Daniel Svensson's first interview in a Sporting shirt

Daniel Svensson arrived in Lisbon this week to pen a deal with Sporting's handball team.

“I am really excited. sporting is a really well known club in Sweden. It is really good to be here and I hope to win everything we can here. I am here to help the club win", said the 30-year old goalkeeper, who has spells with Hammarby (2012-2015, HK Aränas (2009-2012), Alingsas (2007-2009), Önnered (2005-2007) and BK Heid (2005) to his name.

The new Alvalade shotstopper also proved knowledgeable of what to expect when he puts on the Sporting shirt: "I have heard a lot about the fans and the noise they make. I really want to play for them. I don't know my teammates yet, but I know their names. I have seen a few thing about them, they are quality players and I want to help them."

Samvel Aslanyan shares his thoughts on his new home

It took him three transfers to get to the Portuguese capital, but the Russian international Samvel Aslanyan has officially arrived at Alvalade to pen a deal with Sporting's handball team.

“Me and my family were really happy when we found out I would sign for Sporting. I am really happy to be in Portugal and to represent this club. I have seen the team on the internet and I know they have some Cuban and Slovenian players here", said the Alvalade new recruit, adding: "I will try and talk with the rest of the team. I know two of them can speak Serbian and that will help me. The sooner I train with them the better. I am going to try and help get the best results for Sporting."

Samvel Aslanyan previously represented Permskie Medvedi, after spells with Voronezh RPO HC and Chekhovskie Medvedi. In 2008, he helped Russia to a 6th place finish at the Beijing Olympic Games and also has five Russian Championships to his name.

Portugal in World Championship qualifiers

The national handball coach Rolando Freitas has included six Sporting players in his squad for the 2017 World Championship qualifiers.

Pedro Portela, Pedro Solha, Bruno Moreira, Fábio Magalhães, Pedro Spínola and Bosko Bjelanovic are the Alvalade six who will line up against Estonia on the 5th of November (15h15 GMT), Georgia on the 6th (16h15 GMT) and Israel on the 7th (17h15).

Portuguese squad in full: Ricardo Candeias, Alfredo Quintana, João Moniz (goalkeeper); Fábio Antunes, Pedro Solha, Pedro Portela, António Areia, Carlos Siqueira, Bruno Moreira, Tiago Rocha; Gilberto Duarte, Fábio Magalhães, Bosko Bjelanovic, Rui Silva, Nuno Roque, João Ferraz, Pedro Spínola and Cláudio Pedroso.

Bruno Moreira shares his thoughts on EHF second-leg against Team Tvis Holstebro

Sporting may have lost out in the EHF Cup second round first-leg against Team Tvis Holstebro, but the 36-31 scoreline leaves the fixture open for the return leg in Lisbon.

“We have to be a lot more aggressive in defence and to not miss so many chances on goal, because that lets our opponent go on the counter-attack where they are strongest”, said captain Bruno Moreira in the build up to the second-leg, continuing: “We have to do everything to make sure that they don’t do the same thing again. We want the fans to believe we can turn it around, because we believe we can. Of course it won’t be easy against a good team, but we have a lot of quality and we want to get into the next round.”

EHF second round hanging in the balance

Sporting’s handball team lost out 36-31 to the Danish side Team Tvis Holstebro this weekend, in the EHF Cup second round first-leg. Despite the loss in what was a tantalising game full of goals at both ends (67, the highest at this stage of the competition), the team from Alvalade can still repair the damage come the return leg on Portuguese soil.

The opening stages proved that Sporting had done their homework prior to the encounter, but still a powerful Danish side soon showed what is was capable of and rushed four goals ahead (6-2) after six minutes thanks to some devastating counter-attacks. However, Sporting rallied and soon notched 8-3 back to 8-6 at the ten minute mark, before reducing the gap to just a single goal (10-9).

Holstebro again stepped on the gas and extended the lead to 14-10 after the break and maintained the a four goal cushion for much of the half (15-11, 17-13, 18-14), before eventually going in at the break 20-17 ahead.

Successful attempts on goal started the second-half off, before TT Holstebro opened up a six-goal gap for the first time 10 minutes from time (31-25). Sporting did manage to claw back into it in the final stages (33-30), before the Danes closed with a five-goal win that leaves everything open for the return leg.

Veteran Alvalade handball keeper renews contract

Sporting handball goalkeeper has extended his already long stay at Alvalade for an additional season.

“I am really happy to carry on representing this great club. I am going to work hard to reach our objectives and hopefully I can help with my experience over the course of the season”, said the Sporting veteran shotstopper.

Sporting Handball star pens new contract

Sporting handball star Nuno Pinto has signed for Sporting for an additional season.

“I am happy. This is an opportunity with a big club and I have to do my best, because I want to extend my contract further”, said Nuno Pinto, reflecting on his brother, João Pinto, also moving onto the Alvalade books: “It will be special. I have already worked for a number of years with my other brother, so it will be normal for me.”

Second Pinto brother signs in at Alvalade

João Pinto is the latest edition to Sporting’s handball arsenal for the coming season, following the arrival of Carlos Carneiro and Aljosa Cudic. This will actually be Pinto’s second spell at the club, having moved from Lisbon to Madeira in 2012/13.

“I am more experienced and mature player now. I have always liked this club, which is why I am back”, said the 26-year old, adding: “The team isn’t all that different and I already know the new coach. He is demanding, but that will get us to where we want to be, which is winning the League, Portuguese Cup and going as far as possible in Europe.”

EHF Cup draw sets up thriller

The draw for the second round of the EHF Cup took place this morning in Vienna, setting up a tantalising matchup between Sporting and the Danish side Team Tvis Holstebro.

The first encounter of the two legs will be held in Denmark on the 10th or 11th of October, before the return fixture on the 17th or 18th in Lisbon.

The Danish outfit were founded in 2000, following a fusion between Holstebro Handbold 90 and Tvis KFUM. They call the 3,250 capacity Grakjaer Arena home turf and can boast a 3rd place finish in the 2013 EHF Cup.

Edmilson Araújo gets green light for World Championships

Edmilson Araújo will feature for the national under-21 handball team in the coming World Championships, to be held in Brazil from the 19th of July to the 2nd of August
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The Alvalade athlete’s call up comes on the back of winning this year’s national championship, building on his presence in two friendlies against Spain.

Portugal will be in group B and will get underway on the 20th against Romania, followed by encounters with Serbia (22nd), Spain (23rd), Qatar (25th) and Angola (26th).