The holiday season is coming to an end, schools are opening their doors, the weather is promising a change or a drop in temperature, but the handball championship league is picking up speed – with a big hunted team that has just put two trophies in its showcase.
We are talking about the reigning title holder and Supercup champion HC Linz AG, who, despite the painful loss of director Lucijan Fizuleto, are hoping for keen audience interest in the third act of the season on Sunday (6 p.m.) in the SMS Kleinmünchen against the Fivers.
There should be more spectators than at the Supercup (against West Vienna) two weeks ago, and the team has earned that. This time, the Margaretners are “old acquaintances” as guests. Since the end of March, the two teams have met no less than four times – three times in the championship, including in the semifinals with the Upper Austrians coming out on top, and most recently in a preparatory match that the Viennese won. This is not the only reason for Linz coach Milan Vunjak to put the brakes on the euphoria: “After winning the championship, people expect us to beat everyone. But the league is extremely balanced, there is definitely no sure thing. We are also in a period of transition, we will need time.”
Manager Uwe Schneider sees it similarly: “On paper and in terms of budgetary conditions, we are certainly not number 1 in Austria. Nevertheless, I am confident that we have a team that can cause a stir again.” The heart is huge, and the team spirit is a big plus. Ditto the passion that club president Bernhard Ditachmair also embodies: “Over the years, we have developed something that we can build on,” he says.
They play their way into the display
With success, doors are opening – for example for 19-year-old backcourt player Nicolas Paulnsteiner, who made the jump to Germany in the summer. Still in Linz, but an absolutely hot commodity is goalkeeper Florian Kaiper, who is preparing to become a permanent fixture in the Austrian national team. “My goal is to be at the World Cup (in January in Croatia, ed.),” stressed the 29-year-old. If the Viennese continues in this vein – he was Man of the Match in the Supercup – ÖHB coach Ales Pajovic will definitely not be able to get past him.
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