Itxako Reyno de Navarra won the Spanish championship with only one point ahead before their biggest opponent in the national competition Elda Prestigo. Wining the first position also means a place directly in one of the Champions League groups.

Itxako has completed their team roster. The club has signed  6 new players, among whom they are bringing the brilliant Russian winger and former FCK handbold player – Emiliya Turey, and another great french player is joining the team, Raphaëlle Tervel is coming from Larvik.
Two other russian players have joined the team, Nataliya Kurbanova former Togliattian player is coming back to handball after few months break and sholuder surgery, and Tatiana Alizar is the new goalkeeper who is coming in the team.
Itxako is starting with the preparation phase on July 21.

Handball123.com had a small interview Natalia Kurbanova.

*You came back to handball after a break due to shoulder injury. How hard was for you to prepare yourself during the recovering period?

It was very hard for me to recover, not only physically but also psychologically, because I was recovering on my own after severe shoulder injury. During the recovering period I had a help from my friend Emiliya Turey.

*Your good friend Emiliya Turey also signed for Itxako, this happened accidently or?

Emilya’s contract ended after the end of the season same as mine, and we thought about the idea to play together in some club, and at the end that idea was turned to reality.

*Only small number of Russian players decide to play abroad, what was the reason that made you make this step?

I simply wanted to try something new in my carrier.

*What are your expectation in the next season?

I want victories in everything, and I will give my maximum so my team can achieve its gold’s.

*Do you think that your new team has to power to reach the final matches in the CL?

 I can’t say anything right now, but I will tell boldly that chances are always open for everyone, you should only believe.

Roberto Zabala have send us the completed team roster and also one interview with the coach Ambros Martin, which was published at the official web-site of the team.

Ambros Martin renews his contract with Itxako for the next three seasons. He will remain tied with  Estella as minimally until June 30, 2013.
Itxako and Ambros had reached an agreement of renovation of the contract in December of the prevision year, but it has not been official up to this week when both parts have signed the new contract. Before renewing the contract Ambros Martin has rejected important offers not only from the Spanish clubs, but also from abroad. The ambition of the team puts the eyes in the CL, this is the objective for work in the next three years. This is an ambitious project but we are working every year looking for new objectives.

Interview:

Three season and one objective:

-Ambros: We are going to fight to win CL, it´s really very ambitious but we´re going to work very hard looking for that. The national league is very difficult and important for us too.

The last season has demonstrated that  Itxako Reyno of Navarre has only margin improvement in Europe.

-Ambros:  I believe that we have a place in the maximum competition. It is difficult, we lack a couple of steps for crossing. This are details that come with experience, hard work and sometimes luck. The team works day after day, the effort and the sacrifice we assure it in every training because we want to be at the best level. Someone may think that we are presumptuous or arrogant, but it is what we feel and want. There is a long road ahead and we want to win the Champions League.  We know the competition and we will fight with all the enthusiasm..

And to achive that gold, the team has signed 5 new players. What can you tell about each of them?

-Ambros: In case of Oana Soit, Carmen Martin and Ralph Tervel there is an experience and desire of individual improves and collectively. The three have an important competitive baggage. They have character and are competitive.
With respect  to Turey she is one of the best in the world at the left wing position. She has won three world championships with Russia. She is accustomed to give good results to the maximum, but she will also need a period of adjustment. I have seen her playing in live and she has the winning player profile., very active and that does not hide before the responsibility.

Kurbanova is less known, she comes to reinforce together with Begoña the pivot.

- Ambros: Both of them have characteristics and different styles for what they can complement very well. Begoña is the best in Europe and Natalia should adapt because she has good technical characteristics. She is very good at the reception and attack.

And what about the goalkeepers?

We have signed Tatiana Alizar and I think she is totally complementary with Silvia Navarro. Both are very good players and they have experience so this position is very well saved with them. We have a very good couple of goalkeepers.

Itxako team roster

Goalkeepers:
Silvia Navarro
Tatiana Alizar
Maite Zugarrondo

Left backs:
Nerea Pena
Patricia Pinedo
Raphaëlle Tervel

Right backs:
Oana Soit
Alexandrina Barbosa

Playmakers:
Andrea Barnó
Macarena Aguilar

Right wings:
Jessica Alonso
Carmen Martin
Amaia Azanza

Left wings:
Naiara Egozkue
Emiliya Turey

Line players:
Begoña Fernandez
Natalia Kurbanova

Head Coach:
Ambros Martín

Assistant - Coach:
Manuel Etayo

Transfer Overview:

Joining:
Raphaëlle Tervel
Tatiana Alizar
Oana Soit
Emiliya Turey
Natalia Kurbanova
Carmen Martin

Leaving:
Marieke Van der Wal
Laura Cracium
Conchi Berenguel
Cristina Rhode
Nely Carla Alberto
Elisabeth Pinedo