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Vardar rested players for this match in Kragujevac

Tatran's president made some interesting comments about SEHA league

Izvor: SEHA Gazprom South Stream liga

The Slovakian champion are still in for the third place in the regular part of the season. That would get them to the semifinals, meaning they'd be playing the quarterfinals against the 6th team. That would be either the ridiculous Metalurg, or the weak Nexe. In case they don't manage to end up third, they'd face Zagreb or Meškov on the first day of the Final Six tournament, which is a far more difficult lot.

Judging by the words of Tatran's president, Miloslav Chmeliar, they don't really care about the SEHA league, but that was obvious when they let Krištopans go play in Qatar.

- The first reason our season ended in November was two matches against Melsungen. We still have a contract with 19 players, one left, and these 18 have to win the Slovakian league. If they can't do it without Krištopans, then they can't be allowed to play in Prešov.

The following sentences show their bitterness about the SEHA league:

- Whoever watches handball and knows how to read between the lines knows that by changing the rules about playing the final tournament in the championship that already started, all the places were already decided. Based on those, there won't be room for the Slovakian championship on this Final Four.

For those who are not clear what Chmeliar is trying to say, we can clarify. There were talks about playing the Final Four a long time ago, but creating the Final Six will push Tatran to play against a strong rival, and obviously the Slovakian's president doesn't think they'll have a chance there.

They're sharing the third place with Zagreb right now, Meškov are three points behind, but also played one game less. Besides Vardar today, they'll also have an away match in Belarus and Serbia. They'd have to win in Belarus to get the third place, and that won't be easy.

A few days ago, in the first match without Krištopans, they played just enough against Nexe. That was far from a good game, they had problems offensively, but Nexe arrived without being too motivated. What's important is that the coach Peter David used Tomaš Urban as the right back, and they created the difference with Rabek who was unstoppable.

- What I've seen from Vardar against Löwen tells me we should be honored to play against a rival like that one. Every fan in Prešov should know that Vardar are a favorite. Even more so because we can't rely on Krištopans. and who knows how Rabek will be, he had some health issues while playing against Nexe - coach Peter David said.

If it's any easier, Vardar will play without Arpad Šterbik who didn't come to Kragujevac, where the Macedonians were before coming to Slovakia. Even without him, they easily got three points (38-29), and the duo Milić and Angelov had 19 saves with 40% success. Some background players were great, like Terzić (7/12), Marković (8/11), and Lazarov (7/10). Coach Gonzalez spared a lot of players, like Dibirov, Gorbok, Dujšebajev, Karačić, obviously trying to spare them after Lowen, and save them for today.

Even though this match is pretty insignificant for them, nobody can get them down from the second place, and they definitely can't jeopardize Veszprem.

Pribak came back in Kragujevac after missing against Löwen, and besides Šerbik, the injured Petrić and Lacković were out, as well as the wing Brumen, which isn't that much of a minus when you have Šiškarev.

- If we win, we'll definitely get to the second place, so we'll do everything we can. Tatran are a good team, they play great at home, and we have to give our best in this match, I expect it to be intense - coach Raul Gonzalez commented.

- We have a few injured players and that will definitely be a big minus, but even though we're weakened like that, Vardar are a team who always go for the win, this time as well. Tatran are especially motivated at home, but we have enough quality to win - coach Angelov said.