New coach Hrvoje Horvat is extremely satisfied with the high-altitude preparations in Slovenia, where the team is gearing up for a season that brings challenges in the domestic league and the Champions League.
The handball players of Croatian champions Zagreb have been at high-altitude preparations on Slovenia's Rogla for several days, where they are honing their form for the upcoming season in ideal conditions. New coach Hrvoje Horvat, who took over the team from Veselin Vujović, does not hide his satisfaction with what has been seen so far during the preparations.
At an altitude of just over 1,500 meters, surrounded by fresh air and centuries-old coniferous forests, the Zagreb team has access to top-notch sports facilities. Two natural-grass football pitches, one artificial turf pitch, four tennis courts, an outdoor sports center, and a perfectly equipped fitness center are just part of the offering that allows for complete dedication to training.
Coach Horvat emphasizes that the working conditions at Rogla are impeccable, from accommodation to food, and he has no complaints.
"There are many other handball teams and national teams here, including the Qatar national team, brought here by former Zagreb coach Veselin Vujović. Numerous football, volleyball, athletics, and other teams have found this to be the ideal place for the final part of their preparations... I am satisfied with everything we've done so far, and we believe we've built an excellent foundation for what awaits us this season,"
Horvat told Sportske novosti, emphasizing that the stay at Rogla has been a complete success.
During their stay in Slovenia, Zagreb has already played several friendly matches. After a victory over Trim Trebnje, they also defeated Slovenj Gradec. The high-altitude preparations will conclude with a match against Gorenje Velenje.
Upon returning to Croatia, preparations will continue in Tatabánya, Hungary, where the Croatian champions will compete in an international tournament. Their opponents will be hosts Tatabánya, Poland's Kielce, and Slovenia's Celje, against whom Zagreb starts their Champions League campaign on September 9.
The final part of the preparations will take place at the traditional tournament in Ohrid, from August 18 to 22. There, they will face hosts Ohrid, Egypt's Zamalek, and Vojvodina from Novi Sad. This will be the last test before the start of the competitive season, which begins in early September with a postponed Paket24 Premier League match against Bjelovar.
