After a full year of participating in the CEFL, the goal of the Zagreb Thunder remains the same — get a win. Perhaps even a more difficult task this year, as they’ve been placed in the group of death in the league’s realignment for next year, meaning a win within the group will be hard to achieve, and their two inter-conference games against the Cowboys and the Silverhawks will be their biggest games of the season.

“We’re not at all happy with the group we were placed in the CEFL. Even though we consider our team will be stronger than last year, the quality of all three teams from our group is so great, that we have no right to expect anything other than a dignifying defeat. Although playing against much stronger teams is an opportunity to gain experience, in this sport every defeat hurts”, says the Team President Denis Geto.

What’s worse is they’ll be without their old coach Siniša Štefanović, who moved to Canada for the foreseeable future. Still, it’s not all bad news, as they received unlikely help after being contacted by Berat Ezel from Turkey, who moved to Croatia and contacted the team. With coaching experience in Turkey, Ezel will play defensive back and coach the position.

Sean Craig, on the staff last year, will take over as Head Coach, but for how long is not known. Geto says the team is in talks with a coach of Croatian origins who has NCAA experience, but being a young team, he says financially it could be a burden they can’t yet afford.

“That would be a tremendous addition for us”, says Geto.

The team is among those that could host a Sportklub televised game, which should help them get more media access.

“We won’t complain too much, because we love this competition and it’s an honor for us to be a part of the CEFL this season as well. It’s our wish that Sportklub viewers in Croatia have an opportunity to watch one of our CEFL league games on TV.”