The Budućnost handball team is set to kick off the new Champions League season this Sunday (16) in Bucharest against Rapid.

This summer has been eventful for Budućnost, as the “blues” lost their main sponsor in early July and subsequently had the club taken over by the capital city.

As the strongest competition resumes, team coach Bojana Popović emphasizes that the players should not feel any pressure heading into the match against Rapid.

“What we’ve practiced over the last four to five weeks needs to be executed on the court. The players support one another, we have great team spirit, and I believe this will lead us to a positive outcome. Rapid is built for long distances, so there’s no need for stress; our focus should be on ourselves and our game,” said Popović.

Budućnost entered the season on a high note, having won the preparatory tournament in Debrecen. Under Bojana Popović’s guidance, the team overcame FTC and Vipers in Hungary, setting a solid tone for the upcoming season.

“It’s always encouraging to start the season with a degree of self-confidence, but the Champions League is a different ball game compared to prep tournaments. We strive to ensure that the players’ adrenaline levels are optimal without causing them stress. Our goal this year is to enjoy the process and help the players gain valuable experience,” Popović noted.

Milena Raičević, a former Budućnost player, is now with Rapid, and Igor Marković is part of their coaching staff. In addition to Rapid, Budućnost will face Djer, Vipers, Esbjerg, Odense, Ludwigsburg, and Brest in the group stage.

“The key is to uphold the agreements made in the locker room. During our practice matches, we demonstrated courage by making comebacks when trailing. If my team can maintain composure during challenging phases, things will become significantly easier for us,” Popović concluded.

News