Old-timers Vilnius “Švies”, Klaipėda “Dragūnas”, Kaunas “Granit-Karios”, Alytus “Varsas-Stronglas”, HC “Vilniaus” and Vilnius “Amber” were joined by Pasvalis “Milk stars” and Varėna, who returned to the ranks of the LRL after a break. “Ula” teams.
“Ła”, which two decades ago became the Lithuanian vice-champion and twice won bronze medals, returns to the LRL after a 6-year break. We had to wait even longer for the “Milk Stars” team to return. The last time Pasvalis team played in LRL was in 2015-2016. in season
“This season, the geography of the LRL expanded to the north and south of the country, and teams from the cities of Pasvali and Varėna, famous for their handball traditions, returned to the league. With a new generation of players, “Ła” has become the winner of the First League for the last two seasons and is ready to compete again with the strongest teams in the country. The “Milk Stars” team has received solid support from sponsors and the municipality of Pasvaly district and can become a tough nut for all competitors. It is still hard to believe the miracles of these teams in the first season, but both teams have long-term visions and can make a big splash in the future. Unfortunately, we were not without casualties. Last season’s LRL outsider SC-RSSG-Grifo team from Panevėžys disappeared from the manual map,” said LRL director Tadas Janson.
Ahead of the upcoming season, LRL clubs were as active as ever in the coaching market. “Amber” team lured Lithuanian national team coach Gintaras Savukynas to Vilnius. G. Savukynas, who coached the Zaporizhia “Motor” and Ryhimekis “Cocks” clubs that competed in the EHF Champions League, last worked in the Lithuanian club back in 2006, when the Panevėžys “Viking Malt” handball players he coached became Lithuanian champions.
Gintaras Paškevičius, G. Savukyn’s assistant in the Lithuanian national team, became the coach of the “Pieno szvetzažiai” team, which returned to the LRL. This season, the country’s vice-champion “Dragūnas” has entrusted its helm to a specialist from Spain, Juan Moreno. Before that, Gintaras Cibulskis, who coached “Dragūnas” for three seasons, was invited to the capital by “Šviesa”, which is aiming for the fifth Lithuanian championship title in a row.
There was no lack of resounding comebacks by handball players. After fifteen years spent in famous Spanish, Romanian and Hungarian clubs, Rolandas Bernatonis returned to Lithuania. The long-time goalkeeper of the Lithuanian national team put on the shirt of HC “Vilnius”.
“Dragūnas” returned two national team players from foreign clubs. Deividas Virbauskas, who recently played in Spanish and Polish clubs, will represent the Klaipėda team again after a three-year break. After a two-year break, Benas Butkus, who played in Germany, will wear the shirt of the port city team.
“The LRL season is as intriguing as ever. Having retained the core of the team, “Dragūnas” will try to end the dominance of “Šviesa” by gathering an impressive lineup. I wonder what new winds will be blown by the representative of Spain, which is famous for its school of handball coaches, who became the “Dragūnos” strategist. Last season’s winner Granitas-Karys, who won the national championship the most times in its history, has no shortage of ambitions to regain the title. Other teams will be chasing the favorites – Amber led by the coach of the national team, HC Vilnius, which was just a short step away from the finals last season, or the experienced team of Varsos-Stronglas. No one would be too surprised if newcomers also took away points from the favorites”, said T. Janson.
The list of participants of this season’s First Handball League has also been confirmed. Ten teams will compete in the second largest national division: Vilnius SM “Sostinės tauras”, Kaunas SM “Gaja”, Klaipėda “Viesulo SC/Dragūnas”, RK “Šiauliai”, HC “Utena”, Kaunas district. “SM Garliava”, Šalčininkai district. “Sokol”, Pasvalis “Pieno žvaigdės 2”, Zarasai “Ežerietis” and HC “Molėtai”. The first league regular season will start on October 6.
2024-09-04 02:10:30