Slovenian giant makes the move to Lisbon

"I am really happy to sign for Sporting! It was an easy decision. It is a good club with a good tradition in lots of sports, not just handball." That was how Igor Zabic opened his first interview in a Sporting shirt this week, after sealing his move to Alvalade.

Standing at 2.01m and weighing 95kg, the giant Slovenian proved full of ambition: "I know we will have a great team next season and their was no reason for me not to sign. I hope to fight for first place and I always want to win, but we have to show that on the court."

Having already spent spells with Orosházi FKSE (Hungary), RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko, RK Maribor Branic (Slovenia) and Slask Wroclaw (Poland), Zabric also proved knowledgeable on Portuguese handball: "I know that four teams fight fo the title here: Sporting, Porto, Benfica and Braga (ABC). It is a really balanced league."

Michal Kopco latest name to join Sporting's handball team

Sporting's handball department continues to bring in the reinforcements in preparation for next season. Michal Kopco is the latest edition, after making the move from Tatran Presov.

Standing 1.95m tall and weighing 115kg, Kopco has already claimed five national titles in his native Slovakia and has a wealth of experience in both the Croatian and Hungarian leagues.

Speaking with the Sporting Journal after agreeing the deal to bring him Alvalade, Kopoc explained the logic behind the move: "I am here to play in a better league and I will be representing a great team."

Sporting CP handball star has successful operation on right knee

The athlete Bosko Bjelanovic has undergone an arthroscopy on his right knee, to treat a meniscal and chondral injury.

The procedure was completed as normal and the athlete is expected to be out of action for three months.

Croatian international goalkeeper agrees terms with Alvalade

"I accepted the challenge because the club has a lot of ambition and wants to fight for titles. I will do by best to win everything." That is the promise made by Matej Asanin on signing in at Alvalade.

A brilliant goalkeeper, Asanin has already proven himself on the European scene. With spells with the heavy weights RK Zagreb, he has also played in Spain and Germany. “I know a good team is being pu together here and I want to win everything next season", said the 23-year old shotstopper, adding: "I will always do my best. When a goalkeeper plays well, it can help the team win games."

Not to be put off by learning Portuguese, Asanin finished: "I can speak German, Spanish and English and I will also learn Portuguese."

Fábio Magalhães, Pedro Solha, Pedro Portela and Bosko Bjelanovic all feature for World Championships play-off

The Portuguese national coach Rolando Freitas has called Sporting athletes Fábio Magalhães, Pedro Solha, Pedro Portela and Bosko Bjelanovic into his squad for the coming World Championships play-off against Iceland.

The Portuguese will take on Island on the 12th and 16th of June.

Cuban handball star signs for an additional two seasons

Sporting handball star has penned a new deal, now taking his control through until 2019. The Cuban still had a year left on his contract, but has already taken the decision to sign up.

"I think this is a sign of the confidence that people have in me and that people believe in the work I have done so far. It is an enormous pleasure for me to be at this club. Sporting has been my second family since I arrived and I am really happy to be playing in such a great team", said Carol after putting pen to paper. 

Frankis arrived in Portugal in 2011 and has played a crucial role in the winning of three Portuguese Cups and a Super Cup.

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.

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.