Rostov-Don, one of the best clubs in Europe has chosen the National Academy of Handball (NEKA) in Balatonboglár for five days as the place for their final preparations

Rostov-Don, one of the best clubs in Europe has chosen the National Academy of Handball (NEKA) in Balatonboglár for five days as the place for their final preparations before the upcoming EHF Women’s Champions League Final Four weekend.

The team from Russia was looking for a location in Hungary where they could put the finishing touches to their preparations for the big event in a relaxed and quiet atmosphere as well as searching for a place from where the Final Four venue was within easy access.

Head coach Ambros Martín stated that Balatonboglár proved to be the ideal place and circumstances for his team to have an undisturbed time enabling them to focus with full concentration on the big task ahead.

As the Spanish head coach said: “We have an array of young, new players who cannot rely on top-level international experience. It was also crucially important because of them to have a calm, relaxed environment near Lake Balaton where we had the chance to prepare our team mentally for two very important matches in two days. We did manage to go through all the work planned. We worked a lot during the season to get to this Final Four, so we deserve to be there. However, we not only would like to enjoy the weekend but be a serious contender for the first place.”

Ambros Martínwon the coveted Champions League trophy four times with the team of Győri Audi ETO KC, but this time he participates at the Budapest showdown as an opponent of Győr.

“It will remain for me the same event that I could take part in many times, however, the current one is the more special as I can lead a different club. I know that many expect a Győr-Rostov final, but for me that is only a dream as we fully focus on the semi-final against Metz, since that is the first step on the way.”

The staff of the National Academy of Handball went out of their way to provide the best conditions for Rostov-Don for smooth preparations. NEKA’s sports hall, gym trainings and video analyses were all offered and ready at their disposal, while the kitchen of the Academy has made sure that healthy fish food were included every day on the smorgasbord tables that week.