Coach Takes Unsanctioned Break, Leading to Team's Defeat: Unapproved Time Away Comes at a Price
In a disappointing turn of events, SG Flensburg-Handewitt, the German handball team and title favourites, suffered a draw in their season opener against HSG Wetzlar. The score ended at 33-33, a result that left coach Ales Pajovic feeling a sense of deep regret.
Pajovic took responsibility for a tactical error, admitting that he called a timeout that Flensburg did not have. This mistake proved costly, as ball possession switched to HSG and the bench received a yellow card. The point loss is a bitter pill to swallow for Flensburg, who were aiming for a strong start to the season.
Johannes Golla, a key player for the team, expressed his "massive disappointment" about the performance, stating that the team did not expect the game to go as poorly as it did. He acknowledged that mistakes can occur at the worst possible times, but believed that the team could have performed better.
Pajovic's assistant, Marko Grgic, supported the coach, stating that the team made ten mistakes for every one of his. Simon Pytlick, another player, echoed Grgic's sentiments, acknowledging that mistakes can happen and are not solely Pajovic's responsibility.
Flensburg had to defend against Wetzlar's winning attempt but managed to hold them off. However, the draw means that they have already incurred a point deduction in the first game of the season.
Meanwhile, last year's fifth-place finisher, THW Kiel, secured a 31:29 victory against HC Erlangen in their season opener. SC Magdeburg, the Champions League winner and runners-up, won 33:29 against TBV Lemgo Lippe in their season opener.
As for the German champions, Füchse Berlin, their season begins today with a home game against newly-promoted Bergischer HC. The next SG Flensburg-Handewitt match in the Handball-Bundesliga will be played at their home venue, as the team recently had their home premiere in Flensburg.
Pajovic acknowledged the mistake, stating it was a hard lesson for him. The team will look to bounce back from this setback and regain their form as they continue their quest for the title.
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