One of the toughest away games in Europe awaits Swedish side IK Sävehof. But their preparations could have gone better as their checked-in luggage is stuck in Poland. Several Sävehof representatives had to buy match shirts, tape, and resin in Zagreb.
– It’s a bit extra comical considering we have a match where no other Scandinavian team ever has taken a point, says Michael Apelgren, head coach of Sävehof, to GoHandball.
The Swedish side traveled from Sweden and toward Nasice yesterday. The problem for the team from Partille is that all of the checked-in luggage is stuck in Poland. The luggage won’t make it in time to Nasice ahead of tonight’s game against RK Nexe.
– It’s a bit extra comical considering we have a match where no other Scandinavian team ever has taken a point, says Michael Apelgren, head coach of Sävehof, to GoHandball.
– There are some conspiracy thoughts here. Did Nexe contact the airline to ruin this for us? But it could also be a case of bad luck, says Apelgren whilst laughing.
That means that Sävehof can only access everything that was packed in the hand luggage. Everything has resolved itself after a few representatives from Sävehof bought match shirts, tape, and resin in Zabreb.
– When we arrived in Zagreb yesterday a local club helped us with balls and stuff. But in Croatia, they use a different type of resin than we do in Scandinavia, so that’s why we had to buy resin today.
– Then training yesterday did not go great. As soon as a player missed a shot the lack of resin was blamed. That stresses out a coach, Apelgren says. But now we have resin and one excuse less.
The bigger issue for IK Sävehof was the fact that they did not have any match shirts, but that has been solved and the EHF has approved the yellow shirts that were bought in Zagreb.
But it’s not the first time luggage has been delayed for IK Sävehof. It happened earlier this season ahead of an away game against Cuenca.
– But then the luggage arrived before the game started. The next flight from Warsaw lands around 17.00 today and then we are far away in Nasice. We did not exactly cheer yesterday but we who work in handball are used to these type of situations. We are not traveling in first class and that’s why we can laugh at it today.
– This away game, that everyone in Europe knows is one of the toughest away games, even tougher.
RK Nexe hardly ever loose when the play at home in Europe. At least not against Scandinavian opponents.
– No Scandinavian team has ever won a point here. And teams like GOG and Bjerringbro have played here, says Michael Apelgren.