Byåsen coach: Good chances

Norway´s number two, Byåsen Håndball Elite, will have to go through the second round of the qualification tournament this weekend in Polish town Lublin. SPR Lublin SSA, CS Rulmetul Brasvo and HC Sassari will meet them in their group. Byåsen’s head coach, Geir Oustorp, believes in his team.

Eurohandball.com: How do you see your team´s chances?

Geir Oustorp: Fine, but it will be a tough group – no doubt about that. We know Lublin and Brasov well from the EHF Cup last season, where we defeated Lublin, but lost to Brasov in the last 16. I think those two teams will be our toughest rivals in the group.

Eurohandball.com: Brasov lost players due to financial problems…

Geir Oustorp. I’m aware of that, but Romanian handball is very strong in general. I still have big respect for them.

Eurohandball.com: And the last team, Sassari?

Geir Oustorp: I have respect for this Italian team too, but we should be able to defeat them.

Eurohandball.com: What will it mean for your chances that you have to play on away ground in Poland?

Geir Oustorp: It will mean an advantage for Lublin, but I think it will be fine for us to play there also. They have a very nice hall in Lublin, and I remember from our visit there in the EHF Cup last year that we were treated very well there. Anyway, I’m sure it will be better for us to play in Poland than – let’s say – in Romania.

Eurohandball.com: Your team and Larvik still seem to be a class of their own in Norway. Is this a disadvantage when you play in Europe?

Geir Oustorp. Of course it is. Some of the other teams have improved, but they are still not good enough. I’m sure the championship will be a matter between Larvik and Byasen again this season.