One of Macedonia’s biggest handball talents, Emilijan Gjorgovski, joined the HC Alkaloid family this season. In the blue-and-white jersey, he will look for another chance to prove himself, while the team gains a player who can bring new options to the game thanks to his shooting abilities. Having already played with some of his new teammates, his adaptation has been quick and easy.

On preparations…

“I’m very happy with how I was welcomed by my new teammates. Preparations are going very well, I try to give my best at every training session, and then on the court as well. The atmosphere is excellent, I’ve already played with some of the players in the youth national team, so it wasn’t difficult to fit into the team.”

On the Super League…

“From season to season, the Super League is getting stronger, with more competition. Alongside Vardar, Pelister, and Alkaloid, Ohrid has also strengthened this year. But there are always surprises, and no team should be underestimated. Our task will be to prepare as best we can for every match, regardless of the opponent.

Since all the national team players are competing in the domestic league and the quality is very high, that’s also good for the national team.”

On the EHF European League…

“We always go out to win, even against a Bundesliga team like Hannover. We know the Bundesliga is the best league in the world, but we always give it our all,” said Emilijan Gjorgovski.

At 32, Nikola Kosteski will be one of the most experienced players in HC Alkaloid’s squad this season. The winger is currently in a special training program in Mavrovo, gradually returning to rhythm after last year’s injury. He is working with Marko Mitev under the supervision of physiotherapist Toshe Trajkovski, with cycling also being part of his rehabilitation.

On training with HC Alkaloid…

“We’re in a recovery phase with physiotherapist Toshe Trajkovski, who is leading the muscle rehabilitation process. I feel good, and I hope everything goes as it should. I’m training together with Marko Mitev to get back into form, under a special program that also includes cycling.”

On team goals and playing in Europe…

“I can say that our team is well put together, we’ve strengthened the roster, and we have set high goals. Our first obstacle in Europe is Hannover, and those will be our first two official matches. We probably got the toughest possible opponent, but we’ll fight. We won’t back down, even though Hannover is a Bundesliga side that was in first place for most of last season.”

On the Macedonian championship…

“At the moment, the Macedonian league is at a very high level, and this year there are four to five quality teams competing for the top of the table. Our goals are, of course, the highest, both in the league and the Cup. We’ll go all out against everyone.”

On sharing the locker room with his brother Nenad Kosteski for the first time in a club…

“It’s wonderful to finally play together and I’m very happy. As the older brother, I’m here to guide him in everything necessary so we can both improve and reach the goal, building ourselves and the team. We once played together in the national team, but this is the first time in a club. We have a strong roster this year, and ahead of us is a long and difficult season.”

Mihail Alarov is one of the newest additions to HC Alkaloid. The 27-year-old pivot didn’t need long to adjust to his new environment, as he now shares the locker room with plenty of familiar faces. Preparations are on track, ambitions are high, but as Alarov points out, predictions can wait.

“We’re working extremely hard, and we’ve got enough time to shape our form exactly the way coach Lazarov wants so we’re ready for a demanding season, one that promises to be the most exciting yet. We’ll face a tough rival in Europe, but as players we’re giving our maximum every day. The squad is united, and step by step we’re building toward our objectives.

I’ve blended into HC Alkaloid perfectly since I already knew most of the players. The conditions are top-class and fully professional, and I’ve got no complaints. As for expectations, I’m not someone who talks about trophies ahead of time. What matters is to work and earn results. Our goals are, of course, ambitious, we want to make it to the EHF European League group stage. Whether we get there or not, time will tell. What’s up to us is to work hard,” said Alarov.

Once again, Macedonian national team player Ivan Galevski will stand between the posts for HC Alkaloid. Preparations in Mavrovo are in full swing, and both his personal and team expectations for the season are at the highest, matching the club’s ambitions.

“We’re back together, working hard, and now comes the preparatory phase where we sharpen our technical and tactical play. We know these sessions are tougher than usual, but we need to push through and follow the coach’s plan to reach the level we want.

We’re sharpening every aspect of our game, building up our fitness as well, and it’s crucial to maintain this rhythm so we hit peak form at the end of August, just in time for the tough season opener.

We’ll open the EHF European League with a two-legged clash against Hannover from the Bundesliga, and then go straight into a tough Super League schedule at home. It won’t be easy, but preparations are on the right track, and the team chemistry is excellent. Our ambitions are clear, this team was built to win, and we’ll aim for victory in every match, showing our very best,” said Galevski.

This season, Nikola Markoski will be the most experienced player in HC Alkaloid’s squad. His leadership and skills in defense, his ability to force errors, and his knack for punishing opponents remain vital to the team’s game plan.

“We’ve been together in the club for several years now, and we know the principles of how preparations are run. This season we didn’t repeat past mistakes, everyone stayed in shape during the break, so we arrived ready for the work ahead.

This stage is crucial so that later we can handle the next phases, including the matches waiting for us. After Mavrovo, we’ll move into the next stage, which includes friendly games.

The conditions in Mavrovo are excellent, this isn’t our first time, so the surroundings are familiar. The squad is handling the preparations well, the atmosphere is great, and I’m confident we’ll be ready for the challenges ahead, especially in September, when we’ll play five key matches that could shape the entire season,” said Nikola Markoski.