Fertiberia already preparing for the second half of the season to stay in ASOBAL

Fertiberia Handball have already completed the first week and a half of training in 2021. Vicent Nogués’ side are carrying out their winter pre-season with almost the entire squad and a progressive training programme. In this season marked by COVID, no friendly matches have been scheduled, but, if all goes well, the red-and-whites will face Benidorm Handball for the Comunitat Valenciana Cup. The traditional cup, organised by the Valencian Community Handball Federation, could not be held during the summer pre-season and, if the situation remains stable, it will be played next 27 January in Benidorm.

Regarding the start of the winter pre-season, red-and-white coach Vicent Nogués said: ‘The first week of training has been very intense. We have worked off the court, done a great deal of gym work, as well as readaptation work to return to the court. It has been a progressive training week that is now ending with sessions involving a lot of handball. The players are in good physical condition, and the team is working well.’

Nogués has returned to training with the entire squad, apart from Gonzalo Carou, who is at the World Championship in Egypt with the Argentina national team, and one player who is self-isolating as a precaution. There have also been absences due to exams for the young players who are still studying: ‘The handicap is with those who are currently taking their January exams, and one player who is self-isolating because of COVID. It is a safety measure, because although he has tested negative, he has a family member who has tested positive. I hope we can complete the final two weeks of preparation with the whole team, and then we will have achieved much more realistic work.’

Dija Cruz now training on alternate days

Red-and-white centre-back Dija Cruz is recovering very well from his first-half-of-the-season injury and is very likely to be ready to play in the first or second match of the second half. Vicent Nogués said of Cruz: ‘Dija trains every other day to try to get him ready with regard to his elbow. Things are going well, and we are working on his rehabilitation to see whether he will be ready to return to the court by February.’

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.