Fourth-time lucky for Macedonians?

On Saturday 14 September 2013, HC Vardar played their first-ever match in the Women’s EHF Champions League, winning 35:16 against Italian side Jomi Salerno in Group 4 of Qualification Round 2 in front of 200 spectators in the southern Italian town of Eboli. 

Vardar, in their debut season then, made it all the way to the final, in Budapest, and like Buducnost, the Macedonians are the only side to have qualified for all three Women’s EHF FINAL4 events since its inception, but unlike Buducnost, Vardar have never made it to the final. 

In 2015 and 2016 they lost their semi-finals to Buducnost and then CSM Bucuresti respectively, both of whom went on to win the title and in that first season their semi-final was lost to Buducnost too.

Now with a strengthened squad from last season Vardar start their fourth attempt at Champions League glory with the dream again of reaching the Papp Laszlo Arena in Budapest, home of the Women’s EHF FINAL4.

The improved team includes the signing of Brazilian 2015 IHF Women’s World Championship winner Mayssa Pessoa – completing their goalkeeping trio of team captain Inna Suslina and French Rio 2016 Olympic Games finalist Amandine Leynaud – plus two-time World and Olympic champion and four-time EHF EURO champion with Norway, Camilla Herrem and French right back Alexandra Lacrabere. 

Two Russians – Olga Chernoivanenko (Rostov-Don) and Alena Ikhneva (Fleury Loiret) – left the club with Chernoivanenko joined in Russia by left wing Siraba Dembele.

Due to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, where Vardar were represented by six players, their preparation for this season has started later than normal, but no less successful as the team of head coach Indira Kastratovic won the ‘Vinko Kandija’ test tournament held in Ljubljana, Slovenia where she saw …

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