OPTIMISTICALLY CAUTIOUS

The two former EuropeanChampions of the Women Champion League, Kometal GP Skopje and Krim Mercator,will clash today in the hope of a positive result to carry over into the 2^ndLeg. Slovenian Krim Mercator is the only unbeaten team in the group matches,the actual CL finalist and winner of the European Club Championship. Kometal GPin 2002 won CL but then never crossed quarterfinal line.

Both teams have played eachother twice, in Ljubljana and the European Championship for Club Teams inGermany during December 2004. Krim Mercator won both matches. Nevertheless, theMacedonian champion in their 89^th CL match is looking for the winthat will be enough for entry into the semifinal.

“In Germanywe had problems with injured players, several players missed the preparationdue to national team matches at the ECh in Hungary. Now the situation iscompletely different. Results from both games are very close, so both teamshave equal chances to win. Let Krim Mercator think about us” said Portnoy.  “For us it is the same if we play againstKrim in the quarterfinal or semifinal. We have to beat them.”

According to goalkeeperNatalya Borisenko, the biggest danger from Kometal GP goalkeeper will beLyudmila Bodnieva.

“She is good pivot player, who always knows how andwhere to receive the ball, with one or two hands. The back line is also verygood.”

On Saturday, Kometal GP willplay with the strongest line up without injury problems. The sports hall inSkopje has been sold out for weeks and there will be a tremendous atmosphere inthe hall. Krim will have 250 supporters in Skopje.

Tanja Oder the captain of Krim said, “Kometal GP hasmany players from Ukraine and Russia. Their coach is also from Ukraine and heis a good one. We'll have to play our best game as always.”

Tone Tiselj, coach of KrimMercator who watched the last game between Slagelse and Kometal GP in Denmark.

“We know each other very well. There is no secret toour game. We have to play hard, and then we will get results.”

Text: Goran Antevski