For the second time in a row, Telekom Veszprém HC were crowned winners of the SEHA – Gazprom League, after the Hungarian powerhouse swept their way to a 31:29 win against HC PPD Zagreb at the Final 4 held in Zadar, Croatia.

The Hungarian side sealed their fourth title after the ones clinched in 2015, 2016 and 2020 in the regional men’s handball club league, only one shy of the record held by North Macedonian powerhouse Vardar, with five titles.

The 2020/2021 edition of the SEHA – Gazprom League was played throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and started on 17 December 2020, with 10 teams competing, eight of which entered the group phase, with two others – Veszprém and Belarussian side HC Meshkov Brest already through to the quarter-finals.

In Group A, Croatian powerhouse HC PPD Zagreb finished first, with four wins and two draws, followed by North Macedonian side Eurofarm Pelister. Slovakian team TATRAN Presov and Serbian side Metaloplastika were third and fourth.

Group B was won by Ukrainian champions Motor Zaporozhye, who leapfrogged Croatia’s RK Nexe, Macedonian powerhouse Vardar and Serbian side Vojvodina.

In the quarter-finals, played over two legs, Motor enjoyed the biggest aggregate win, 56:41, against TATRAN Presov, while Veszprém took care of Nexe, with a 65:58 aggregate win, Vardar sealed a Final 4 berth with a narrow 46:45 win against Zagreb, while Meshkov Brest enjoyed a 66:58 aggregate win against Pelister, taking their ninth consecutive Final 4 berth.

However, with only days prior to the Final 4 in Zadar, played between 3 and 5 September, a COVID-19 case was registered in Vardar’s camp, with the North Macedonian side entering isolation and being replaced by Zagreb.

The Croatian side, which enjoyed several important transfers in the past summer, of the likes of right wing Ivan Cupic, central back Sandro Obranovic and line player Zeljko Musa, provided the first surprise of the Final 4, after beating Brest in a 38:37 thriller, which needed a penalty shoot-out after the game ended in a 32:32 draw.

With new coach Momir Ilic on the bench, Veszprém took a 36:29 win in their semi-final against Motor, to set up a clash against Zagreb in the final.

With the two teams trading blows throughout the game, the score was still tied after 60 minutes, 27:27.

Eventually, Veszprém had more clarity in front of the goal in the penalty shoot-out that ensued, with Yahia Omar, Gasper Marguc, Kentin Mahe and Petar Nenadic converting the shots that lifted the Hungarian side to a 31:29 win.

It was the first title for rookie coach Momir Ilic, while Serbian centre back Petar Nenadic was named the MVP of the SEHA – Gazprom League Final 4 2021.

“This is my first coaching title and I have to say it feels special. I am satisfied with the victory in the end but not really with the way we've performed. We have a long way to go as a team and I hope we will be much better,” said Ilic, according to the official website of the competition.
 
In the 10 editions of the competition, only three teams – Veszprém, Vardar and PPD Zagreb have won the title.

SEHA – Gazprom League Final 4 2021 All-star Team

Goalkeeper: Vladimir Cupara (Telekom Veszprém) 
Left wing: David Mandic (PPD Zagreb) 
Left back: Filip Vistorop (PPD Zagreb) 
Centre back: Petar Nenadic (Telekom Veszprém) 
Right back: Yahia Omar (Telekom Veszprém) 
Right wing: Mikita Vailupau (Meshkov Brest) 
Line player: Viatschaslau Bokhan (Motor Zaporozhye) 
Best defender: Blaz Blagontinsek (Telekom Veszprém) 
MVP: Petar Nenadic (Telekom Veszprém)

Visit the SEHA – Gazprom League website for more information.

Photo: SEHA / kolektiffimages