Ninth of 24 teams: Macedonia's cadets bring a World Championship place back from Belgrade

Macedonia's men's cadet handball team finished the European Championship in Belgrade in ninth place out of 24 teams, with a record of five wins and three defeats. In the final game, for ninth position, the players of coach Goran Kuzmanoski beat Israel 39:29 - a ten-goal margin in a match that could not be lost. That finish secured them a place at next year's World Championship. They left Sweden, Serbia and Norway behind them, countries that treat handball as an institution rather than as enthusiasm. On returning to Skopje the cadets were received at the Handball Federation, where president Aleksandar Stefanov congratulated them. Congratulations are the easy part. The question that follows is whether in three years this generation will be playing in Macedonian clubs or whether we will be looking for them in other countries' leagues.

Germany crushed Slovenia in the final - same tournament, opposite ending

The same championship in Belgrade where our cadets played ended for Germany with a fourth continental title. In the final they beat Slovenia 36:27, even though the Slovenes opened better and led 8:5. The Germans then went on a 12:3 run and the match was decided before the break; after half-time they led by nine (20:11) and never let it back. Top scorer was Vincent Faziev with eight goals, while for Slovenia Zan Kovac, Jaka Podvrsic and Maks Ilc scored five each. The tournament's most valuable player is Slovenian right back Podvrsic, and Germany and Slovenia supplied six players to the all-star team. Top scorer of the tournament is Israel's Jonathan Pelah with 97 goals - the same Israel Macedonia beat for ninth place.

Eurofarm Pelister in Group G of the European League: Gummersbach, Logrono and Gdansk

The draw for the EHF European League placed Eurofarm Pelister in Group G, alongside Germany's Gummersbach, Spain's Logrono La Rioja and Poland's Gdansk. The group stage runs over six rounds, from 29 September to 2 December, with the top two from each group going to the play-offs - where the third and fourth-placed teams from the Champions League await them. The Bitola side enters with experience from the strongest competition, but the group forgives nothing: Gummersbach is a regular European participant, Gdansk plays hard Polish handball. Meanwhile the team under new coach Lino Cervar played a second successful friendly in Slovenia. The preparation looks fine. The group will show what it is worth.

Vardar plays on four fronts, a season ticket costs 4,500 denars

RK Vardar has announced the price of its 2026/27 season ticket - 4,500 denars, covering all home matches in the Champions League, the domestic championship and the newly formed Regional League. The champions play on four fronts this season, counting the Macedonian Cup. The arithmetic for a fan is simple and in their favour: three competitions for a price that is symbolic by European standards. The question is whether the hall will be full, because the Champions League is remembered for its atmosphere, not for its tickets. Vardar has lived the same contradiction for years - a club with a European address and a home crowd that turns up only for the big games.

Alkaloid on four fronts, and Tikves brings in a Frenchman for the European Cup

RK Alkaloid is preparing in Mavrovo with three new players, and coach Gjorgjiev says the club will play on four fronts and that the Macedonian league gets more serious year by year. The claim is good for marketing; the test comes on court. Meanwhile RK Tikves is assembling a squad for the EHF European Cup and has signed Chamal Abdula, a right back from France who played for Al Ahli of Benghazi in Libya. Kavadarci isn't a club with a deep budget, but it is going after an international for its European appearance - a gesture that says how serious they are. Three Macedonian clubs, three different European competitions this autumn. Handball remains the one team sport in which Macedonia regularly has something to show beyond its borders.