Fertiberia begin pre-season ahead of their return to ASOBAL

The club president began the speeches by saying that ‘we have not been able to start pre-season in the new sports hall, but we hope to have access to it soon’. He explained to the new signings that the supporters expect the team to: ‘never lower their arms, even when the results do not go our way, and give everything on the court. This year we are going to enjoy watching our team in ASOBAL. We will fight to maintain our status, and may God distribute the luck—we are going to need it’.

For his part, the new red-and-white coach, Toni Malla, thanked the club for the opportunity it had given him to take on such an exciting project: ‘I remember that August in 2021 when I arrived here with the team that had been relegated and we had to rebuild the squad. Many of you are still with us and others have newly arrived, but the most important thing about this club is the support of our supporters, one of our emblems, as well as that of our sponsors and institutions’. The manager thanked them all for their support, which ‘will be crucial for playing in the Liga Profesional Plenitude ASOBAL next year’.

In addition, Malla said he was confident that his team would retain their status: ‘I have always been very cautious, but you have shown that through your sacrifice we have been able to reach ASOBAL as champions of the División de Honor Plata and historically the best team of the last five seasons. With that record, I can only say that we must believe in ourselves. We only need to put in the work and enthusiasm. I am convinced that we will preserve our status and grow stronger year after year in ASOBAL. Let us fight for the supporters, our sponsor and our institutions’.

Sagunto mayor Dario Moreno explained that ‘this town breathes handball, and within handball this is the flagship club. This means you have a responsibility towards the municipality. You represent our municipality to the outside world and future generations, and that is something we take very seriously’. The mayor offered institutional support with any problems because there is ‘a bilateral commitment, and if you give everything, these supporters will repay you handsomely. Our starting point is certainly very optimistic. We believe we can stay in ASOBAL, and we will conduct ourselves so that, whatever happens, you know we are there’.

Dario also expressed his confidence that they would remain in Spain’s top handball division: ‘I believe we will achieve the goals we have set ourselves. Fertiberia will stay in ASOBAL. We will do everything we can. The supporters greatly appreciate you giving everything on the court’.

The red-and-white manager, Toni Malla, explains that Fertiberia’s pre-season will consist of morning and afternoon training sessions, and that they will work not only on fitness but also begin integrating tactical methodology. The red-and-whites also have scheduled various friendly fixtures, specifically against UD Ibiza on Saturday 12 August at 12:30 at the Ovni and against the Qatar national team on Sunday 13 August at 12:45 in Tarragona. Toni Malla’s side will also play in two tournaments. The first will be the GTH of the Valencian Community, held in Benidorm from 18 to 20 August, featuring Iker Romero’s SG BBM Bietigheim, French side US Ivry Handball and BM Benidorm. Then, on 26 and 27 August, they will play in the first Benicarló International Tournament against EON Horneo Alicante, BM Benidorm and Handball Sassari. The red-and-whites will conclude their preparatory fixtures on 1 September at 20:00 with their presentation match against EON Horneo Alicante at the Ovni. They will also attend Puerto de Sagunto’s traditional ‘Volta a Peu’.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.