Leader of the league, CO Zagreb, still without a win in Cetinje
Lider CO Zagreb u Cetinju još bez pobjede
Lovćen will, with many
problems on their back, host league's leader CO Zagreb (Friday, 18.00). Since
the beginning of the whole SEHA league project Zagreb has never managed to win
in Cetinje. In the first season it was 27:25 and in the second 30:28 for hosts.
This will also be Lovćen's first match in their restored hall in Cetinje (until
now in Podgorica) which is now suitable for playing and meets league's
requests.
This game is on schedule right after national team week in which three CO Zagreb's players have played for Croatia on Bring Cup (third place) in Norway - Zlatko Horvat, Josip Valčić, Lovro Šprem and Lovćen's Igor Marković, Mirko Radović and Milan Popović were playing for Montenegro against Macedonia (1-1).
Boris Dvoršek, CO Zagreb's coach before playing in Cetinje:
National team break wasn't good for us and the reason are injuries although players got back from Norway in a good shape. Mandalinić is pausing because of muscle injury, Stepančić has the whole last week received injections because of his back problems and didn't train too. Matulić and J. Valčić have stomach flu but I hope we'll have them all for the match against Lovćen. We respect Lovćen. They've changed their coach and each change brings something new. They're a good team, know how to play but I don't think they're fast enough... We are favorites but speaking of SEHA league we've seen that it doesn't mean anything. We have to be honest and say that we're already looking ahead to CL and clash against Löwen but we will surely not underestimate Lovćen. I am a little afraid of our form, because I believe injuries might leave a mark.
Young Zagreb's pivot Teo Ćorić agrees with his coach:
We know that there is a very motivated host waiting us in Cetinje which will this season for the first time play in front of their home crowd. We expect win and to remain on SEHA's top league spot.
" Zagreb is favorite in this match but we have a great motive and desire to make something. We believe we can grab some points. I'm sure it is not easy for anyone to play in Cetinje infront of our great home crowd and it is always a great invitation for them to come and support us when we play against Champions League's team.'' - concluded Nikolić.