“Vaiņode” has started the “SynotTip” Premier League season competition for men with a victory on Saturday in Ludza, reports Latvian Handball Federation (LHF).
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“Vaiņode” surprised Ludza’s “Latgol” on the way out and won the opening game of the Premier League with 35:29 (22:19).
Ainārs and Oskars Pāvili scored nine goals for “Vaiņode”, while Roberts Rancāns was the most productive for Ludza unit with seven “goals”.
In the first half of the game, both teams fought equally, but after 30 minutes, “Vainode” had gained a small advantage – 22:19.
In the second half, the Vaiņodians increased their lead, scoring four goals in nine minutes after a half-time break for Oscar Paul, who reached 29:23. Ludza club demanded a break, but nothing significantly changed, “Vaiņode” celebrated the victory with 35:29.
“If the season starts with a victory, then the emotions are always uplifting, but they cannot turn into everyday emotions,” said Vaiņode coach Zigmunds Mickus after the match. “The season has just started for both the opponents and us. Apparently we were more in the mood for victory. I think in the spring Ludza’s young guys will be serious opponents for any team. We are not old either – we have youth and experience, as well as fighting spirit . “
“We had not won in Ludza for five years, although we were very close to winning several games,” the coach added. “We also have to work a little on defense. It is beautiful to throw 35 goals, but we are shooting 29, which is not very much in modern handball, but it would be more fun to shoot, for example, 26 goals. We played a good game because we were in the mood and played as a team.”
The coach gave his players an extra tactical briefing during the break, and after that FC had solid organization. “When we won the majority during the game, we were able to implement it in a disciplined manner. We gained the majority in the middle of the second half,” emphasizes Mickus.
The goal of the team this season is to enter the top four, meeting their players from Vaiņode Sports School. In the inter-season, the team was left by regular player Ričards Juzups, who now plays in “Ogre”, and goalkeeper Andis Silnieks.
On Saturday, two more games will be played – Riga “Celtnieks” – Riga ASK / LSPA and “Ogre” – Jurmala Sports “.
This season, eight teams will start in the Super League – Dobele “Tenax”, Riga “Celtnieks”, “Ogre”, Ludza “Latgols”, Riga ASK / LSPA, “Jūrmalas Sports”, “Vaiņode” and MSĢ / LAT 2000.
Due to the rapid spread of the Covid-19 virus, the medals of the 2019/2020 season “SynotTip” Super League were not determined, the competition was stopped and the distribution of places was not determined.
Participation in this season’s European Handball Federation (EHF) and Baltic Handball League (BHL) tournaments took into account the rank of the 2018/2019 season.
In the 2018/2019 season, for the second year in a row, Dobele “Tenax” handball players became Latvian champions, who beat Riga “Celtnieks” team 3-0 in the final series.
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