30 September 2008
Goalkeeper of Lokomotiva Jelena Grubišić is recognised as great potential, "world-class goalkeeper to be". Unfortunately, 21-year old Croatian international sustained severe knee injury last season. Good news is that recovery process will end soon.
Hr-rukomet.hr: What is the situation with recovery process and when will you come back?
Jelena Grubišić: “I am now in last phase of recovery. In August I started to train but without the ball. Day by day I work harder and I expect to be ready for 2 or 3 weeks. Then I can start to play the matches and after that we will see how will knee react.”
Hr-rukomet.hr: Lokomotiva has young squad this season. What are expectations in WRHL, Croatian Championship and EHF Cup?
Jelena Grubišić: “Regional league is great thing for acquiring experience because we have many young players. We had a good start with victories against Kometal and Ljubuški. We also played good match against Hypo. We still have to face Podravka, Krim, Budućnost… top European teams.”
“Unfortunately we are left without our back court from last season: Lovrić, Penezić and Starček. Also there are injured players such as myself, Vrkljan and Milanović-Litre. We will need time to make a good team, but coach Mlinarić is on right track. In EHF Cup we will play against Turk team. There are very few informations about them, we only know they have Romanian, Serbian and Turk internationals. Goal in EHF Cup is to go far as possible. In Croatian Championship Podravka is untouchable, so our goal is second place. Trogir and Trešnjevka are also candidates for that second place, but Trogir was defeated in Osijek and Trešnjevka in Sesvete, so this will be interesting season.”
Hr-rukomet.hr: Many handball experts talk about your great talent. Do you have offers from greater clubs since this is your last season in Lokomotiva?
Jelena Grubišić: “This season I am player of Lokomotiva. After that we will see. My priority is to finish my studies. There were many offers especially last season. When I got injured everything calmed down, but it is normal since I am not playing. I don't want to mention names at this point…”
TEXT: www.hr-rukomet.hr
PHOTO: www.hr-rukomet.hr