HC Vardar players were met by wild celebrations in Cologne, where their Komiti fans could not contain their joy at the second EHF Champions League title.

One of them hoisted the Kutles star flag, the first flag Macedonia adopted after independence but was forced to give up under pressure from Greece, on the mast outside the Radisson hotel where the team is staying.

Група навивачи на Вардар во Келн спиштија од јарбол друго знаме и го подгинаа знамето со ѕвездата од Виргина, притоа пеејќи „Никогаш Северна, само Македонија!“

Gepostet von skopje1.mk am Sonntag, 2. Juni 2019

– The coming days are going to be crazy. We were ready for the fans in Cologne, but we are not ready for what is coming. We know what the people in Skopje are up to, but you can’t prepare for that. It is going to be crazy, said team captain Stojance Stoilov.

Gepostet von RK Vardar am Sonntag, 2. Juni 2019

Vardar won the 2017 title and received a parade winding from the Alexander the Great airpot to the capital, including the privilege of passing underneath the Macedonia Gate. Tens of thousands of people filled the square.

Gepostet von RK Vardar am Sonntag, 2. Juni 2019

This time around, Skopje is already in party mode, with thousands celebrating at the square as soon as the final whistle was heard in the game against Viszprem.

The victory in Cologne took an a distinct political overtone, as Stoilov dismissed the imposed name “North Macedonia” during the post game press conference. This was welcomed by the fans in Skopje, who called out for the Captain, as well the Komiti gathered in Cologne, who chanted “Never North, Only Macedonia”.