The new handball season in Macedonia starts this weekend, and both HC Alkaloid and HC Multi Essence are gearing up to face significant challenges, having successfully completed their summer preparations.

HC Alkaloid embarks on its second season in the Super League as the reigning vice-champion of Macedonia, making its debut as Macedonia’s representative in the group stage of the EHF European League.

The accomplishments from the previous season serve as motivation for the club and team to keep improving and growing. There are bigger responsibilities, but also an even greater confidence that with quality work and commitment across all spheres, the club can only move in one direction – forward.

With a refreshed lineup reinforced by the addition of four new players, HC Alkaloid clinched the second spot at the International Tournament in Struga during the preparatory period. They secured impressive victories against the Greek champions AEK and the Serbian squad Dinamo Pancevo.

Preparations were completed after four matches in Croatia and Slovenia, adding the finishing touch to their form. Now, they eagerly anticipate the commencement of the Macedonian Super League and the European challenge.

In the initial phase of the championship, HC Alkaloid will compete in Group A, alongside the teams of CHC Ohrid, CHC Tikvesh, MHC Kumanovo, HC Aerodrom, HC Struga, HC Eurofarm Pelister 2, and HC Skopje 2020.

The championship kicks off with an away match against HC Skopje 2020 at the Avtokomanda hall on September 8th, starting at 07:00 PM.

Meanwhile, HC Multi Essence is set to make its debut in the highly competitive Macedonian Super League this season. This youthful squad comprises handpicked talents who will have the opportunity to progress and seamlessly transition from youth to senior competition by facing off against the finest Macedonian teams.

Leading this young team in the new championship is Ivan Markovski, a distinguished former national team player and coach with experience both domestically and abroad.

During the preparatory phase, HC Multi Essence won second place at the Mile Neshkoski Memorial Tournament in Prilep, triumphing over teams with more extensive experience in the Super League.

In the Super League, HC Multi Essence will compete in Group B, alongside teams including HC Eurofarm Pelister, HC Vardar 1961, HC Golden Art, HC Butel Skopje, HC Tinex Prolet, HC Vardar Negotino, and HC Prilep.

Their championship journey begins at home in the Avtokomanda hall on Saturday, starting at 05:30 PM, with their first opponent being HC Golden Art.

HC DOBOVA – HC ALKALOID 24:33 (12:14)

Venue: Dobova in Dobova, Slovenia

HC DOBOVA: Grodnik, Gerjovic 1, Fabek, Blagojevic, Romž 2, Žitkovic, Maslovak, Ramtah, Mladkovic 5, Pekenlak 1, Kožovic, Tajnik 1, Abramovic 9, Veršovnik 2, Jovanovic 3

Seven-meter throws: 2/2 Suspensions: 6 min.

HC ALKALOID: Romero, Trajkovski 1, Galevski 1, Djonov, Markoski 2, Stojkov 1, Mladenovikj 2, Serafimov 9, Stojchevikj, Stojkovic 4, M. Mitev 2, Gjorgiev 2, Omeragikj 1, Kofiloski 1, Petkovski 1, Bingo 5, Savrevski 1

Seven-meter throws: 2/4 Suspensions: 6 min.

HC Alkaloid finished its Croatia and Slovenia mini tour with a victory over the team of HC Dobova (33:24).

In the last game, the first half was well matched and close, but HC Alkaloid’s players controlled the outcome and took the lead with 7:5, 10:9, and 14:12 at halftime.

The advantage was doubled (18:14) early in the second half, and then our squad recorded its greatest score of plus six (24:18). The home team failed to challenge our team’s lead up until the very end of the game, when HC Alkaloid led with a seven-goal difference, finishing the match with a triumph of nine goals, 33:24.

Martin Serafimov scored nine goals, Arnaud Bingo scored five, and Marko Stojkovic scored four goals making them the best scorers in our team.

After this, HC Alkaloid is returning to Macedonia to continue with the preparations for the Super League and the EHF European League.

HC DUBOCICA – HC MULTI ESSENCE 30-21 (18-10)

Venue: RR Richko in Prilep. Referees: Mitrevski and Todorovski. Delegate: Cvetkoski

HC DUBOCICA: Pavlovic, Milichevic 2, Radulovic 5, Petrovic 1, Trajkovic, Mitrovic, A. Mitrovic, Spasic 3, Atanaskovic 1, Cvetkovic 1, Ristovic 8, M. Pavlovic, Angelkovic 6, Miloshevic 1, Kocic, Ardjelan

Seven-meter throws: 2/2 Suspensions: 2 min.

HC MULTI ESSENCE: Vasilevski, Ermanoski, Dimevski 2, Kostovski 1, Ilieski 6, Petkovski 1, Petreski, Trajchev, Omeragikj 1, Trajkovski, G/ Gjorgievski, Todeski 2, Uzunchev 1, J. Trajkovski, Jordanov 1, Dimovski 2, Karasmanakis 1

Seven-meter throws: 6/7 Suspensions: –

HC Multi Essence won second place at the eighth Mile Neshkoski Memorial Tournament that took place in Prilep.

Today, our squad faced HC Dubochica in the tournament final which ended with an undisputed victory for the Serbian team by a score of 30-21.

All was clear early in the game when the opposing team made a 7-2 advantage that our young squad failed to quash in the extra time, finishing second.

Our player, Bozhidar Ilieski, was named the most valuable player of the tournament.

MHC SESVETE – HC ALKALOID 28:29 (16:15)

Jelkovec Secondary School in Zagreb

MHC SESVETE: Topic 2, Tomic 1, Finek 1, Štrkovic 3, Jelovcic 2, Cuk 1, Turchic 2, Dumencic 3, Godec 4, Gavric 1, Hršak 8, Prpic, Šuker

HC ALKALOID: Romero, Trajkovski, Galevski, Markoski 1, Savrevski 1, Gjorgiev 1, M. Mitev 2, Djonov 2, Stojkovikj 3, Serafimov 6, Stojkov 3, Bingo 7, Mladenovikj 2, Omeragikj, Stojchevikj, Kofiloski, Petkovski 1

HC Alkaloid defeated the Sesvete team with a score of 29:28 in its third control match that took place in Croatia. The strong home team that won third place in the Croatian championship last season was a great challenge for our squad, and coach Kiril Lazarov had the opportunity to test the players against a motivated and quality team that fought until the last second to remain undefeated.

Our team overturned the score at 12 minutes to the end, when it took the lead for the first time with a three-goal difference (26:23). Then, they managed to fend off the host’s attempts to even the score and won by a narrow victory.

Arnaud Bingo was the top scorer with seven goals, while Martin Serafimov scored six goals.

On Tuesday, HC Alkaloid will play their last game against HC Dobova from Slovenia before returning to Macedonia.

HC T. PROLET – HC MULTI ESSENCE 25-30 (12-16)

Venue: R. R. Richko in Prilep. Referees: Sedloski and Angeleski. Delegate: Cvetkoski

T. PROLET: Ivanoski 1, Nikolovski 2, Pecakovski, Vasilevski 7, Kocharov, Dodevski, Andonovski 7, Petkovski, Majnov, Dimovski 2, Stojanovski 2, Mihaljevic, Spasoski, Arsenovski 2, Totic

Seven-meter throws: / Suspensions: 8 min.

MULTI ESSENCE: Ermanoski, Vasilevski, Dimevski 4, Kostovski 4, Ilieski 2, Petkovski, Omeragikj 1, Gjorgievski, Todeski 1, Uzunchev, Dimovski 5, Jordanov 6, Karasmanakis 5

Seven-meter throws: 2/3 Suspensions: 4 min.

HC Multi Essence will play in the final of the eighth Mile Neshkoski Memorial Tournament taking place in Prilep.

Today, our team defeated the Super League member HC Tinex Prolet with 29-25 and, with a score of two wins and one draw, they won first place in the group.

Our team played an excellent match today in which they took the lead and kept control throughout the entire game. After an even start, with a series of 6:1, we reached a lead of 16-11 in the first half, leaving at halftime with a score of 16:12.

We successfully parried and maintained the difference from two to four goals in the second half, until the final 29-25.

With six goals, Oleg Jordanov was our team’s best scorer, while Martin Dimovski and Valentin Karasmanakis scored five goals each.

HC ZAGREB – HC ALKALOID 31-25 (15-14)

Jelkovec Secondary School in Zagreb. Referees: Kuhar and Precec from Croatia

HC PPD ZAGREB: Grbavac, Pantjar, Kos 6, Cavar 1, Walczak 3, Faljic, Klarica 2, Gojun, Klis, Kraljevic, Sirotic, Cupic 5, Dibirov 7, Morales 2, Kavcic 5, Suholežnik 1

Seven-meter throws: 0/2 Suspensions: 8 min.

HC ALKALOID: Romero, Galevski, Trajkovski, Markoski 1, Stojkov 3, Mladenovikj 2, Serafimov 5, Stojkovic, Stojchevikj, M. Mitev 6, Omeragikj, Gjorgiev 4, Bingo 2, Kofiloski, Petkovski, Savrevski 1

Seven-meter throws: 1/2 Suspensions: 6 min.

HC Alkaloid played the second control match within the mini tour in Croatia. Tonight, our team’s opponent was the Croatian champion, PPD Zagreb.

The match was tied throughout the first half. After HC Alkaloid led by 6:5, Zagreb went on a 5:0 run and took a 10:6 lead.

HC Alkaloid responded with its own 4:0 run and evened the score to 10:10 in the 23^rd minute.

Four minutes later we made a 14-13 lead, but the last two goals were scored by the home team leaving for break with 15-14.

In the second part, the home team managed to take the lead with two goals (18-16), and then doubled the difference to plus four. This was also the difference in the 59^th minute, however in the game’s last minute the home team scored two more goals, ending the match with 31-25.

Tomorrow, Sunday, HC Alkaloid will face the team of HC Sesvete in the third control match. The game is scheduled to start at 07:00 PM.