HC Alkaloid will play in the European EHF Cup, a knockout competition that starts with 84 teams split into two rounds, as Macedonia’s representative in its second season in Europe. The teams got their opponents for the initial elimination matches today.

HC Alkaloid, the top-ranked Macedonian team in this competition, is slated to start in the second round and was given a seeding in today’s draw. Their first opponent in the upcoming European season will be Lithuania’s Dragunas Klaipeda.

Dragunas (Dragons), the second highest-ranking Lithuanian club since the country’s independence, ended Granitas Kaunas’s 17-title streak in 19 years in 2010. Their own championship run lasted until the 2020 season, which was disrupted by Covid, and during that decade, they secured nine titles. The team of Sviesa emerged as a dominant force in 2021 and has been the Lithuanian champion for the past three seasons. During the last season, Sviesa defeated Dragunas with a score of 3-1 in the final. Throughout its history, Dragunas has also claimed the Baltic League championship cup (2021). Currently, three Dragunas players are shortlisted for the Lithuanian national team, while four positions are occupied by foreign players from Ukraine, including a goalkeeper, a pivot, and two left backs.

The second-round matches of the EHF Cup are scheduled between October 19/20 and October 26/27 for the return legs, with HC Alkaloid hosting the first match in Skopje.

HC Alkaloid won first place in the third Marko Bozhinovski memorial tournament held in Skopje. There were eight teams competing in this year’s cadet competition, three of which were international. Our team competed against HC Butel Skopje (34-25), HC Struga (29-22), and HC Mornar from Montenegro (25-23).

Following three victories, HC Alkaloid moved on to the finals where they faced Konjuh’s team from Bosnia and Herzegovina, who had defeated E. Pelister, Vardar, and Romanian Odorheiu in previous matches. Throughout the final, we maintained control over the score, although our opponents remained close. With just 20 seconds left, the score stood at 27-27. We scored a decisive goal, followed by a strong defensive play, clinching victory with a final score of 28-27. This marks HC Alkaloid’s second cup in this event, having also claimed the title in last year’s second tournament.

HC Alkaloid’s players, staff, and management marked the completion of this year’s season. It was the third in the club’s history, and it came with many new challenges which they faced and overcame, such as their debut in the EHF European League, major derby matches in the Super League Playoff, their historic Macedonian Cup appearance and first cup, and the championship cups in the pioneer, cadet, and youth competitions. Additionally, the season was highlighted by our players’ exceptional play and their significant impact on both the senior and youth national teams.

A press conference and cocktail reception were held to mark the conclusion of the season, attended by our players. Club president Goran Minov, coach Kiril Lazarov, and captain Igor Gjorjiev addressed the media.

Club president Goran Minov, provided a brief overview of the season, focusing on the results achieved.

“We have reached the conclusion of a season that was, in many respects, very significant for us as we faced numerous novel challenges. We navigated new experiences, such as our debut in Europe, which not only tested our athletic and competitive abilities, but also demanded a fresh organizational approach. Our senior team excelled in the EHF European League, competing against esteemed opponents and securing our first points. We successfully competed in three European matches, effectively navigating the organizational challenges that came with them, which was an important test for us. Domestically, we secured a spot in Europe, and winning the Macedonian Cup was particularly gratifying. We are especially proud of the youth categories’ achievements, as we clinched first place in the pioneer, cadet, and youth categories. Through painstaking yet strategically effective efforts, we created a cohesive system that worked for everyone. We were successful because we were able to instill a winning mindset among the players. Our goal is to nurture future Macedonian national team players who will bring pride in Macedonia’s No 1 sport. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Alkaloid AD Skopje and Zhivko Mukaetov, our main sponsor, for providing us with excellent working conditions. I also wish to express my thanks to the staff led by Kiril Lazarov as well as the players who put their best efforts to make this season the best and our most successful yet. I would also like to thank our colleagues, the media, and the fans who were a great support,” said Goran Minov.

Coach Kiril Lazarov, addressed the difficulties the team faced this season and outlined plans for the upcoming season, aiming to advance in both the domestic and European championships.

“The club was established three years ago, but despite facing numerous obstacles, we decided to take the more challenging route. I am confident that this is the right one. We have chosen the Macedonian path, striving diligently for the club, our nation, Macedonian sports, and handball. Looking ahead, I hope we can continue along this trajectory, though I anticipate challenges, especially with the Macedonian league expanding each year. We had a great start to the season, securing 14 victories out of 14 matches. Then, we went on to win the Cup title by triumphing over the two toughest competitors within a span of less than 72 hours. It was a big accomplishment and a great source of satisfaction for us, demonstrating that we should stay on that course and have faith, even though we are aware that it will become even more challenging. We finished third in the playoffs and made our debut in Europe. I believe the EHF European Cup is the right competition for us, and I hope we will be more competitive there, advancing through more rounds. However, I am particularly happy with our performance in the youth divisions. Looking ahead, I urge the club’s management to increase investments in these categories, as they represent the future of Macedonian handball. I also appeal to other clubs to join us in investing in young players rather than seeing us as merely rivals. This collaborative endeavor is essential to preserving handball as the premier sport in Macedonia.” said Kiril Lazarov.

Captain Igor Gjorgjiev, expressed pride in having professional teammates by his side and extended congratulations to everyone for the season’s successful conclusion.

“We are concluding a successful season for HC Alkaloid. This year, our team achieved a significant milestone by delivering the club’s first trophy, the Macedonian Cup, a feat of which we are quite proud. We also competed in the EHF European League, playing six excellent games which were a learning experience for our young squad. We will compete in Europe again next season, and as captain, I can say we are happy with our performance. Our main goal is to excel in European handball and bring pride to Macedonia. We are grateful for Alkaloid’s support and the dedication of our teammates, who have shown professionalism and hard work throughout. Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude to our fans whose tremendous support throughout the season fueled our determination to strive for greater success”, said Igor Gjorgjiev.

Following their remarks, HC Alkaloid presented gifts to the attendees and said goodbye to two of its players. Left wing Dario Kofiloski and goalkeeper Viktor Vasilevski will be departing from our team. The club expressed gratitude for their contributions, loyalty, and dedication, and wished them success in their future endeavors.

HC Alkaloid is set to commence preparations for the upcoming season on July 25.