It is unlikely that the Ukrainian handball series champion Motor Zaporischschja will remain in the German 2nd Bundesliga.
An extension of the integration into the second highest German division for this season because of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine is currently “not an issue,” said HBL Managing Director Frank Bohmann of the German Press Agency. “That would also be a lot harder because we’re going back to the 18-team format.“
In this season, the 2nd division would have originally played with 19 teams. Last summer, the HBL decided to integrate Zaporizhia as the 20th team into the game. However, the Ukrainians, who live and train in Düsseldorf, take part out of competition. All their games are removed from the table at the end of the season.
Bohmann: The team had “become the pawn of the situation”
A continuation of the model seems unlikely at the moment, especially since there have been some structural changes at the club. “They are now under the wing of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. There is currently little clarity and some things are in limbo‘ said Bohman.
No wonder the Lithuanian coach Gintaras Savukynas is keeping a low profile when it comes to possible sporting prospects for his team. “It’s very difficult to talk about the future. Of course we have visions of how things could go on. But that also depends on the management.”said the coach of the nine-time champion.
Sponsors are needed
The Ukrainian national coach Vyacheslav Lochmann, who is also the coach of the second division team TV Großwallstadt, is a little clearer. “I know that negotiations are ongoing about further cooperation with the Bundesliga. But that also depends on the sponsors of the team, since staying and playing is of course very expensive,” said the 45-year-old from the German Press Agency.
According to Savukynas, it is important for the club and the whole country to be able to show themselves in the 2nd Bundesliga. Lochmann also welcomes that. “The fact that Motor is playing in Germany is very good for Ukrainian handball. This also gives the national players good match practice,” he said.
Bohmann sees it a little differently. The sporting aspects have “suffered a lot” in the course of the season so far, he said. With only six wins, Zaporizhia is only 17th in the table. “But that is secondary,” emphasized the HBL managing director. The team had become “the plaything of the situation, which puts a lot of strain on many players. Many have doubts and concerns,” said the 58-year-old. This is unlikely to change anytime soon.