With the two young Croatians, Matej Mandic and Dominik Kuzmanovic, handball champions SC Magdeburg have opened a new chapter in their goalkeeping history. Following the departures of key players Sergey Hernandez and Nikola Portner—and based on their performances in the first games of the season—coach Bennet Wiegert is convinced that the two will carry on the tradition of strong SCM goalkeepers. “We’re talking about two goalkeepers—national team goalkeepers—with plenty of international appearances for Croatia,” said the coach ahead of SCM’s Champions League match on Thursday against Swiss champions HC Kriens-Lucerne. “Kuzma was familiar with the league from his time in Gummersbach, speaks German, and has brought a lot to the table—none of which surprises me. And yet he can still keep improving and bring more consistency. Hopefully that will follow in the coming months,” Wiegert emphasized. He added that signing them was also ideal for him given the team’s age structure—Kuzmanovic is 23, and Mandic, who joined in August 2025, is 24 years old. The combination of the two goalkeepers is excellent. “Not because they have the same background, but because they’re such different types—both in terms of physicality, build, and goalkeeping technique, as well as their personalities—a perfect match for SC Magdeburg. It’s the ideal lineup in goal,” said Wiegert. Copyright 2026, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reserved
