Podgorica will host the final tournament of the Montenegrin Handball Cup for the next two days, and Budućnost and Rudar, or Lovćen and Budvanska Riviera Budva, will compete for the trophy.
The trophy is being defended by the team from Budva, who celebrated in last year's final against Mornar from Bar 21:20.
The tournament will open tomorrow at 16:30 PM in the Bemaks Arena with a duel between Rudar and Buducnost, while two and a half hours later, for the second year in a row, Lovćen and Budvanska Riviera will fight for the final.
Budvanska Riviera coach Akim Komnenić believes that Lovćen is a slight favorite, stating that the Cetinje team has shown continuity and a more standard game this season.
"We showed that we have quality and character in the last match and that gives us the right to hope for a good game and a favorable result," Komnenić said at a press conference.
Answering the question of what could decide the winner, he emphasized that defense is the segment that brings trophies.
"The team that is less nervous and has fewer technical errors, with more motivated goalkeepers, will be closer to victory," said Komnenić.
He said that all the players are ready and healthy, and that the atmosphere in the team is excellent.
Lovćen's sports director Blažo Popović pointed out that the Cup is a specific competition in which there are no favorites.
"We are playing against a quality and well-known team. We have played four matches this season and the result in wins is tied. We are suffering from injuries, but I hope they will be repaired by the match. I expect a good and quality game, I hope for the best. We are motivated and ready," said Popović.
He believes that in handball, quality defense is the deciding factor and whoever is better in that segment will surely achieve victory.
Rudar President Igor Mašković reminded that the Pljevlja team is in the final tournament for the fifth year in a row, stating that this represents a great success for them.
"We played in the final once, while the other three times we were stopped in the semi-finals. I hope we will play well, with a young team, against the favored Buducnost. We have lost all four of our duels this season, but we will not give up," said Mašković.
He said that Budućnost is a quality team, but also that Rudar has its own desires and ambitions.
"We will try to surprise them," said Mašković.
According to Budućnost coach Marko Martinović, the better team does not always win the Cup.
"We are entering the game with respect and caution, our opponent is a young and spirited team, extremely difficult, who will look for their chance. We will also look for the opportunity to play in the final for the first time and fight for our first trophy," said Martinović.
Commenting on the mutual score this season and the victories in all four duels, he said that it doesn't have to mean anything.
"The cup is a special competition, only one game is played and the one who wants it more and fights harder will win," said Martinović.
The President of the Competition Commission, Milorad Vujošević, said that the Handball Federation did everything to ensure that the organization of the tournament was at the level of previous ones.
"I believe that, as in previous years, we will receive congratulations for the good organization. I wish the participants a successful performance and may handball win," said Vujošević.
The final match is scheduled for Wednesday, at 18 p.m.
The first and second teams of OTP Group Budućnost will play for the trophy in the women's handball competition on the same day at 14:30 p.m.
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