Can Telekom Veszprem make a bang in the first year of a three-year rebuilding process?

szekely

Defending champions, Telekom Veszprem, will be entering SEHA – Gazprom League Quarter-Final matches after a turbulent period. Coach David Davis was laid off because of two underachievements in the previous season, both coming unexpectedly. Following an early exit in the EHF Champions League Quarter-Final against HBC Nantes, Veszprem managed to lose two consecutive contests versus Pick-Szeged in the Hungarian championship Final. By missing to win two trophies they decided to turn things upside down and focus on a new three year plan. Their main plan is to include more young players in the rotation, while staying true to the Veszprem type of play. They are hoping their new coach, Momir Ilic, is going to make that happen. He is a proven expert when it comes to playing handball, but we are yet to see him lead a Champions League caliber team.  

Veszprem still haven't done any incoming transfers, but they decided it is time for upgrading a couple of players from their academy. Therefore, four young handballers will get their chance to shine starting from SEHA – Gazprom Quarter-Final clashes. Mark Bodor (left back), Borisz Dornyei (right wing), Peter Lukacs (centre back) and Zoran Ilic (right back) are the new forces who matured enough to play with the best from Veszprem.

Unfortunately, some of the players who were a part of the team last season won't be travelling to Nasice because they signed with another team. Vuko Borozan and Daniil Shishkarev are definitely leaving the Hungarian club, but their new destinations still haven't been made public. Nikolaj Markussen will be trying to stop Aalborg's domination in Denmark with his new squad TTH Holstebro, while Kent Robin Tonnesen made an unexpected move to Veszprem's biggest rivals – MOL-Pick Szeged.

Marton Szekely, who played for Porto in season 2020/2021 and won the Portuguese championship, will be moving to Bitola where Eurofarm Pelister are on a search for their first-ever SEHA – Gazprom Final 4. Szekely didn't have enough time to show off goalkeeping skills in his only SEHA season, but there is no doubt he will be of great help for the Eurofarm Pelister group.

Unanticipated news that changed Veszprem's plans for the future were the one about Rogerio Moraes Ferreira, who asked for a contract termination due to family issues. With that being said, Telekom Veszprem could be in on a bumpy ride when the new season starts. Hopefully, Momir Ilic will find a way to win and get back in the contender discussion.