There are currently four goalkeepers in the THW Kiel squad for the 2024/2025 season. However, the supposed luxury reservoir of the handball Bundesliga club could well become a problem with the risk of conflict.
With the signing of Andreas Wolff, THW Kiel has pulled off a real transfer coup. The national player came from the Polish club Barlinek Industria Kielce and signed a contract with the Zebras until 2028.
The northern Germans have high hopes for this major transfer. Unlike in his first time at THW, when Wolff was often only number two behind the Dane Niklas Landin, the 33-year-old is now set to become the team’s sporting cornerstone – and lead it to success again. Last season, they only managed fourth place and, ignoring the Supercup at the start of the season, the first season without a title since 2018.
It was therefore clear early on that Wolff would be the clear number one in Kiel’s goal in the 24/25 season. But behind him, a very fierce competition has broken out.
With Samir Bellahcene and Tomáš Mrkva, there are two other top goalkeepers in the THW squad who are entitled to regular playing time. In addition, 19-year-old Leon Nowottny was recently given a professional contract.
In an interview with “handball-world.news”, former player Christian Zeitz spoke of “the other side of the coin” and painted a gloomy scenario: “That could become a problem.”
Mrkva returns after knee surgery
Last season, Bellahcene and Mrkva largely shared the job in goal.
The Frenchman had a ball save rate of 28 percent in the Bundesliga, the Czech 28.3 percent.
Bellahcene is currently slightly ahead. Mrkva had to undergo knee surgery after a meniscus injury. The 35-year-old is expected to return to training in the coming days.
Szilagyi hints at goalkeeper departure from TWH Kiel
It is entirely possible that one of the two will leave THW Kiel during this season. There were repeated transfer rumours about the duo in the summer. However, these were never confirmed.
“It is not the goal to go through the coming season with all goalkeepers,” THW Kiel managing director Viktor Szilagyi also made clear to the “Kieler Nachrichten”.
However, they do not want to “drive away” any players. “Samir Bellahcene and Tomáš Mrkva have valid contracts (until 2025; editor’s note) and we respect them. THW Kiel has always respected them,” emphasised Szilagyi.
As of now, there are no offers for the duo. Neither of them has approached the Kiel bosses and asked for an early termination of their contract. “But that can change very quickly,” noted Szilagyi.
The 29-year-old Bellahcene recently announced that he wants to fight for playing time in his last season at THW Kiel. “I hope to be number two. At the moment I am, because Tomas is injured. After his return we will be a trio in which I will find my place,” he told “handnews.fr”.
The French international did not express any resentment over the Wolff transfer. “I learn from him, we exchange a lot of information, even though we have two different styles,” he said, referring to the DHB star.
Wolff looks calmly at the competition at THW Kiel
Wolff also takes a relaxed view of the competition. “As a top club with as many games as THW Kiel, you need a good goalkeeping team in today’s handball that complements each other,” he stressed in an interview with the club: “It is extremely important for a team and for personal advancement to have a strong goalkeeping team.”
It is not impossible that Wolff will see things differently next season. He will then form a team with world-class goalkeeper Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas, who comes from FC Barcelona.
Wolff’s status as the clear number one will then no longer be set in stone. THW Kiel will then once again have a luxury problem waiting for them.
Source: www.sport.de
