Gorbok out for Russian coaches‘ debut

After a ten-day training camp in Novogorske, Russia are ready for two crucial encounters with Hungary in EHF EURO 2016 Qualification.

“We had an intense camp, mainly with those players from Russian clubs, and we are well prepared for the next step of qualification,” assistant coach Lev Voronin said.

He and his “boss” Dmitry Torgovanov will have their official debut on the Russian bench as successors of Oleg Kuleshov and Sascha Rymanov, who stepped down after the World Championship in Qatar. In Doha, the Russian team failed to progress from the preliminary round and finally ended up in 19^th position.

“We have analysed the World Championship and drawn our conclusions. Now we hope to make a decisive step towards the final tournament in Poland,” Torgovanov said.

Special connections

For him, the match is not only special because of his debut, but also as he and Voronin will face their former teammate on the Hungarian bench Talant Dujshebaev. All three coaches were part of the Russian World Championship winning side in 1993. “It is a funny situation to face Talant,” admits Torgovanov.

The coaching trio have another thing in common. All are club coaches as well, Dujshebaev at VELUX EHF FINAL4 participant Kielce (POL), while Torgovanov (St. Petersburg) and Voronin (Permski Medvedi) are in the Russian league.

Among those players from Russian clubs, who were tested for the duels with Hungary on 30 April and 2 May, are several new names. “The time had come for some changes,” underlines Voronin, “fresh blood will be in our veins.”

The final decision on which young guns and which experienced players from clubs from all over Europe will be in the squad for the first match at Chekhov, will be taken quite close prior to the match, but one big name, Sergej Gorbok, is certain to miss out.

“We were informed by his club Vardar that he is injured – and we were surprised, as he played a quite good role in the Vardar team in their Champions League quarter-finals against Kielce,” was the official comment of the Russian Federation on the Gorbok case.

Voronin is estimating Hungary in the favourite role: “They can count on internationally experienced players from top teams such as Veszprem and Szeged. And to sign Talant as their coach proves the high ambitions Hungary have.”

Nevertheless, Voronin and Torgovanov have good memories of encounters between the two teams. With both coaches on court at the 2004 Olympic Games, Russia took the bronze medal after beating the Hungarians.