How Pelister fans create green magic in Bitola

When he arrived in Bitola this summer, Rubén Garabaya had already heard a lot about the fans of his new club.

That, when HC Eurofarm Pelister play at home, their fans turn the 3,000-capacity Boro Curlevski arena into a wild place. Green shirts and shawls everywhere. A heated atmosphere. Ear-deafening chants. Unconditional support from the stands.

But when the Spanish coach led the team for the first time in a Machineseeker EHF Champions League match this season, Pelister’s fans still left him in awe.

“Many people have told me about the atmosphere here,” Garabaya said after his team’s 25:23 win over HC Zagreb in round 1 last September.

“But until you experience it yourself, you don’t know what magic is in this hall. It is very easy to play here with this kind of support.”

Pelister and their fans, that is a four-decade-long story of passion.

It all started in 1985, when a large group of supporters from Bitola followed their heroes to an away match in the domestic league against Partizan Bjelovar.

It was the beginning of an unprecedented fan following for Pelister — and not just their handball division, but also in football and basketball.

Ever since, the group, which ultimately called themselves Čkembari, have not just supported Pelister in their home arena, but also travelled along for away matches, many times with more than 2,000 fans on the road.

The Čkembari have not just been supporting Pelister, they have been breathing Pelister. This has become their way of life, documented on a dedicated Facebook page.

Still, they don’t see the world only through green-and-white glasses. Their love for Pelister can never be questioned, but they are critical of their team when the performance doesn’t match their expectations.

And, on the other hand, they show respect for Pelister’s opponents and will acknowledge after the match when the other team have been better. No wonder Pelister fans don’t hesitate to ask for selfies with players like Barça's Blaz Janc or GOG's Óli Mittún.

The Čkembari will be out in full force again when Pelister take on OTP Bank - PICK Szeged for the MOTW in round 7 in Bitola on Wednesday (12 November at 20:45 CET, live on EHFTV).

With just one win from six matches so far, coach Garabaya's side need to start adding points to their tally to improve their chances of making it to the EHF Champions League play-offs for the first time.

"My message to the fans is that they will see a fighting team with a desire to win," Garabaya said on the eve of the MOTW against Szeged.

But no matter the result of Wednesday's match, all fans will be fired up again and return to the Boro Curlevski arena in two weeks' time when SC Magdeburg visit, ready to do everything they possibly can do from the stands to help Pelister upset the defending champions.

all photos © HC Eurofarm Pelister