The 2010 IHF Super Globe will bring together some of the top handball players in the world, but the highly prestigious tournament in Qatar has now received a further boost with news that Al Sadd Club has signed some of the top names in the sport for the event. These include superstar Croatian centre-back Ivano Balic, twice the IHF World Player of the Year, as well as free-scoring Macedonian forward Kiril Lazarov, experienced Croatian goalkeeper Mirko Alilovic, Ratko Nikolic of Serbia, and Danish star Lars Jorgensen.
“Of course in a tournament featuring the best six club teams from around the world, the level of handball and the quality of the individual players will certainly be spectacular, and a real inspiration for our passionate spectators,” said Mr. Saadoun Al-Kuwari, Event Director, IHF Super Globe Organising Committee.
“These signings by the home team Al Sadd add further quality and star appeal to this spectacular competition. We are proud to be hosting an event of such caliber here in Doha and we are sure the local fans, who are renowned for their handball passion, will turn out in great numbers to witness these passionate encounters. We believe the signings made by Al Sadd, including the world renowned Balic and the fine finisher Lazarov, will further increase the excitement and anticipation building up here in Qatar in the weeks leading up to the event. There is no doubt that every team wants to arrive in top condition for this tournament, and we will ensure that the organisation is perfect to match these high standards of club handball’s finest competition,” Al-Kuwari added.
Al Sadd has certainly made a statement of intent by signing some of the top names in world handball. Jorgensen won the European Championships in Norway with his national team Denmark in 2008, whilst Nikolic brings the experience of 148 national team appearances for Serbia as well as a Spanish league triumph with his former club Portland San Antonio.
Goalkeeper Alilovic comes fresh from a silver medal at the 2010 European Championships with Croatia, and will link up to spectacular effect with his compatriot Balic, who has won a plethora of sporting titles including the World Championship and Olympic Games gold medal, as well as being named the Croatian sportsman of the year in 2007. Meanwhile, Lazarov holds a spectacular scoring record with an astonishing 92 goals scored in just 9 games at a single tournament - the 2009 World Championships in Croatia. He has also been the European Champions League top scorer twice and will be eager to provide the goals for his new club Al Sadd as they look to win the competition on home soil.
Besides the home team, the competition also features Spanish side BM Ciudad Real, the European Champions, Al Sad Club of Lebanon, Pan American winners Unopar Fel Sercomtel, AHF Southern Stars from Australia and African Champions El Zamalek of Egypt. The event will be held in Qatar from May 17 – 21 and remain in Doha for the next four years.
