Handball champion Aalsmeer skips European adventure: “Nothing to look for”

The pain point for national champions Aalsmeer is that clubs do not receive any money for their participation. All travel and other costs must therefore be paid for yourself. “That concerns amounts of between 10,000 and 20,000 euros per game. That is a lot of money for us,” says Van der Laarse, who prefers to invest that money throughout the year. “We would rather become national champions and do well in the BENE-League than play against a great opponent once.”

The top-level matches do not outweigh the costs for Aalsmeer. “We look very realistically at playing in Europe. If it were arranged just like in football, we would like to participate. We usually lose the European matches too, so we have no business in it. Let’s put that money in.” push the youth so that they can continue to develop. That is much nicer than a round in the European Cup.”

Stand obligation

Handball club Volendam sees it differently and will take on the adventure in Europe. “We believe that we are obliged to our stand”, says chairman Joost Ooms, who believes that the handball club can also present itself at the highest level. By participating in the European tournament, the Volendam team also managed to attract foreign players to the fishing village. “We also think it is important for our image, because we are a club with ambition.”

Nevertheless, Volendam also knows that European matches are an expensive affair. “It just costs money to play in Europe. We estimate that at about 15,000 euros per game and it doesn’t get any worse,” said Ooms, who is happy if his club survives two rounds. “If you go to Israel or Faroe Islands with 25 people, we will come out even higher. It is tough, but of course we also hope for great trips and competitions.”

draw

In addition to Aalsmeer, Bevo also waives the starting ticket for the EHC Cup. As a result, the ticket goes to Hurry-Up, the number five in the Netherlands. Due to the cancellation of Aalsmeer, Volendam is the highest ranked Dutch club that will participate in the tournament.

The draw will take place on July 20. Volendam is in pot 1, Lions will be in pot 2. Both clubs enter the second round of the European cup tournament. Hurry Up starts in the first round of the EHF Cup.