The handball team Budućnost from Podgorica has kicked off preparations for the new season with one clear goal – to win the Champions League! This will be their 30th consecutive season in Europe’s top club competition, and they are not planning to stop. The team has strengthened with three new players: Montenegrin national Itana Grbić, Polish left wing Dagmara Nocun, and Senegalese pivot Ava N’Diaj. Itana Grbić is the new captain and team leader, and coach Bojana Popović is optimistic.
Preparations started in Podgorica, with a ten-day training camp planned in Pljevlja, followed by a training stint in Zagreb where they will play a friendly against Lokomotiva, and then in Germany against Thüringer. At the end of August, they will participate in a tournament in Skopje with champions from North Macedonia and Serbia. Popović emphasizes that the most important thing is for all players to be healthy and ready, which will allow quality work and a strong start in the Champions League.
The squad consists of 16 players, including goalkeepers Armel Atingre, Marija Marsenić, and Andrea Škerović, as well as right back Tanja Ivanović, who is returning after a break due to back problems. Center back Nina Ramusović is on a special program after ACL surgery. Budućnost will start the Champions League with a home game against Debrecen, and throughout the season, they will have enough time for preparation and recovery.
If you thought handball in Montenegro is just a game, think again! Budućnost is ready to show their teeth and prove they are still the queens of European handball. What about you? Do you believe Itana Grbić and her teammates will claim the throne again? Drop a comment and let’s see who the real fans are!
