Called down by agents
Thursday at 18.00: Watch Norway-Denmark on TV 2 or TV 2 Play.
– We have probably had 20 agents from many different countries who have contacted us, says general manager of Kolstad Handball Elite, Jostein Sivertsen to TV 2.
This weekend, Sander Sagosen, Torbjørn Bergerud, Magnus Abelvik Rød, Magnus Gullerud, Sigvaldi Gudjónsson and Janus Smárason were confirmed as new players for the Trondheim club.
Sagosen and Rød will not arrive until the summer of 2023, the others from the 2022/23 season.
Sivertsen is satisfied with the catch and has had to politely say no to several of the inquiries.
– We are sitting still in the boat, because we want to build around the players we have today in addition to those we have signed for 2022 and 2023, says Sivertsen.
According to TV 2’s experience, the agent for national team player Gøran Johannessen is among those who have been in contact with Kolstad. Trondheimsklubben says that right now it is not relevant to offer the 27-year-old a contract.
Even the player is open to the thought.
– If Kolstad comes to the table, it is of course something I have to assess, he says to TV 2.
– I have great respect for what the project is going on. It is very cool for Norwegian handball. We have never had such a project on a Norwegian scale before, says Johannessen.
But for now, the 27-year-old is tied to the German big club Flensburg-Handewitt. The contract expires in 2023.
It is far from certain that he will stay there.
– I am very insecure, says Johannessen.
– I have talked to Flensburg about it, and have received an oral contract offer from them. I have said quite simply and honestly that I need a little more time to think about what I feel like after 2023 when he should.
The national team profile finds it difficult to think so far ahead.
– But that’s how the handball world works. It may be that I have to take a stand on it eventually, but just during this period I have thought most about my injury situation.
Thursday at 18.00: Watch Norway-Denmark on TV 2 or TV 2 Play.