– This was a very good handball match. That’s what Vipers coach Tomas Hlavaty says after the 37-32 victory over Esbjerg in the Champions League on Sunday evening. There has been a lot of focus on the financial problems for Vipers Kristiansand recently. The club needs NOK 6 million to maintain liquidity through the season. If they fail to do so, the club is threatened with bankruptcy. In the match against Esbjerg on Sunday afternoon, Katrine Lunde and the rest of the Vipers players showed no indication that the financial situation has affected them. – These girls are professionals. We are together on this, and we know that the club is working hard to resolve the situation. Our contribution is to play the best handball we can, says Hlavaty. Sat at home on the sofa and cried – I’m so sickly proud of those girls. It is enormous what they manage to achieve, adds general manager Benedicte Løyland. Earlier in the week, the players called around to raise money for the crisis-stricken club. On Sunday they played Esbjerg out of the hall. – They show that they are passionate about the club. I sat at home and cried on the sofa, says Løyland. – People should be proud of this product. We can use this against current and potential partners, adds the daily manager. Season’s best in the championship The club, which has won the championship three years in a row, showed its season’s best, winning 37-32 in Blue Water Dokken in Esbjerg. The Danish team had not lost, either in the Champions League or in the domestic series, since September. – It is difficult to say whether it is the season’s best. I don’t like to judge games based on results alone. But in this match we delivered very good handball, says the coach. Katrine Lunde played a good game, with a save percentage close to 40 percent. Photo: NTB Katrine Lunde usually stands up when needed most. So also today. A save percentage of around 40 per cent contributed strongly to the victory. Jana Knedlikova and Anna Vjakhireva were the top scorers for Vipers, with 11 and 7 goals respectively. Both Henny Reistad and Nora Mørk play for Esbjerg. Reistad hit six of nine shots, while Mørk hit seven of 14 shots. Back in fourth place With the victory, Vipers are back in fourth place in the group, with 11 points. Metz and Esbjerg top the group with 18 points each, and are almost guaranteed the two direct places to the quarter-finals in the Champions League. Ikast has third place, with 15 points. Behind Vipers is Krim, with the same points as Vipers. FTC holds the last place that gives a playoff to the quarter-finals, with 8 points. Rapid Bucharest has 7 points, while MKS Lubin is last with 0 points. Anna Vjakhireva once again proved important for Vipers Kristiansand. Photo: NTB
ttn-69
– These girls are professionals – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
