Viborg´s squad changes
Viborg´s squad changes
After two straight Group Phase exits from the EHF Women´s Champions League, former title holder Viborg HK are planning their squad for the upcoming seasons in a bid to compete once again with the handball elite.
Goalkeeper Christina Pedersen will leave the team after the season´s end, and the club has just signed Swedish National Team keeper Cecilia Grubbström, who was on display last Saturday at the Cup Winners´ Cup match where the Danes went up against the Swedish champions Sävehof, Grubbström´s current club.
The 25-year-old will be the third Swede in the ranks of Viborg, after the two middle-backs, Johanna Ahlm and Isabelle Gulldén.
"Cecilia is incredibly strong mentally and did very well at the EHF EURO 2010 in Denmark. She is the number one goalkeeper of her National Team," told Viborg´s sports chief Susanne Munk Wilbek.
In other news, line player Anja Althaus won´t extend her contract and will leave the club after five seasons. Next season, talented and newly signed Sabine Pedersen and Marit Malm Frafjord will take the pivot roles.
The German international player commented: "I will not be at Viborg next season, but I haven’t decided yet about my future club. I´m still really happy playing for Viborg, and I’ll give my utmost for the club until my contract expires."
Current Aalborg player Sabine Pedersen has signed for two years with Viborg, and her contract will come into force with her new team on the 1st of July 2012.
Munk Wilbek commented on the new reinforcement: "With her and Marit we will get two line players who will work together very well, and they will give us many options for different types of games. Pedersen has completed her teacher training and she’s now ready to continue her career as a professional handball player."
"She has clear ambition to continually improve and work hard," added Munk Wilbek.
Being Aalborg´s current top scorer, the 25-year-old Pedersen now ranks at number four position on the list of the most effective outfield players in the Dame Håndbold Ligaen. In the next few years, the pivot has an ambitious plan with Viborg:
"With my new club I want to be among the best, train at a high level, play in the EHF Champions League and win medals. At Viborg I meet a different type of pressure, which fits me very well: it forces one to perform better. Now my primary aim is to integrate myself well into the team, do well and develop there so that I may qualify for the National Team."
Besides the departure of Althaus and Pedersen, Henriette Mikkelsen is also about to leave the team. The 31-year-old will finish her career at the end of the season.
The club is looking for a suitable replacement for the quality left winger and will probably sign a Danish National Team player. Although nothing is set in stone yet, her name will be revealed in coming weeks.
