The European Handball Federation has confirmed the dates for the European League group phase matches.
HC Alkaloid will start the competition on October 17, playing at home against the Serbian champions, HC Vojvodina from Novi Sad.
MATCH SCHEDULE
HC Alkaloid held its first training session today and formally marked the start of preparations for the 2023/2024 season.
In addition to the domestic championship, HC Alkaloid will also compete in the EHF European League in the upcoming season.
The first part of the preparations will take place in Skopje, followed by basic preparations in Mavrovo.
In the second part, from August 16 to August 20, HC Alkaloid will compete in the Struga 2023 tournament, before heading to Croatia for final preparations, where it will face the teams of HC Nexe, HC PPD Zagreb, HC Sesvete, and the Slovenian HC Dobova team.
HC Alkaloid was part of today’s draw for the EHF European League group phase. Our club will compete in group F, playing against the following teams:
Bjerringbro-Silkeborg from Denmark
Logroño La Rioja from Spain
HC Vojvodina from Serbia
32 teams will compete in the EHF European League group phase, divided into eight groups with four teams each. The first two teams of each group will qualify for the competition main round.
The EHF European League group phase matches are being held from October 17 to December 5. EHF will additionally announce the match schedule.
HC Multi Essence hereby informs the public that Ivan Markovski was appointed as the team’s new head coach for the upcoming season.
Ivan Markovski is a former Macedonian national team player with a rich player background, including playing for several domestic and foreign teams, such as HC Pelister, HC Metalurg, HC Vardar, HC Metkovikj, HC Zagreb, and HC Saragosa.
He has coached teams from France, China, and Qatar, as well as the Macedonian teams, HJS Rabotnik and HC Metalurg, in the course of his coaching career.
He has held a master coach license since 2020.
Coach Mile Bochkarovski will be Ivan Markovski’s assistant.
The prelude to the new Super League season took place today with the drawing of lots, whereby 16 participating teams were divided into two groups, while the participants in the playoffs and playouts will become known after playing the autumn phase. Due to finishing in second place in the previous championship, HC Alkaloid was given the role of first seed together with HC E. Pelister.
Our team will play in group A in the championship autumn phase, competing against the teams of GHC Tikvesh, GHC Ohrid, HC E. Pelister 2, HC Struga, HC Kumanovo, HC Skopje, and HC Aerodrom.
In the first round, we will play against the team of HC Skopje on the away field.
As a new Super League competitor, the team of HC Multi Essence was in the last seed. HC Multi Essence will compete in group B against the teams of HC E. Pelister, HC Vardar 1961, HC Butel Skopje, HC Tinex Prolet, HC Golden Art, HC Prilep, and HC Vardar Negotino.
In the first round, HC Multi Essence will play against HC Golden Art at home.
The new season will start at the beginning of September. The exact date will be announced soon. According to the propositions, the four top teams from the two groups will then move to the playoffs, where they will also transfer points based on their group placement. The other four teams will compete in a playout to survive in the strongest competition.
2023/2024 SUPER LEAGUE
GROUP A: HC Alkaloid, CHC Tikvesh, CHC Ohrid, HC E. Pelister 2, HC Struga, MHC Kumanovo, HC Skopje, HC Aerodrom
1st Round: HC Skopje – HC Alkaloid, HC Struga – CHC Ohrid, MHC Kumanovo – HC Aerodrom, CHC Tikvesh – HC E. Pelister 2
GROUP B: HC E. Pelister, HC Vardar 1961, HC Butel Skopje, HC Tinex Prolet, HC Golden Art., HC Prilep, HC Vardar Negotino, HC Multi Essence.
1st Round: HC Multi Essence – HC Golden Art, HC T. Prolet – HC Vardar Negotino, HC Prilep – HC Butel HC Skopje, HC Vardar 1961 – HC E. Pelister
HC VARDAR 1961 – HC ALKALOID 21-25 (10-12)
Venue: Jane Sandanski in Skopje. Referees: Dimitar Mitrevski and Blagojche Todorovski. Delegate: Cane Kurtovikj
HC VARDDAR 1961: Ristovski, Jagurinovski, Stoilov, Alarov, Morales 3, Georgievski 4, Dobrkovikj, Tomovski, Lazarevski 2, Taleski 4, Dutra 4, Gjukikj, Stojanovski 3, Markoski, Mishevski 1, Gogov
Seven-meter throws: 3/4 Suspensions: 12 min.
HC ALKALOID: Trajkovski 1, Galevski, Djonov 4, Markoski 1, Stojkov, Mladenovikj 2, Serafimov 6, Ilieski 1, Stojkovikj 2, Mitev 3, Gjorgiev 1, Simonoski 2, Omeragikj, Kofiloski 1, Petkovski 1, Savrevski
Seven-meter throws: 1/1 Suspensions: 10 min.
HC Alkaloid achieved a remarkable feat in its first Super League season by finishing in second place in the championship, thus securing a spot in the European League, directly in the competition’s group stage.
In the last round, HC Alkaloid visited the team of HC Vardar in the Jane Sandanski hall, and by playing a competitive, high-quality match it showcased its ability, winning with a score of 25-21, thus passing HC Vardar 1961 in the table.
The score was tied at the beginning of this match. The home team controlled the result only in the opening minutes, but our team managed to even the score, and after 15 minutes of play, they had a two-goal advantage (7-5).
The transition of HC Alkaloid was excellent, we defended the lead and in the minutes that followed, increased the difference to three goals (10-7), in the 20th minute of the match.
During the half finish, we led with four goals (12-8) for the first time, but we missed two potential scoring chances before the end of the half, leaving HC Alkaloid with a 12-10 advantage going into the break.
In the opening minutes of the second half, HC Alkaloid controlled the score and had a lead of two to three goals.
The score was tied at 18-18 in the 47th minute of the game, but thanks to our goalkeeper Blagojche Trajkovski, HC Alkaloid took the lead once again (20-18) immediately afterwards. The match gained intensity, a fight was fought in every duel, and Alkaloid led 23-19 in the 57th minute of the match.
Our defense blocked the opponent’s attempts to make a turn. We had solutions in the offensive, and reached an advantage that was unattainable.