Zagreb: Lazarov and Sola injured

The new team of HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb finished the first big preparation tournament against Europe’s top clubs in Strassbourg on sixth, last place.

However, coach Nenad Kljaic is not disappointed about the results (defeat from Ciudad Real, Chambery and Valladolid):

“First of all, we signed seven new players who have to be integrated in the team. Second, we do not have to hurry with our preparation in contrast to Spanish or French teams, as we do not have the big opponents in our national league. Our season starts with Champions League at the end of September.”

Kljaic could not send his strongest starting line-up on court: goalkeeper Vlado Sola had a difficult shoulder operation at the end of last season and now suffers from an arm-injury. CL top scorer of 2005 and 2006, FYR Macedonian Kiril Lazarov is also unavailable due to a shoulder injury that he carries with him from last season when he played for Hungarian Veszprém.

“We will not take the risk to let them play. They must be fit when we start the Champions League,” said Kljaic. His club signed – besides Lazarov – some top players for the upcoming season: Mirza Dzomba returned from Ciudad Real, Igor Vori from Barcelona, Dragan Jerkovic from Schaffhausen and Denis Spoljaric from Celje.