10.2012 19:00    Chekhov / RUS   

064 DEN Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs. FRA Chambery Savoie Handball  07.10.2012 17:00    Kjellerup / DEN   

068 POL KS Vive Targi Kielce vs. SLO Gorenje Velenje  13.10.2012 17:00    Kielce / POL   

069 RUS St. Petersburg HC vs. FRA Chambery Savoie Handball  13.10.2012 19:00    Chekhov / RUS   

067 DEN Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs. MKD HC Metalurg  14.10.2012 17:00    Kjellerup / DEN   

072 SLO Gorenje Velenje vs. DEN Bjerringbro-Silkeborg  17.10.2012 20:00    Velenje / SLO   

070 MKD HC Metalurg vs. RUS St. Petersburg HC  20.10.2012 18:00    Skopje / MKD   

071 FRA Chambery Savoie Handball vs. POL KS Vive Targi Kielce  21.10.2012 19:00    Chambery / FRA   

2012/13 Men's European Cup EHF Champions League Group Phase

EHF Report | 09.24.2012 11:58 | 7/12

22

075 MKD HC Metalurg vs. POL KS Vive Targi Kielce  18.11.2012 18:00    Skopje / MKD   

073 FRA Chambery Savoie Handball vs. SLO Gorenje Velenje  18.11.2012 19:00    Chambery / FRA   

074 RUS St. Petersburg HC vs. DEN Bjerringbro-Silkeborg  18.11.2012 20:00    Chekhov / RUS   

076 SLO Gorenje Velenje vs. FRA Chambery Savoie Handball  24.11.2012 16:30    Velenje / SLO   

078 POL KS Vive Targi Kielce vs. MKD HC Metalurg  24.11.2012 17:00    Kielce / POL   

077 DEN Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs. RUS St. Petersburg HC  25.11.2012 17:00    Silkeborg / DEN   

081 MKD HC Metalurg vs. FRA Chambery Savoie Handball  01.12.2012 18:00    Skopje / MKD   

079 RUS St. Petersburg HC vs. SLO Gorenje Velenje  01.12.2012 19:00    Chekhov / RUS   

080 DEN Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs. POL KS Vive Targi Kielce  02.12.2012 17:00    Silkeborg / DEN   

083 SLO Gorenje Velenje vs. MKD HC Metalurg  09.02.2013 16:30    Velenje / SLO   

084 POL KS Vive Targi Kielce vs. RUS St. Petersburg HC  09.02.2013 17:00    Kielce / POL   

082 FRA Chambery Savoie Handball vs. DEN Bjerringbro-Silkeborg  10.02.2013 17:00    Chambery / FRA   

086 POL KS Vive Targi Kielce vs. FRA Chambery Savoie Handball  16.02.2013 17:00    Kielce / POL   

085 RUS St. Petersburg HC vs. MKD HC Metalurg  16.02.2013 19:00    Chekhov / RUS   

087 DEN Bjerringbro-Silkeborg vs. SLO Gorenje Velenje  17.02.2013 17:00    Silkeborg / DEN   

2012/13 Men's European Cup EHF Champions League Group Phase

EHF Report | 09.24.2012 11:58 | 8/12

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089 SLO Gorenje Velenje vs. POL KS Vive Targi Kielce  23.02.2013 16:30    Velenje / SLO   

088 MKD HC Metalurg vs. DEN Bjerringbro-Silkeborg  24.02.2013 17:00    Skopje / MKD   

090 FRA Chambery Savoie Handball vs. RUS St. Petersburg HC  24.02.2013 19:00    Chambery / FRA   

 

2012/13 Men's European Cup EHF Champions League Group Phase

EHF Report | 09.24.2012 11:58 | 9/12

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