News

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.