Country: Poland

Coach: Talant Dujshebaev

Key Players: Tobias Reichmann (Right Wing), Julen Aguinagalde (Line Player), Karol Bielecki (Left Back), Manuel Strlek (Left Wing) 

Qualification information: Winners of VELUX EHF Champions League 2015/16

History in Tournament: 1997-2015: DNP

Overview:

Vive Tauron Kielce had established themselves as one of the most dangerous EHF Champions League sides long before their won the title for the first time ever in 2016. The Polish club qualified for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 for the first time in 2013, finishing third, and were then one of the top teams every season until they repeated their bronze-medal success in 2015 under the guidance of coach Talant Dujshebaev. 

Since assuming the role of head coach in 2014 Dujshebaev has added three Polish Cups, three Polish Championships and two Champions League medals – including the 2016 trophy won after a spectacular contest decided with a penalty shoot-out. That was the first Champions League title not only for Kielce, but for any Polish club, and now they travel to Qatar with sights firmly set on another. 

The Polish championship-winning side are comprised largely of players that also star for their national teams, including Germany right wing Tobias Reichmann, who was instrumental in their EHF EURO 2016 title win and 2016 Olympic bronze medal, sharpshooting Croatia left wing Manuel Strlek, Spain line player Julen Aguinagalde, and a host of Polish stars such as goalkeeper Slawomir Szmal and back Karol Bielecki. 

Joining Kielce this season are creative Slovenia playmaker Dean Bombac, young Croatia keeper Filip Ivic, and Serbian right wing Darko Dukic, making Kielce’s start list all the more formidable – and solidifying the Polish club’s place as a favourite to claim the trophy.

The 2016 IHF Super Globe represents Kielce’s debut in the competition, and they will begin with an intercontinental encounter against Brazil’s HC Taubate. 

Fans can follow Kielce on their website, Facebook and Twitter. 

Schedule at the 2016 IHF Super Globe:  

5 September 2016, Duhail Sports Hall

Quarter-final: Vive Tauron Kielce vs HC Taubate 13:00 local time