The second team of the German handball champion Rhein-Neckar Löwen has cashed the expected bankruptcy on their trip to the Champions League.
The young B-team of the Lions fought bravely against Polish series champion KS Vive Kielce, but lost the first leg of the round of the last 16 clearly 17:41 (8:21).
The Lions had sent their regional league team to Poland because the top match at THW Kiel (now in the LIVETICKER) was on the programme almost at the same time in the Bundesliga. This was preceded by a dispute over deadlines lasting several weeks.
“The boys should be proud. They sold as well as they could. It was also clear to us that they would not lose with ten goals,” said Lion sports director Oliver Roggisch at Sky: “The boys will later tell their children that they once played in the Champions League in front of a sold-out house.
The lions, who were competing with several teenagers, held their ground especially at the beginning of the 2016 royal class winner, after 14 minutes it was “only” 6:10. The first team had “cheered on the mobile phone” in Germany, Roggisch said.
Afterwards, however, the whole class of hosts prevailed. The lions’ best thrower was 20-year-old Rico Keller with five goals.
Coach Michael Abt was, however, only partially satisfied: “We might have got four or five goals less and two or three more,” said the former professional: “Nevertheless, I have respect for this team. “Some people aren’t going to fall asleep well tonight.”
HBL had set the game regardless of the Champions League, also because it expects a high TV quota due to the match-free German Soccer League. Several attempts at compromise failed.
“It is difficult to point fingers at people or associations. The talks were either too late or did not take place. Our decision is understandable. We want to become German champions,” said Roggisch.
The return match will take place on Easter Sunday (1. April), but Kielce can already advance to the quarter-finals against Paris St. Nevertheless, it is not good for handball,” said Kielces club president and patron Bertus Servaas: “I hope this will be the last time and not happen in the future.