– I think it’s a lot of fun to be here. Then I think we will have a very good team going on. I would like to be involved in that. I’m having a fantastic time, playing in my hometown and for one of the world’s best clubs. It’s very exciting, says Lunde. At a press conference on Monday morning, the club announced that Katrine Lunde (42) and Anna Vjakhireva (27) have signed new contracts. Anna Vjakhireva joined Vipers Kristiansand before this season. Now the Russian will stay for two more seasons. Photo: Terje Bendiksby / NTB Several clubs hunt Vjakhireva Vjakhireva says she had several options, but in the end decided to extend with Vipers. – Why not, the 27-year-old replies to questions about why she chose to stay in Kristiansand. She will not reveal which other clubs have been relevant. – I’m fine here. I appreciated the team and like the way we play handball. Everything around is good, so why not, she says. – Was it a difficult decision? – Now I can say that it was easy, but then I’d probably be lying a bit. It is never easy, because you never know what is right. But now I feel it was right, she says. Last professional contract for Lunde? Katrine Lunde is happy that Russian Vjakhireva is also staying with her. – I am very satisfied with that. It means an insane amount to the team. I think we will play at a very high level in the next two years, says Lunde. – Is this the last professional contract you sign? – Yes, I think so, laughs Lunde. – Are you sure? – One can never be sure. I can give up when I can’t take it anymore, she laughs. Now everything can be arranged for Lunde to also be seen at the Olympics in Paris in two years’ time. – It is not the case that the Olympics are the most tempting. It’s mostly club handball that makes me want to keep going, she says. Katrine Lunde will stay in Vipers for two more seasons. Photo: Sander Heggheim / news – Incredibly important for Vipers Vipers coach Ole Gustav Gjekstad thinks the club is sending out a scare shot to the competitors in Europe with the signature of Lunde and Vjakhireva. – This gives a very strong signal. The best will play with the best. This is also important for later recruitment, says Gjekstad. – This is an incredibly important day for Vipers. Katrine is Vipers’ most important player and represents everything we need. A good goalkeeper, routine, a role model. Not least one local player. It is important, he says. – Anna, we have seen what that means. She can find four players in a phone box. I just think we have seen the start of what she can achieve in Vipers, says Gjekstad. The coach is in his last year with the Vipers. It is still not clear who will take over the Vipers-skuta next season. Vjakhireva admits that it made the choice a little more difficult. – I always want to show who is playing and training when I sign. So in a way it was something I thought about. But I have a very good time here. Vipers have won the Champions League and still have great potential, says the 27-year-old from Volgograd.
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Vjakhireva and Lunde signed new contracts with Vipers – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
