HC Erlangen starts the new season of the Handball Bundesliga on Thursday evening. The demands at the HCE have meanwhile increased – but not necessarily the budget.
HC Erlangen starts the new season with a home game tonight (September 1, 2022, 7:05 p.m.). Handball Bundesliga. The Erlangen receive the in the Nuremberg Arena HSG Wetzlar. The goals at the HCE are a bit higher than last season. The sports management was only moderately satisfied with 12th place in the final table.
Four promising newcomers
Four new players will wear the HCE jersey this season. Of them, however, only backcourt player Lutz Heiny, who came from relegated TuS N-Lübbecke, has in the past season played in the Bundesliga. However, the other newcomers have something to show for themselves.
Strong Dane between the posts
The Danish goalkeeper Bertram Obling was voted into the all-star team in the first Swedish league last season. The 26-year-old Obling is supposed to relieve the other two goalkeepers Klemen Ferlin and Kim Sonne-Hansen on the one hand, but on the other hand he should exert pressure and fuel the competition for the goalkeeper position. Obling last played for the Swedish record champions IK Sävehof and was also able to gain international experience there – for example in the EHF European League, where he also showed strong performances against SC Magdeburg.
Super talent from Switzerland as a playmaker
A newcomer in the backcourt is particularly interesting. The 22-year-old Manuel Zehnder is already being compared in Switzerland to ex-Bundesliga star Andy Schmid. Last season, Zehnder was named MVP, i.e. the most valuable player, in Switzerland. Zehnder is relaxed about the comparison with his famous compatriot: “Andy Schmid is the greatest handball player we’ve ever had in Switzerland – it’s an honor to be named in the same sentence with him,” says the young playmaker, happy about the comparison . However, HCE Managing Director René Selke warns against cheering up Manuel Zehnder too soon. He still has to gain some experience in the Bundesliga.
Powerhouse from Coburg am Kreis
Erlangen didn’t have to travel far to sign the fourth newcomer. Circle runner Justin Kurch came from HSC 2000 Coburg from the second division. The 23-year-old not only excelled in attack there. The junior international, who originally comes from the SC Magdeburg sports school, knew how to use his 1.98 meter length and 108 kilograms as a defense organizer.
Newcomers should ensure variable play
All in all, HCE Managing Director René Selke sees the squad for the new season as broader. “We’re not the club that can get the next three internationals from big clubs. It’s not economically viable. We have to see: who will develop into the next international? And then do a good job with a good coaching team. But The newcomers are not just junior players, but really good handball players and that’s why I’m very happy about the new squad,” said Selke before the start of the season.
Source: Midday in Franconia 09/01/2022 – 12:00 p.m
