WHC Gjorche Petrov | |||
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Full name | Ženski rakometen klub Gjorče Petrov | ||
Founded | 1979 | ||
Arena | Kocho Racin | ||
Capacity | 1,000 | ||
Head coach | Sime Simovski | ||
League | Skopsko Super League | ||
2021–22 | 1st (champion) | ||
Club colours | |||
WHC Gjorche Petrov (Macedonian: Ракометен Клуб Ѓорче Петров) is a female handball club based in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia.
History
[edit]The club was founded in 1979 under the name Women's Handball Club Gjorče Petrov. Kometal Gjorče Petrov stopped its work on 16 September 2011 when the central committee decided that there was no conditions for operation and existence.[1][2][3] After a while the club started to work again.It was shut for couple of years but it started working again, without its brand-mark Kometal. Now it works under its original name WHC Gjorche and competes in Macedonian women's First League of Handball.
- Kometal Days
For a decade the team played in the Macedonian National league, starting from lower ranks step by step year by year reaching the top division. In the beginning of the 90s local Businessmen Trifun Kostovski took over the club. He invested good amount of money on bringing new players. After making the good team he moved the club to bigger arena "Kale". He invested in renovation of the arena expending and preparing it for the European scene . Year after year each season better and better players joined the club. The team started winning the Championship and the since next year 1994 they dominated in the cup too.[4] Since 1992, it had won 17 national championships 16 national cups.
- European Champions League
Kometal played in the EHF Women's Champions League for 14 seasons in a row. Each new season was better than the previous. Reaching the 1/4 finals almost every season and many times the 1/2 finals. They were finalists in 2000 and 2005, and won the Champions Trophy once in 2002.[5] At one time, it was the most popular sports team in the country, having its own anthem song by Macedonian musicians and entertainers.[6] The club finally won the EHF Champions League back in 2002 when they defeated Champions League Ferencvárosi TC.[7]
- Post Kometal days
The club had to start again from the lower ranks of the national championship. For several seasons they played in the lower rank, and then moved to the higher divisions. Finally getting back where they belong in the First Division. Last few seasons they started ending in the top 5 five. In the last season they are in the play-offs fighting for the Crown again. This season they've reached the Cup's F4 winning the 1/2 final. After winning the semifinals they had to face WHC Metalurg in the final and try to win a Trophy after 13 years. They've lost the final match to Metalurg 27–30 in a tight game.
- Champions 2022
Gold
After a loss at the Cup Final to Metalurg, the Gjorche Petrov team focused on the final games of the Championship play-off. They won against former champions Kumanovo away in a surprise win with a score of 22–27. In the last match Gjorche Petrov won 25-19 against cup holder Metalurg at home. The title was the team's first in 13 years.
- Champions 2023
Gold
In 2023 Gjorche Petrov defended the title in the women's league.
- Double Crown 2024
Gold
In 2024 the Gjorche Petrov team won the Cup and the Championship for a golden double. It's the club's 20th Championship title and 17th Cup title.
European Glory Days Arena
[edit]SRC Kale -Sports and Recreation Center is a multi-functional indoor sports arena. Kale means Fortress Citadel, named after the Skopje's Fortress, located right next to the hall. The capacity of the hall is 4.300 spectators.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/FortressArena.jpg/400px-FortressArena.jpg)
Hall is also known as "Macedonian handball fortress". The hall is mainly used for handball, although it is suitable for matches in others sports: boxing, wrestling, basketball, volleyball, and music concerts.
- Kometal G.P Important matches played in SRC Kale
- Finals in the Women's EHF Champions League – Kometal Gjorce Petrov (2000 – Hypo, 2002 – Herz, 2005 – Slagelse)
- Women Handball Super Cup - 2002
Accomplishments
[edit]- Macedonian
- Championship of Macedonia:
Gold (20): 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2022, 2023, 2024
Gold (17): 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2024
- European
- Champions League:
Gold (1): 2002
Silver (2): 2000 and 2005
- 1/4 Finalist (4): 1997, 1998, 2004, 2006
- 1/8 Finalist (5): 1994, 1996, 2007, 2008, 2009
Gold (1): 2002
Bronze (1) : 2004
Team
[edit]- Squad for the 2023–24 season
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Technical staff
[edit]Head Coach: Sime Simevski
Notable players
[edit]Mirjeta Bajramoska
Dušica Gjorgjievska
Elena Gjorgjievska
Lenče Ilkova
Dragica Kresoja
Nataša Mladenovska
Savica Mrkik
Simona Nikolovska
Alegra Oholanga
Dragana Pecevska
Julija Portjanko-Nikolić
Marija Sterjova
Iva Stojkovska
Veselinka Trenoska
Klara Boeva
Indira Kastratović-Jakupović
Gordana Naceva
Andrijana Budimir
Olga Buyanova
Natalija Todorovska
Anzela Platon
Mileva Velkova
Valentina Radulović
Marina Lambevska
Eduarda Amorim
Ana Carolina Amorim
Luminița Dinu
Narcisa Lecușanu
Yeliz Özel
Gonca Nahcıvanlı
Natasa Kolega
Ana Krizanac
Sandra Bosnjak
Tatjana Medved
Dragica Djuric Krstic
Danica Pavlov
Ivana Mladenovic
Jelena Popovic
Natalia Derepasko
Oksana Maslova
Larisa Kiselyova
Tatiana Chernycheva
Irina Kalinichenko
Anna Andryushchenko
Oksana Ploshchynska
Galyna Markushevska
Olena Radchenko
Olena Tsygytsa
Natalia Lukovich
Oxana Raykhel
Tatiana Khlimankova
Iryna Artisomenka
Alesya Safonova
Dessislava Lebedeva
References
[edit]- ^ "Од блесокот на Кометал ЃП останаа само спомени | DW | 18.05.2012".
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-10-17. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Skopje: Kometal quits".
- ^ "Represent Kometal Gjorce Petrov | Newsflash | Woman Regional Handball League | WRHL.info". Archived from the original on 2008-09-07. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
- ^ "EHF Champions League - Latest News and Results | EHF".
- ^ kometal sampione. YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11.
- ^ "EHF Champions League - Latest News and Results | EHF".
External links
[edit]- EHF Profile (in English)
- Fan Club Forum (in Macedonian)