After several days of introductory training sessions in Skopje as part of the team’s pre-season preparations, HC Alkaloid have relocated to Mavrovo, where significantly more favorable weather conditions are providing the ideal setting to recharge their batteries ahead of the demanding period that awaits once competitive action gets underway.

With a full squad available, apart from cadet national team goalkeeper Gjorgji Nikolovski, who is representing Macedonia at the M18 EHF Championship, the players are currently focused on improving their physical conditioning. For most of the squad, the summer mountain camp is a familiar destination, and they know well that this phase of the preparations is both demanding and essential. The lessons from previous seasons have clearly been learned, with the players returning from the summer break in excellent shape. The task now falls to the coaching staff to raise the collective to the desired level.

The players’ fitness has certainly not gone unnoticed by head coach Kiril Lazarov:

“We have been working together for quite some time now, and we have established order and discipline. As time goes by, everyone becomes more aware of what it takes to perform at a higher level and to play the style of handball demanded by Europe and by the top clubs. I am very pleased with the way we have started our preparations. The atmosphere is excellent, the conditions are outstanding, and everyone is working with great enthusiasm and commitment,” said Lazarov.

The club’s strategy remains unchanged, with the squad entering the new season with greater experience.

“Since the club’s establishment, HC Alkaloid and HC Multi Essence have been developing step by step, following a clear strategy aimed at strengthening both the club and Macedonian handball as a whole. Last season, the HC Alkaloid and HC Multi Essence project produced national youth and junior champions, while the cadet team finished as runners-up. At present, we have more than 50 national team players across all age categories, and we remain fully committed to developing players for both our club and the national teams.

As our rivals continue to strengthen and the Super League becomes increasingly competitive, we have decided to make a few carefully considered additions in order to further improve the quality of the squad and remain competitive on both the domestic and European stage.

We have retained the core quality we have built over the years while adding three experienced, high-quality players who we believe will bring additional value. Big names alone do not make a successful team. Building a team requires hard work, discipline, and a well-established system. Based on everything I have seen so far, I am completely satisfied with every player. When you have quality players willing to work, everything becomes easier, and training sessions are more relaxed.

If I had to sum it up, although it is still early in the preparations, I am very satisfied as head coach. We are professionals, but at this stage our professionalism is also bringing us genuine satisfaction,” Lazarov added.

The preparations have been carefully planned, with a series of friendly matches already scheduled…

“During the planning process, we revised our schedule several times because there was uncertainty surrounding the format of the Regional League. Once our participation was officially confirmed and the fixture list was released, we decided to remain in Macedonia and arrange several friendly matches, even though it was already quite late. It was also too late for us to accept invitations to the tournaments in Ohrid and Struga. Instead, we will play two friendly matches against the Egypt national team, while HC Nexe will visit us. We begin here in Mavrovo with a match against HC Prilep. Our opening Regional League fixture is against HC Partizan on 26 August, and before then we may arrange one additional match,” said HC Alkaloid head coach Kiril Lazarov.

HC Alkaloid have officially begun preparations for the new season, with the team’s roll call taking place today at the Avtokomanda arena. The players were welcomed by Zhivko Mukaetov, CEO and President of the Management Board of ALKALOID AD Skopje, who wished the squad good health and success in the campaign ahead.

The club’s pre-season preparations will be conducted in three stages. The initial phase, serving as an introduction to the training process, will take place in Skopje. The team will then head to Mavrovo on 3 August for the second stage of preparations, before wrapping up the final phase with a series of friendly matches. During the 2026/2027 season, HC Alkaloid will compete on four fronts. Alongside the Macedonian Championship and the Macedonian Cup, the club will participate in the newly established Regional League, featuring teams from Serbia and Montenegro. On the European stage, HC Alkaloid will once again compete in the EHF European Cup, where it claimed the title in the 2024/2025 season.

The squad has also seen several changes during the summer. Martin Ivanovski, Nikola Markoski, Kristijan Simonoski, and Martin Serafimov have left the club, while Slovenian internationals Matic Suholežnik and Nejc Cehte, together with Montenegrin international Vuko Borozan, have joined HC Alkaloid.

Thirty-one-year-old Matic Suholežnik is a 202 cm pivot who arrives from RD Slovan. His previous clubs include HC Celje, French clubs Dunkerque and Saran, Portugal’s Benfica, and Croatian champions HC Zagreb.

Nejc Cehte (33) strengthens the team at right back after concluding last season with Füchse Berlin, finalists in the EHF Champions League. Earlier in his career, he played for Krško and Gorenje Velenje in Slovenia, Germany’s Hannover, Danish GOG, and HC Eurofarm Pelister.

Montenegrin left back Vuko Borozan is a well-known handball player with extensive experience across Europe, the Middle East, and Macedonia. He is 32 years old and stands 203 cm tall.

HC Alkaloid has been named the third seed for the 2026/2027 EHF European Cup, Europe’s largest club handball competition. The European Handball Federation (EHF) has published the official ranking of participating clubs and confirmed that the competition draw will take place in Vienna on 14 July.

Thanks to its ranking, HC Alkaloid has secured a place in the top seeding pot and will enter the competition directly in the second round.

The EHF is expected to confirm whether the draw for the second round will also be held on 14 July, in line with previous practice, or moved to the newly proposed date of 22 September.

After lifting the EHF European Cup trophy in its debut season in 2024/2025, HC Alkaloid will make its second appearance in Europe’s largest club competition. The upcoming EHF European Cup season will feature 83 teams, 10 more than in last season’s competition and the two preceding editions.

HC EUROFARM PELISTER – HC ALKALOID 31:26 (14:15)

Venue: Boro Churlevski in Bitola. Referees: Ismail Metalari and Nenad Nikolovski. Delegates: Marjan Ognjanovski and Dushko Kamishevski.

HC EUROFARM PELISTER: Mitrevski, Heidarirad, Manaskov 1, Vidomski 4, Ristevski, Tajnik 6, Grahovac, Henigman 1, Radivojevic 3, Kuzmanovski 7, Abutovic, Kalajdjieski, Petar Atanasijevikj 5, Peshevski 1, Hosni 1, Pavle Atanasijevikj 2

Seven-meter throws: 6/10 Suspensions: 10 min.

HC ALKALOID: Galevski, Nikolovski, Djonov 1, Þordarsson, Stojkovic 4, M. Mitev 4, Gjorgjiev, Velkovski, Simonoski, Nenad Kosteski 1, Petkovski, D. Mitev 7, Borzas 4, Alarov, Nikolov 5, Gjorgovski

Seven-meter throws: 5/5 Suspensions: 12 min.

HC Alkaloid concluded the season with a 31:26 (14:15) away defeat to HC Eurofarm Pelister in Bitola, finishing fourth in the Super League playoff standings and securing qualification for next season’s EHF European Cup, where the club will enter as the defending champion.

The visitors enjoyed a strong start in Bitola, largely thanks to goalkeeper Galevski, who denied three penalty attempts (0:3). Although Pelister quickly recovered and leveled the score, the first half remained closely contested, with HC Alkaloid holding a slender 14:15 lead at halftime.

The momentum shifted after the break. A series of difficulties in attack and technical errors allowed the home side to take control and move in front. HC Alkaloid spent the remainder of the match chasing the result and battling to overturn the deficit but were ultimately unable to mount a comeback in the Boro Churlevski hall in Bitola.

HC Alkaloid signed off from its home court in impressive fashion, defeating HC Butel Skopje 37:21 (19:11). The team coached by Kiril Lazarov faced few difficulties and controlled the match from start to finish.

Ulfar Pall Monsi Þordarsson finished as the match’s top scorer with eight goals. Uros Borzas, Marko Stojkovic, and Filip Nikolov each netted five times, while brothers Marko Mitev and Damjan Mitev, along with young wing David Trajkoski, contributed three goals apiece. Goalkeeper Gjorgji Nikolovski also delivered an outstanding performance, recording 12 saves.

The match marked HC Alkaloid’s final appearance on home court this season, with only one fixture remaining on the schedule – an away encounter against HC Eurofarm Pelister.

Before the start of the match, three players who are leaving the club, namely Nikola Markoski, Martin Ivanovski, and Kristijan Simonoski, were presented with commemorative plaques by HC Alkaloid and received a warm farewell from both teammates and supporters.

The end of the season traditionally brings roster changes, and HC Alkaloid will part ways with three players who have been part of the first team.

Nikola Markoski, Martin Ivanovski, and Kristijan Simonoski officially bid farewell to the club today and will not be part of the first-team squad in Avtokomanda next season.

The trio was officially honored before the home fixture against HC Butel Skopje, where they received commemorative plaques from the club and were given a heartfelt send-off by supporters and teammates.

All three have left a lasting mark on the club’s history as members of the generation that delivered HC Alkaloid’s first trophies in the Macedonian Super League as well as the club’s maiden EHF European Cup title.

HC Alkaloid would like to thank them for their commitment and contribution and wishes them continued success in their future careers.