After a successful weekend in Hungary, the handball players of Budućnost registered wins against FTC (34:32) and Vipers (28:27) at the Debrecen tournament, clinching first place and gearing up for the Champions League season.

These victories over Champions League participants have bolstered the players’ confidence as they enter the final two weeks of preparation for Europe’s premier competition, noted Budućnost coach Bojana Popović after the team secured the trophy at the “Kerman Cup” in Debrecen.

Given the prior financial challenges the club faced before transitioning its founding rights to the capital, Ivona Pavićević and her teammates had the least preparation time compared to other teams, starting their preparations only three weeks before the Debrecen tournament. Thus, their performance and results against strong opponents are even more significant as they anticipate the season’s start.

“We couldn’t set expectations heading into the tournament, knowing we had only three weeks to prepare amid the challenges leading up to the new season. Participation was uncertain at one point since we initially canceled our appearance, but Debrecen showed understanding and confirmed our entry at the last minute. Our goal was to perform our best in both matches, allowing the girls to bond and build togetherness ahead of two final tests before the Champions League. Our experience in Debrecen was positive, yet we avoid euphoria and will concentrate on the remaining preparations,” expressed Popović on the club’s website.

The team atmosphere after the Debrecen tournament is excellent, and these wins against strong competitors will significantly boost the young players’ confidence, reminding them that they can compete against Champions League squads.

Popović emphasized that the team’s fighting spirit will be vital this season. It’s essential for fans to recognize the efforts of the new generation of Montenegro’s leading club.

“Currently, we lack key players who were meant to be the backbone for the upcoming season, which could create a competitive squad for the Champions League. It’s unfortunate, but the young players have stepped up, and they must seize this opportunity. We need our fans’ support, as Budućnost is a city club. It’s crucial for the local community to appreciate the new generation’s efforts. The same level of combativeness must be maintained during official matches, which is my primary request for the girls in the Champions League. We seek to inspire our audience to return to the arena, turn our circumstances into positives, and represent our city authentically on the international stage, with players who are ready to give their all in every match,” stated Popović.

Buducnost is continuing preparations for the new season, with its opening match in Bucharest against Rapid set for September 8.

“We’ve gained a lot of lessons from the two matches in Debrecen. Positive results offer a great learning experience, just as setbacks do. However, we have many areas to improve. The girls should not get carried away by these two victories but instead remain diligent, just as they have been since the start of preparations. We won’t have matches until the Champions League kicks off, as opponents begin their national league games this weekend. Our focus for the next two weeks is on the most important match—the first one in Bucharest against Rapid. We will proceed step by step. It’s vital all players stay healthy; we can’t afford injuries, as only with a full squad can we enhance our performance level,” Popović added.

In the Champions League, alongside Romania’s Rapid, Budućnost will face Norway’s Vipers, Denmark’s Esbjerg and Odense, Germany’s Ludwigsburg, Hungary’s Djerba, and France’s Brest.

“We are up against top teams with multimillion-dollar budgets. Our experience in Hungary, where we faced two Champions League participants, was invaluable for the girls, reinforcing their belief in their capabilities. It’s remarkable that we are drawn into such a challenging group, especially when compared to others with three invited teams. Nonetheless, the draw has placed us with these opponents, and now the priority is to redirect our positive energy appropriately. We must temper any euphoria and focus on serious preparation, transferring everything we practice in training to our matches. This focus is crucial for our growth as a team and as individuals throughout the season,” concluded Popović.

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