MT Melsungen celebrates its best season: records, victories and a torn cruciate ligament!

MT Melsungen celebrates its best season: records, victories and a torn cruciate ligament!

The 2024/25 handball season was a real prime example of team spirit, fight and a bit of drama for MT Melsungen. With third place in the Bundesliga and participation in two Final4 tournaments, coach Ahmet Cehajic's team had one of the best seasons in their history. As MT Melsungen reports, the Rothenbach Hall once again demonstrated its importance as a “cauldron” this season. Particularly pleasing: 11 of 17 home games were sold out, which indicates an average number of spectators of 4,240. The highlight was the record attendance of 5,100 fans at the game against the Rhein-Neckar Löwen.

But not everything went smoothly in the current season. In addition to top sporting performances, there were several challenges to overcome. Two games had to be moved to the North Hesse Arena due to a trade fair in the Rothenbach Hall, both of which the Melsung team were able to win. Technical breakdowns were also common; During the game against Berlin, the players had to struggle with floor stickers coming off. Despite these small mishaps, the team remained unfazed and showed remarkable resilience.

Accustomed to injuries

However, the season was not only marked by successes, but also by injuries. Mohamed Amine Darmoul suffered a torn cruciate ligament in the game against Vardar - a scene that impressed not only fans but also the team. According to Handball-Welt, Darmoul is expected to be out for a long period of time, which will hit Melsungen's squad hard. Captain Timo Kastening also struggled with knee problems, but those responsible gave the all-clear for his comeback in the top Bundesliga game against Füchse Berlin.

Overall, the team recorded numerous injuries, and a total of seven professionals were in the hospital at times. This shows even more that the team needs to be strong across the board in order to meet the challenges of a long season. Felix Danner and Carsten Lichtlein returned as “oldies” to help their team and provide additional experience.

Playful highlights

On the sporting side, Nebojsa Simic was an important support, with 239 saves during the season, which ensured him a central role in the team's success. Ian Barrufet also achieved the title of top scorer in the European League - a real success for the Melsung team. The young Leon Stehl also celebrated another milestone by scoring his first goal in the professional squad in the home game against Vardar.

Another highlight was the use of a trumpet during a game, which served as a good luck charm and further heated up the atmosphere in the hall. The team demonstrated that handball is not just a sport, but also a community experience with two derby wins against Central Hesse and the incredible atmosphere at the home games.

This season, MT Melsungen played in a total of 56 competitive games - more than any other HBL club. The qualification for an international competition fulfills the seasonal goal and makes the fans excited about the challenges ahead. At a time when injuries are increasingly an issue in handball, the team impressively shows that they can also deal with adverse circumstances. According to the current VBG sports report, the number of injuries increased moderately compared to previous seasons, which increases the need to look after the players well and rotate them if necessary.

Overall, the 2024/25 season represents a real test for MT Melsungen, in which the team shows how important team spirit and mental strength are. Fans can look forward to an exciting future!