| Royal Antwerp Football Club - News Headlines |
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SUMMARY DAY TWENTY-NINE |
Amid widespread media speculation about our financial future our players deserved a lot of credit for their desire, commitment and overall performance against K.V.K. Tienen. The hosts did not have long to wait to take the lead as a well-worked move was converted by Tibor Tisza. Four minutes later Verbiest hit a fiercely-struck shot towards goal, Schuermans could only push it into the feet of Manu Kenmogne who doubled the lead. After the interval a little scare when the guests netted immediately thanks to their fat, ugly striker Dufoor but another blunder from the visiting goalie completed the evening and Manu Kenmogne was at the right place to put the ball into the net. With this 8th win of the season we are currently occupying seventh spot in the Exqi League ranking.
At the top leaders KVSK United OL made no mistake at FCV Dender EH and RAEC Mons won their home tie with the narrowest of margins against RFC de Liège through another goal from ex-Wolves forward Roussel but the surprise came once again from the Lisp where the home team was held by lowly K.S.K. Ronse.
In the other games relegation-threatened K.S.K. Beveren got its first away win of the season in a derby game at new boys KS Wetteren, so a new episode in operation survival was accomplished but there are ten cupgames to follow for the well supported Yellow-Blue Army. With goals from Rentmeister, Asante and a brace from their winter mercato signing Abdullei they were far too strong for the hosts who were reduced to ten players just before the interval.
Our next opponent KV Turnhout got a vital point at KV Red Star Waasland, they broke the deadlock after 10’ with a strike from Ven, in the latter stages the home team responded well and Kielo-Lezi finally let the net bulge despite the fact that reliable shotstopper Horsten, the goalie, had another cracking game. |
| 09/03/2010 - Frank Nicola |
PROFILE OPPONENT * K.V.K. TIENEN |
Bosuilstadium, Saturday 6 March 2010 - 8:00 PM (c.e.t.)
Referees: Stéphane Breda - Cédric Waroux - Frédéric Stalport In his fifth season in charge gaffer Daniël Nassen will go for the traditional K.V.K. Tienen virtues of solid organisation, psychical strenght and good team spirit in Saturdays clash at the Bosuilstadium. The ‘Sugarboys’ have to win this game to reach the dizzy heights above the drop zone. The back four comprises Vanhees, Vandeput, De Smet and Triantafilidis who offer all the guarantees Nassen is looking for and in goal K.V.K. has the ever-present and reliable shotstopper Schuermans. De Smet was at K.F.C. V.W. Hamme a goalscoring defender but seemed to have lost these qualities since his arrival at the Bergéstadium. The defensive strategy is generally to force the opposition to attack on the flanks, where space is more restricted. The very attack minded midfield with Bogaerts, Belme, Neven and Da Silva support the front two. Normally exciting winger Ilenga Penga is one to watch and will buzz around in the left and central areas and in the centre prolific striker Dufoor links intelligently with him and scoring midfielder Belme. Further attacking options are Lacroix and Mbemba, while Summer midfield acquisition from Jupiler League outfit STVV Siegerd Degeling is proving his doubters wrong. Remember it was Degeling who netted the decisive goal in our dramatic encounter in Tienen, which we lost 4-3 in injury time after being in the lead on 89 minutes. Can we do better this time?
Founded : 1981 |
| 05/03/2010 - Frank Nicola |
ROYAL ANTWERP GETS FOUR AT LOMMEL |
l e a g u e y e l l o w (name in bold = misses next game) 5:Spencer Verbiest (13.02.2010 + 27.02.2010). 4:Thomas Phibel (06.02.2010), Darko Pivaljevic (27.02.2010), Tibor Tisza (27.02.2010). 3:Benjamin Lambot, Matthias Trenson, Zarko Jelicic. 2:Ransford Addo (19.09.2009 + 02.10.2009), Bart De Corte (04.09.2009 + 18.10.2009), Niels Martin (17.02.2010 + 27.02.2010). 1:Bas Vervaeke (26.08.2009), Manu Kenmogne (11.10.2009), Ray Fränkel (21.11.2009), Kevin Oris (13.12.2009), Emmerik De Vriese (13.12.2009). |
| 04/03/2010 - webteam stats |
SUMMARY DAY TWENTY-EIGHT |
On the day that Sir Alex Ferguson basks in his 34th trophy for Manchester United since taking the reins at Old Trafford after defeating Aston Villa 2-1 in the Carling Cup final at Wembley and our former starlet Ryan Shawcross was in tears after being sent off when making a horrendous tackle on Arsenal’s midfielder Ramsey at the Britannia Stadium we had the small matter of dealing with the Exqi League table-toppers KVSK United OL at the less- fashioned Gestelsedijk. It was honours even in Lommel where Royal Antwerp came from behind to earn their 13th draw of the season. The hosts made an encouraging start but had to wait until after the interval to take a deserved lead trough Dufour but our boys rallied afterwards and five minutes later Martin and Baert conspired to give the ball at our Hungarian loanee Tisza, everybody knew there was only one outcome and the ball was netted low with venom past helpless goalkeeper Sengier.
As the home side wilted and the collective purpose and belief of our beloved colours visibly grew, we came close to seal the victory when Kevin Oris’s close-range shot was blocked by Chergui. With this hard-fought draw we are now occupying eight spot in the ranking, our opponents who couldn’t make it nine consecutive home wins on the trot were stripped from the top by K.A.S. Eupen.
The Pandas secured a vital away win when two stunning goals from Milicevic and Obradovic gave them a double lead at the Leburtonstadium but Da Silva Alandson’s mid-second half response made for an enthralling, often nervous, finale. The anxiety caused by AFC Tubize’s resolve could have proved worse for Danny Ost’s team but the visitors stood firm in the latter stages of the game. Afterwards both gaffers complained about the mediocre playing surface but certainly the team from the Eastern, German speaking part of Belgium proved they are even in these adverse conditions worthy leaders of the Exqi League.
Another side doing good business in the upper echelons is RAEC Mons whose domination at lowly K.S.K. Ronse proved to hard to handle for the home team. Ex- Wolves striker Roussel gave the Dragons a much needed victory on the road by netting the decisive goal just after the break.
A job well done thus far by our former player Alex Czerniatynski, nowadays the manager of RFC Tournai, the Walloon based club is hovering to mid-table after getting 16 points out of a possible 18. Czernia won his home tie against JP Vande Velde’s OH Leuven side with 3-1 after trailing 1-0 on 30’. Mouissi, Seoudi and Chantry were on the scoresheet and responsible for easing RFC Tournai’s relegation worries.
Already on Friday K.S.K. Beveren and K. Lierse S.K. drew 0-0 at the Freethiel. In his first game in charge former Belgian teamcoach Aimé Anthuenis was lucky to salvage a point after Rentmeister missed a spot-kick for the home team.
And RFC de Liège only managed their third win of the season thanks to goals from Legros and ex-Milwall star Kinet against highflying FC M Brussels S. Hurrah for ‘Le Sang et Marine’! |
| 02/03/2010 - Frank Nicola |
PROFILE OPPONENT * KVSK UNITED OVERPELT LOMMEL |
Sporting Stadium Lommel, Saturday 27 February 2010 - 6:00 PM (c.e.t.)
Referees: Peter Vervecken - Geert Michiels - Jozef Carmeliet Franky Van Der Elst did join a long queue of Exqi-League coaches looking for a prolific striker this summer, although his need was the greatest of all. Having lost Van de Weyer there was a significant gap to fill in attack alongside star striker Ketting. The problem for United was that they are far from alone in seeking reinforcements up front and finding value for money has not proved straightforward. It was gaffer Van Der Elst’s famed eye for a bargain that did the trick once again. Situated in the neighbourhood of the Dutch border, our next opponent are always looking for acquisitions in the Dutch Eredivisie or Jupiler League. Last season United scored just 48 goals, almost the lowest in the Exqi-League and only a few goals ahead than the teams who fell through the relegation trapdoor. This season a lot is expected from new recruit Jason Oost, a striker with experience at the highest level in the Netherlands. Further in Winter mercato came a “wow” signing with the likes of Wouter Scheelen, a left-wing player that’s going to give you goals and assists and the ex- player from Belgian first division outfit KFC Westerlo can be the key to win the Exqi League crown come May. So, Van Der Elst canny forays into the transfer market continue to serve KVSK United well. He can now pick from a full-strenght team and hopes that the aforementioned strikers will be lucky to break double figures this season and in midfield our next opponent have free-kick specialist Davy Brouwers and at the back former Royal Antwerp favourite Pinxten to add more firepower to the attack. Stronghold of the team is still reliable goalkeeper Sengier and in the rearguard of the team Chergui replaced Eberle, in central defense or midfield there is an important holding role for Cameroon player Noukeu. Chairman Luyckx is very proud at the fact that local lads thanks to a good youth policy are coming through the ranks. Although still not coming in great numbers a decent crowd on Saturday is expected. Let’s hope that Kevin Oris can score against his former teammates, so we can climb in the Exqi-League table.
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| 26/02/2010 - Frank Nicola |
ZARKO MISSES NEXT GAME AT LOMMEL |
l e a g u e y e l l o w (name in bold = misses next game) 4:Thomas Phibel (06.02.2010), Spencer Verbiest (13.02.2010). 3:Benjamin Lambot, Tibor Tisza, Matthias Trenson, Darko Pivaljevic, Zarko Jelicic (11.10.2009 + 06.02.2010 + 20.02.2010). 2:Ransford Addo (19.09.2009 + 02.10.2009), Bart De Corte (04.09.2009 + 18.10.2009). 1:Bas Vervaeke (26.08.2009), Manu Kenmogne (11.10.2009), Ray Fränkel (21.11.2009), Kevin Oris (13.12.2009), Emmerik De Vriese (13.12.2009), Niels Martin (17.02.2010). |
| 24/02/2010 - webteam stats |
SUMMARY DAY TWENTY-SEVEN |
Royal Antwerp Football Club dealt a severe blow to K.S.K. Beveren’s Exqi League survival hopes on Saturday evening as Colin Andrews’s side came from behind to sweep aside the Yellow-Blues at Bosuilstadium. Both teams missed a string of first-team regulars and it was David Penneman’s side that struck first in a frenetic first half, when Pivaljevic lost the ball to Jacobs in midfield who sends deep Kokot and a fine cross from the left wing was finished high in goal by Snelders. Royal Antwerp’s reaction was immediate when Trenson and Verbiest combined, the latter set up our Hungarian maestro Tisza for an easy tap-in.
Tibor scored again just after the break with a spot-kick after Lardenoit handled the ball with his arm and when substitute Niels Martin stormed through Beveren’s ramschakle rearguard to add a third for our beloved colours in the dying minutes, it condemned Beveren to their tenth league defeat of the season and leave them ruing a missed opportunity to return outside the drop zone.
K. Lierse S.K. appointed the former Belgian national teammanager Aimé Antheunis as their new gaffer until at least the end of this Exqi League campaign. He witnessed from the stands his new team win against Royal FC de Liège, once again doing it the hard way because ex-Milwall star Kinet gave the visitors an undeserved lead. The 17th goal of Cavens, a poacher’s goal prodded in by Thiebaut and a strike from Matthijs relieved the pressure for the time being.
K.S.K. Ronse and Royal FC Tournai were victorious on the road, the former beat KS Wetteren with 5(!) goals from De Broyer and the latter won at highflying RAEC Mons with a big role for Breleur. He first scored a brace for his team but was also dismissed in the latter stages of the game. At the same time a fluke goal from Coussement gave the coastal team KV Ostend a win with the smallest margin against strugglers KV Turnhout.
Our next opponent KVSK United played out a dour stalemate at Puyenbeke, the home team KV Red Star Waasland squandered several good chances to win the tie, but Van Der Elst’s outfit stay top and hope to get a big crowd for our visit at the Gestelsedijk in a game that will be screened live on terrestrial TV! |
| 23/02/2010 - Frank Nicola |
PROFILE OPPONENT * K.S.K. BEVEREN |
Bosuilstadium, Saturday 20 February 2010 - 8:00 PM (c.e.t.)
K.S.K. Beveren has had a decidedly low key summer and their supporters could only hope that ex-Stoke City manager Jan Boskamp had something up his sleeve. Boskamp’s aim was to keep hold of his squad rather than spend money. Luckily for him versatile defender Jeffrey Rentmeister resisted ouvertures from bigger teams, that in itself will probably represent our next opponent biggest “signing” of the summer. Sounds depressing, but Boskamp gave some youngsters the chance to shine at the Freethiel and has never pleaded for more cash and at the end of the window well-travelled defender Collen and striker Kristof Snelders did bolster the squad. But like Alan Hansen said on BBC Television a few years ago, you win nothing with youth alone. K.S.K. Beveren often had the best standard of play during their Exqi-League campaign but missed the clinical, cutting-edge approach to finish off games. So, being in a relegation spot in the winter mercato the board needed to make the right decisions, namely sack Boskamp and splash the cash in new players. The new gaffer Penneman might not have much in the way of tools, but he at least has the right attitude to avoiding relegation. He stated : “ I see a lot of teams in the Exqi League that just play not to lose. I think football is about winning and entertainment.” With the acquisition of targetman Abdullei the manager has a crowd-pleaser but in his second official game for the yellow and blue he already picked up his first red card resulting in a two-weeks absence. Off the pitch, after all the cost-cutting of recent years in the second tier of Belgian football, Beveren believe they will break even next season, which would help Penneman take a much-needed delve into the transfer market. Also a merger with KV Red Star Waasland is a talking point of late but the yellow-blues first and foremost must ease their relegation worries!
Founded : 1935 |
| 20/02/2010 - Frank Nicola |
SUMMARY DAY TWENTY |
Royal Antwerp couldn’t inject new life into their play-off bid as Vandamme’s deflected shot saw home side KS Wetteren end a four-game winless sequence with a much needed victory. Both teams struggled for momentum in a dour first half but the game came alive just before the interval when the referee awarded a free-kick to KS Wetteren that surprised Van Trier, he could only punch the ball away in the feet of Vandamme who with a lucky shot (deflected by a team-mate) netted the decisive goal. After the break our boys pushed hard to salvage a point but the hosts were equal to the challenge and, in turn, prevented the Red and Whites from establishing any sort of rhythm. Playing without the suspended duo Trenson and Pivaljevic, the injured Phibel and China-bound midfielder Setti a makeshift team composition couldn’t avoid a fifth loss of the season. After another home defeat serious questions have been asked about Lierse’s credentials to win the Exqi League crown this season. Even against a 10-men FCV Dender EH side a lacklustre home team didn’t work hard enough to come away with something, especially as they flooded forward at the death. The long ball tactics didn’t work and the third defeat of the Real Madrid of the Exqi League led to manager Herman Helleputte’s departure from his gaffer duties and he will now take a sporting advisors CEO role, a new manager will be appointed as soon as possible by the Egyptian owners, investors group Wadi Degla!
A terrific display from FC M Brussels S. put coastal team KV Ostend to the sword in a dramatic encounter at the Edmond Machtensstadium. Second-half goals from Serbian box-to-box player Veselinovic put the team of the capital into a commanding lead with his 12th,13th and 14th goal of the season. One-way traffic as the game wore on with the Ostend’s defence struggling to cope with the Brussels’ front pair Coppin and Coulibaly who netted one goal each to form a 5-3 final score.
Highflying RAEC Mons and KVSK United had the best of the early exchanges in their respective home ties but when visitors KV Red Star Waasland and OH Leuven finally began to show some attacking intent the title contenders took first blood and never looked back. A brace from Gueye for the Walloon team and two goals from prolific striker Ketting bring both teams on the summit of the Exqi League table. |
| 19/02/2010 - Frank Nicola |
NIELS MARTIN'S FIRST |
l e a g u e y e l l o w (name in bold = misses next game) 4:Thomas Phibel (06.02.2010), Spencer Verbiest (13.02.2010). 3:Benjamin Lambot, Tibor Tisza, Matthias Trenson, Darko Pivaljevic. 2:Ransford Addo (19.09.2009 + 02.10.2009), Bart De Corte (04.09.2009 + 18.10.2009), Zarko Jelicic (11.10.2009 + 06.02.2010). 1:Bas Vervaeke (26.08.2009), Manu Kenmogne (11.10.2009), Ray Fränkel (21.11.2009), Kevin Oris (13.12.2009), Emmerik De Vriese (13.12.2009), Niels Martin (17.02.2010). |
| 18/02/2010 - webteam stats |
PROFILE OPPONENT * KS WETTEREN |
Wednesday 17 February 2010 - 8.30 P.M. (c.e.t.)
Stadium Marcel De Kerpel Referees: Istvan Lagaert - Franky Casieris - Jozef Carmeliet It’s a big step up, but KS Wetteren arrive in the Exqi League with plenty of momentum. After winning the Belgian Third Division title last season Wim De Corte’s long reign (since Nov 2001) has already been hailed as a revolution. “It’s a fairy tale” says Wetteren’s gaffer but will it have a happy ending this Exqi League season? KS Wetteren have an excellent basis from which to launch their bid for survival. Last season they had one of the best defences in the entire football league, and they have not one, but two reliable goalscorers in Sam De Munter and Ewout Denijs who scored 13 goals between them. Surely confidence and the winning habit might just be enough to keep Wetteren in the second tier of Belgian football despite the fact they’re unable to call on many players with knowledge of this level. Wetteren have a large squad comprising 28(!) Belgian players and funds to strenghten the squad are not available but we can’t see how a handful of injuries could derail their season. They are strong all over the pitch with outstanding goalkeeper De Vroe, a close-knit defensive unit comprising experienced stalwart Van Den Bossche partnered by Van Damme, De Wilde and Euvrard. The creativity in midfield comes from Claessens and star player Ewout Denijs while Van Ruyskensvelde is also getting a lot of playing time in recent weeks. Up front De Langhe and De Munter aren’t shy of doing the dirty work with summer signing Jorrit D’Haeseleer being used as a supersub when Wetteren needs a plan B! So, this all-Belgian team of De Corte have adapted quickly to the new level and is the surprise package of the Exqi League, the new boys want to make their Marcel De Kerpel stadium into a fortress as soon as possible. Can they manage another big scalp against our beloved colours?
Founded : 1951 |
| 16/02/2010 - Frank Nicola |
SUMMARY DAY TWENTY-SIX |
Let’s hope the Exqi League is back in full swing this Wednesday after last week’s snow shutdown. Despite the impressive efforts of the ground-staff and volunteers all over the Exqi League, four games were called off. All of them in stadia who weren’t perfectly capable of hosting a game due to the lack of undersoil heating. We don’t think it reflected well on the Belgian game because in the highest tier only one game could go through so Exqi League followers were lucky with five games played in it has to be said adverse weather conditions.
Our game at the Orphale Cruckestadium against lowly K.S.K. Ronse got the approval of referee Gleton and this just one hour before kick-off time. Our gaffer Colin Andrews stated that the spectacle was more suited for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver than a proper football game. We are sure that if there was a Health and Safety brigade in Belgium they would have stopped people from travelling to the ground. All through our life football has been played in inclement weather but now the Belgian FA cancelled the game at the Luc Varennestadium at RFC Tournai approx. 12 miles away from where we played footie on Saturday evening so Colin rightly said there is no general rule to cancel games at the drop of a hat because fans might have trouble getting to them. But yes, there is always the difference between the Flemish Ardennes and those in the Walloon part of Belgium! The game itself was full of dodgy decisions made by a referee quartet in favour of the home team. It isn’t enough that K.S.K. Ronse is our bogey team, now they have help from the men in black in every situation, whether it was a disallowed Tisza goal for our beloved colours or a bullet header of Ciani for the home team whereby the linesman was sure it crossed the line. It didn’t and instead of capitulate under the errors made we roused ourselves. One-nil down and Jelicic manufactured a yard of space down the left and fizzed in a cross, which caused pandemonium in the KSK Ronse box, and found our Hungarian miracle worker Tisza to level the score. Two-one down and we took a stranglehold of the contest and KSK Ronse tried desperately to stay in contention. They dug deep but a tempestuous game took another twist and while apparently beaten our boys mustered more resilience and in the dying minutes Kevin Baert’s shot found the upper right tier of the net to make it twelve draws out of 22 games this campaign.
So, we’ve got one hell of a scrap for the Exqi League title – and even an even mightier tussle for survival at the foot of the table. As intruiging as K.A.S. Eupen’s battle with K. Lierse S.K., KVSK United and RAEC Mons at the top is, it’s impossible to take your eyes off the lower reaches where just six points separate the eight clubs above whipping boys RFC de Liège.
This weekend’s Exqi League break due to postponement for our next opponent KS Wetteren couldn’t have come at a better time, for them this is an opportunity to take a breather and get a few niggles fixed before they push really hard (not to hard this Wednesday lads) in the remaining games of the season.
In the five ties that were played, K.A.S. Eupen took first spot with a win at KV Turnhout. An own-goal from Boeckx gave the Pandas a welcome win while a brace from star striker Jeroen Ketting kept KVSK United in the title race with a meagre 2-1 victory against play-offs hopefuls K.V. Ostend.
K.S.K. Beveren didn’t profited from playing against 10-men FCV Dender EH, they took the lead on two occasions but Vital Borkelmans’ men stood firm and Somé poked in the decisive goal. It’s now 9 points out of 9 for the newbie better known from his Dancing On Ice performances on terrestrial TV! Dancing On Ice that’s what this day of the Exqi League was all about… |
| 16/02/2010 - Frank Nicola |
MATTHIAS & DARKO SUSPENDED |
l e a g u e y e l l o w (name in bold = misses next game) 4:Thomas Phibel (06.02.2010), Spencer Verbiest (13.02.2010). 3:Benjamin Lambot, Tibor Tisza, Matthias Trenson (26.08.2009 + 04.09.2009 + 13.02.2010), Darko Pivaljevic (08.11.2009 + 23.01.2010 + 13.02.2010). 2:Ransford Addo (19.09.2009 + 02.10.2009), Bart De Corte (04.09.2009 + 18.10.2009), Zarko Jelicic (11.10.2009 + 06.02.2010). 1:Bas Vervaeke (26.08.2009), Manu Kenmogne (11.10.2009), Ray Fränkel (21.11.2009), Kevin Oris (13.12.2009), Emmerik De Vriese (13.12.2009). |
| 15/02/2010 - webteam stats |
PROFILE OPPONENT * K.S.K. RONSE |
Saturday 13 February 2010 - 8 P.M. (c.e.t.)
Referees: Stephane Gleton - Jimmy Cremers - Patrick Plumes KSK Ronse is still stung by the positive criticism they received during last season and manager Dirk Geeraerd who succeeded Van Renterghem after a rocky start possesses a young vibrant squad and this all on a shoestring budget of 650 000 euro. Although the gaffer said he doesn’t like the word ‘entertainment’ associated with football the Ronse fans were more than entertained last season, witnessing their team end up eighth in the ranking, their highest ever position in the Exqi-League. With 54 goals made and 52 conceded they were a spectacular side to watch. But all has changed now with the departure of leaders Lino and De Brul, our next opponent started the season with 6 straight defeats because they didn’t take the initiative in games, started too slowly and allowed the opposition to impose themselves. The squad lacks leadership and depth in numbers and although being our bogey team it will be a long draining season to stay up. So, KSK Ronse is in no position where they can keep re-writing the history books and located in the Flemish Ardennes close to the French border they have nine Frenchmen in their ranks. One of them is Amick Ciani, a player who had a past as a Royal Antwerp trialist but was rejected after poor performances in friendlies, he now forms with De Broyer the strikers’ partnership of our next opponent. At the Florent Beeckman Stadium last week a surprise goalkeeper in 19-year old De Volder who from now on gets the approval from manager Geeraerd and is preferred above Mrabet and Cottier. At their website they are now calling for season-ticket holders of Excelsior Mouscron to come to the Orphale Cruckestadium and see the remainder of the Exqi League season 2009-2010 for free. This certainly will give their poor average attendance a boost, otherwise 600 Royal Antwerp Football Club die-hards will bring a healthy surplus to their normal revenue!
Founded : 1987 |
| 12/02/2010 - Frank Nicola |
ZARKO JOINS THE CLUB OF TWO |
l e a g u e y e l l o w (name in bold = misses next game) 4:Thomas Phibel 3:Spencer Verbiest, Benjamin Lambot, Tibor Tisza. 2:Matthias Trenson (26.08.2009 + 04.09.2009), Ransford Addo (19.09.2009 + 02.10.2009), Bart De Corte (04.09.2009 + 18.10.2009), Darko Pivaljevic (08.11.2009 + 23.01.2010), Zarko Jelicic (11.10.2009 + 06.02.2010). 1:Bas Vervaeke (26.08.2009), Manu Kenmogne (11.10.2009), Ray Fränkel (21.11.2009), Kevin Oris (13.12.2009), Emmerik De Vriese (13.12.2009). |
| 10/02/2010 - webteam stats |
SUMMARY DAY TWENTY-FIVE |
Royal Antwerp Football Club returned to winning ways after what they might consider – in the grand scheme of their mediocre season to date – a mini slump. The red and whites headed into their meeting with bottom club Royal FC de Liège having not won any of their last matches since the KV RS Waasland home tie.
Strikers, wingers and trequartistas have off days. When forwards mishit, a goalscoring midfielder can save the day. In a rejuvenated side we had number ten Tibor Tisza and number seven Kevin Baert as marksmen to thank for our latest victory. They both have impeccable technique, connect perfectly with the ball, and arrive in the penalty area at the right moment, running into position when defenders are either unsighted or distracted. This happy knack may look casual or improvised but it is an innate skill honed in training and dependant on the kind of split-second timing that Colin Andrews says is the hardest quality to coach into a player. The gaffer also stated at his post-match press conference the progress our homegrown player Kevin Baert has made after the winter break, with this much needed win we are climbing into the upper echelon of the table! Watch some footage.
Elsewhere, OH Leuven slipped further out of the play-off race after failing to learn from their loss seven days prior while title candidates RAEC Mons enjoyed a positive weekend regarding their season target of fourth place at least. They battered woeful OHL to temporarily move into third position with this time Van Imschoot, Gueye, Jarju, Oussale and midfield maestro Zola Matumona completing the rout at Den Dreef.
FCV Dender EH capped off a marvellous week after they saw off our next opponent Dirk Geeraerds’ K.S.K. Ronse, it’s know 6 points out of 6 for newbie Vital Borkelmans. For his team Munyaneza (scored a brace against us in midweek) and Ngolok (scored against us in our Cofidis Cup defeat) were on the scoresheet for the home team, K.S.K. Ronse salvaged some hope with four minutes remaining thanks to De Broyer’s goal, but, despite a nervy finish Borkelmans’ team held on.
The coastal team K.V. Ostend gave themselves a play-off lifeline by beating lowly K.V.K. Tienen, Chendri was the star of the show, with the winger bagging his side’s first and second goal of the evening. When Degeling was sent off by the referee Laleman sealed the victory for the Seasiders.
Those hoping for a game raining goals at Tubize left the Leburtonstadium disappointed after the local pride and K.V. Turnhout played out a goalless draw. In fact, the result shouldn’t have come as little surprise: the stalemate was Tubize’s seventh draw of the season, they only won twice at home and can not cope with the departures of strikers partnership Perbet and Njock. K.V. Turnhout’s mean defence was never likely to give away many, if any, goals. Like the meeting earlier this season ‘Le Sang et Or’ had the better of the chances but were denied by some resilient Turnhout defending and some fine goalkeeping from Horsten.
At the top of the table K. Lierse S.K. took advantage from the fact that leaders KVSK United only played at the moment of writing so they took on temporarily base first spot after a win against team-in-form FC M Brussels S. The goals came from Royal Antwerp old boy De Graef and a reborn Gunther Thiebaut. |
| 08/02/2010 - Frank Nicola |
PROFILE OPPONENT * ROYAL FC DE LIEGE |
SATURDAY 06 FEBRUARY 2010 8 PM (c.e.t.) BOSUIL STADIUM Referees: Jimmy Verhe - Olivier Hampert - Michele Scatorchia
The long battle for a new stadium at Liège continues to sap both the finances and emotions. Having no stadium of their own RFC de Liège did play at Ans, Verviers, Tilleur and from the middle of last Exqi League campaign they found a home at Le Payray in Seraing. This means that the battle isn’t always held on the pitch but also in political and business surroundings to give our next opponent a new home. ‘Mad dog’ Raphaël Quaranta: four words that epitomise loyalty, commitment, determination and sheer hard work. The former Royal Antwerp favourite (Vitosha Sofia anyone?) is the main reason the Walloon based club went from relegation fodder to mid-table obscurity in a single season and it’s little wonder his name is linked with many posts outside the top flight. With a shoestring budget of 800 000 euro it will be interesting to see whether Raffa can weave his magic again and take his club to the next level. In the summer transfer window Royal FC de Liège have completed some decent business – in and out – but the signings of De Pauw and Grandisson are shrewd but unspectacular and the “statement” signing everybody was waiting for in the close season didn’t materialise resulting in no wins from their first five League games which left them playing catch-up again. Good news was the contract extension of ex-Milwall star Kinet, the left-midfield player and hardman with the worst disciplinary record in the Exqi League last season and a player who has been well-acquainted with that long walk to the tunnel – not to mention opponents’ body parts. ‘Les Sang et Marine’ looked comfortable in the Exqi League last term but can they continue their progress in the remainder of this term? Manager Quaranta is seen by some as a clown, but behind the jokes lurks a very smart coach. He admitted the tragi-comedy at Le Payray reminds him of Fawlty Towers. Our former player made it abundantly clear that he is deeply concerned about the future of the club, the Belgian FA number four is destined for a relegation dogfight in the fortcoming months. The club is in a mess and Raffa admitted that the players are concerned about the future but he alone cannot provide the answers they are looking for. The club with no stadium of his own is in turmoil but surely the fantastic support are owed some sort of explanation because due to their history, manager and workmanlike playing style every genuine Exqi League follower has a soft spot for this team. And the explanation came in the winter mercato when a massive clear-out began with defenders David Aktan, Steven De Pauw and Nicolas Lacroix all showing the exit door of Le Payray. Between the unimpressive back four (remember King Darko’s stroll in the first game!) and forward line sits the barren landscape of midfield where Benjamin Maréchal, Cypriot Nicholas Gkionis, Kris Buvens and Guiseppe Canale have all chosen lower league teams to continue their playing careers. Kinet and Gomez looks both past it and out of place in the centre and left-midfield, they are a liability at times. If that isn’t enough the meagre forward line saw Guillaume Legros leaving due to personal reasons, Zappia and Grandisson did sign at more ambitious clubs from the Belgian Third Division. Will the arrival of several Brazilian imports be enough to get ‘Les Sang et Marine’ out of trouble come May? We have our doubts whether Silas, Paco and Gilberto should provide the necessary goals to stay in the division but the only way forward now is to steady the ship and be pragmatic with the long-ball approach. The new players will ask Raffa to alter his style of play and hopefully Liège will reap the benefits of the new precise passing game! At the last day of the transfer window our next opponent did strengthen their squad with the acquisitions of goalkeeper Van der Jeugt, left-back Schiavone, right-back Lefevre and also bought a 30-year Lithuanian allrounder Grigas. Will there once again be a loyal following of RFCL supporters at the Bosuil on Saturday?
Founded : 1892 |
| 05/02/2010 - Frank Nicola |
SUMMARY DAY NINETEEN |
FCV Dender EH outclassed Royal Antwerp Football Club at the Bosuil to maintain the pressure on the Exqi League play-offs hopefuls – and brutally expose Colin Andrews’s play-offs ambitions. The visitors unleashed a devastating display of sweeping, counter-attacking football inspired by the brilliance of Henri Munyaneza. Henri, so long a figure of frustration at Dender has rarely performed with more threat and finesse than he did yesterday at our holy ground, he baffled Royal Antwerp with a stunning piece of trickery that forced uncertain Antwerp goalkeeper Van Trier to turn his shot into his own net after 25 minutes. When De Meersman doubled the lead after the break the first defeat under Colin Andrews reign was a fact although our boys got themselves a lifeline when Setti when Setti headed home a Jelicic free-kick. But the visitors' new manager Vital Borkelmans knew that the scoreline barely reflected their superiority, only 7 minutes after Setti scored it was that man, Henri Munyaneza who gave the red and white frontline a painful lesson in ruthless, cutting edge football. One-three and over and out!
In a tie where both teams performed well defensively and it appeared that both sets of players were more concentrating on avoiding a goal than scoring themselves at the Freethiel the logic result was a dour stalemate. Not so bad for Frankie Van der Elst troops because the chasing pack couldn’t win either. K. Lierse S.K. and first and foremost the topscorer of the Exqi League Jurgen Cavens missed numerous chanches to seal the victory at the Lisp against a well organised and stubborn KV Ostend. At the same time ex-Wolves targetman Roussel netted a brace against K.A.S. Eupen, the second was a poacher goal in the dying seconds. So it seems that the title hunt will go to the wire with four teams competing for one place in the highest tier of Belgian football, the Jupiler League!
Elsewhere, KV Turnhout dashed K.S.K. Ronse’s hopes of a second home win on the trot with a masterly display at the Orphale Cruckestadium. Two goals of Da Silva and one strike apiece from Noyen, Loyens and Ngon left Luc Beyens stating: "Since the turn of the year, the results haven’t been what we liked but we have reset the bar with this performance!"
Royal FC Tournai have high hopes to avoid the drop at the end of the season, their new gaffer is the old Royal Antwerpplayer Alex Czerniatynski. Alex saw his new team seal the victory at Luc Varenne against another relegation threatened side RBD Borinage. Goals from Seoudi, Desire and Breleur for the home side, Robail netting a consolation goal for the visitors.
In the middle of Flanders K.V.K. Tienen brushed OH Leuven aside with a 5-0 scoreline, the same score as to which they lost 3 days earlier. After Lino missed a spot-kick early on for the visiting side it was Neven, Belme with a brace, Degeling and Bogaerts completing the rout. After this derby win Daniel Nassen will stay put at the helm of the Sugarboys, won’t he? |
| 04/02/2010 - Frank Nicola |
ROYAL ANTWERP - FCV DENDER EH |
WEDNESDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2010 8:30 PM (c.e.t.) BOSUIL STADIUM
Referees: Johan Verbist - Christophe Hemberg - Erik Wagemans In recent history we met our next opponent two times in the regular 2006-2007 second division. At a packed to the rafter Bosuil Stadium in the last competitive game of Simpson, Evans and Dong we brushed Dender aside with a convincing 3-0 scoreline. Despite this win F.C.V. Dender E.H. held on to win the Championship and won the return leg against a lacklustre Royal Antwerp’s side who only had one target namely to make Fraizer Campbell topscorer in the goalcharts but local hero Gunther Thiebaut pipped him. Whereas F.C.V. Dender E.H. achieved a miracle by staying in the highest tier of Belgian footie the year after this season proved to be difficult because in the last game of the regular season they could avoid to enter the play-offs by winning at home against mid-table Charleroi and some defensive howlers led to a defeat and nail-biting play-offs. One of the reasons for this is the lack of communication between the board, the technical staff and the sportive and commercial manager. CEO De Doncker, who threatened to leave his post finally made the decision to sack former Stoke City manager Jan Boskamp and gave all the powers to the family Asselman who were running the show at the Florent Beeckmanstadium. Patrick Asselman. Clearly a very good manager, but the problem is that at the moment he just doesn’t appear as if he wants to be at Dender. And as a fact he isn’t no longer the gaffer of the blue and blacks. On 28th January 2010 FCV Dender EH sacked him and appointed newbie Vital Borkelmans at the helm of the team. Vital is an ex-Belgian international who played for the Red Devils during the 1994 and 1998 World Cups. The left fullback mainly played for Club Brugge at club level and offers little managerial experience, he only managed K.F.C. Evergem-Center in the lower divisions. Maybe he knows that the remainder of this season will be exceptionally tough. FCV Dender EH have financial constraints and are not a yo-yo club and probably don’t have enough players equipped for this level. In the summer transfer window our next opponent had more than ten outgoing transfers and due to parachute payments out of the Jupiler League they could afford fifteen incoming transfers. First-team stalwarts De Petter, Destorme, Deflandre, Berthelin, Sylla, Smajic, Vanderbiest and during this winter break Van Den Eede have all chosen other horizons. Mollez and De Boodt are the new goalkeepers, defenders Simov and Essikal, midfielders Imschoot, De Meersman, Van Den Brandt and Ngolok (who scored the winner in our Cofidis Cup defeat) and strikers Somé and Laurienté did strengthen the squad. With the results before the winter break it seemed as a season of transition looms although the abovementioned incoming transfers suggested that fees, wage demands and other factors won’t prevent FCV Dender EH to play their role in the play-off hunt and so they should with a whopping budget in the Exqi League of 3.2 m €!
Founded : 1952 |
| 02/02/2010 - Frank Nicola |
SUMMARY DAY TWENTY-FOUR |
It is fair to say that the world of football is not often complimented on its extensive vocabulary, and therefore it is ironic that one of the most apt and popular recent additions to the English dictionary had its origins in our sport. The “bounce-back-ability” is relevant to so many footballers and football teams the length and breadth of Belgium on a weekly basis because there are always winners and losers, always heroes and villains! The winner and hero on Saturday was Ransford Addo with a goalline clearance in the dying seconds, the loser and villain was Thomas Phibel who you may have guessed scored an own-goal meaning an eleventh draw this Exqi League campaign and therefore not climbing in the table. Thomas Phibel must now demonstrate resolve and must aim to provide a positive reaction to the disappointment he has suffered. But that will not happen in the FCV Dender EH home tie this Wednesday due to a suspension by picking up his third yellow at the Luc Varenne stadium. Another hero last Saturday was Yannick Put who with his first goal in the first team of our beloved colours had found a way through the force field that has been the RFC Tournai’s defence all evening!
We are top of the Exqi League is the popular chant in the environment of the Gestelsedijk where KVSK United with two home wins in four days took first spot, this time midfielder Dufour and striker Oost were on the scoresheet. The latter forms with Ketting a high performing strikers partnership and they often get help from scoring midfielders!
K. Lierse S.K. drew 1-1 on Friday evening in the top clash of the weekend away to 4th placed RAEC Mons. The Dragons broke the deadlock in the second half to a goal from new acquisition Oussalé, but Gunther Thiebaut with only his second goal in this competition rescued K. Lierse S.K. from defeat in the latter stages of the tie.
The scorelines of the weekend came from tradition club K.S.K. Beveren who managed to score four times against highflying K.V. Ostend and their new acquisition and targetman Abdullei is a worthy successor of old Royal Antwerpboy Luciano Olguin everybody with a yellow-blue heart was hoping for.
K.A.S. Eupen thrashed lowly K.V.K. Tienen at the Bergéstadium thanks to goals from Milicevic, Maric and Colinet and a brace from young Serbian starlet Obradovic. Can long-serving home team trainer Daniel Nassen stay put at the helm? Wait and see…
Due to adverse weather conditions the game between KV Turnhout and RBD Borinage was abandoned after 38’ and Royal FC de Liège’s home tie against our next opponent FCV Dender EH was postponed. |
| 01/02/2010 - Frank Nicola |
THOMAS PHIBEL & TIBOR TISZA MISS NEXT GAME |
l e a g u e y e l l o w (name in bold = misses next game) 3:Spencer Verbiest, Benjamin Lambot, Thomas Phibel (26.08.2009 + 29.08.2009 + 30.01.2010), Tibor Tisza (04.09.2009 + 25.10.2009 + 30.01.2010). 2:Matthias Trenson (26.08.2009 + 04.09.2009), Ransford Addo (19.09.2009 + 02.10.2009), Bart De Corte (04.09.2009 + 18.10.2009), Darko Pivaljevic (08.11.2009 + 23.01.2010). 1:Bas Vervaeke (26.08.2009), Manu Kenmogne (11.10.2009), Zarko Jelicic (11.10.2009), Ray Fränkel (21.11.2009), Kevin Oris (13.12.2009), Emmerik De Vriese (13.12.2009). |
| 01/02/2010 - webteam stats |
PROFILE OPPONENT * RFC DOORNIK/TOURNAI |
SATURDAY 30 JANUARY 2010 8 PM (cet) STADIUM LUC VARENNE Good organisation from the staff, preparation, a fantastic work ethic, real hunger and a no-fear attitude are the strengths of the team that reached the Qualifying Round for the play-offs last term against…us! They lost 2-0 on aggregate in what was Ratko Svilar finest hour of his tenure. For that reason alone attendances at Luc Varenne are at the highest for almost 15 years and the withdrawal of Excelsior Mouscron will help to lift the average gates figures even higher. This is hard to understand when ‘Les Sang et Or’ continue to drift aimlessly in the dropzone of the Exqi League. They haven’t finished any higher than fifth in the Exqi League, and a quick glance at Tournai’s ordinary squad and Denie’s uninspiring summer signings suggests this is unlikely to change in the next five months. Royal F.C. Tournai lost with Annijs, Di Tullio, Zebre and Scarpino some decent players but gaffer Denie, rather than be left to fine-tune his squad as he might have hoped, has instead been forced to contend with constant speculation about the future of the most important players such as Seoudi, Mouissi and strikers sensation Cardon, has to recruit always in lower divisions but the most important achievement of the Walloon based club is that set-pieces specialist Alexandre Frutos has extended his stay at the Varenne stadium. A finish in the upper echelon of the second tier of Belgian football is still the target but all depends on the new acquisitions. Talking about incoming transfers there is the good news that ‘Les Sang et Or’ have bolstered their squad with the free agent Bastien Chantry who used to play for Jupiler League outfit Royal Excelsior Mouscron. In the long term a merger between clubs in the neighbourhood of the French border seems inevitable so we do wish Antwerpfan and secretary of our next opponent Jean Michel Caink good luck in the forthcoming months! Breaking news is that RFCT parted company with their manager Denie by mutual consent and a new gaffer will be appointed as soon as possible!
Founded : 2002 |
| 29/01/2010 - Frank Nicola |
SUMMARY DAY TWENTY-TWO |
FC M Brussels S. and Royal Antwerp Football Club shared six goals in a thrilling Exqi League encounter in the capital in front of a meagre crowd of 1,500 spectators. Tibor Tisza burst through the Brussels defence, goalkeeper Werner couldn’t hold the strike and Kevin Baert was on the right spot to pounce the ball in the net to give the visitors the lead. In the second half we doubled our lead via Tisza, but a belter from Lutula and a goalline scrimmage and header from Durieux restored parity. In this crazy cupmatch the home team then took the lead when the ball came into midfield dynamo Tohoua’s path and he rifled a shot past a helpless Van Trier. A spirited and unexpected leveller came when our lads came roaring out of the traps and scored thanks to the eight goal of the season from Tibor Tisza! A cracking game ended 3-3 and let’s give credit for the spirit, attitude and desire of the 22 actors on the pitch and this in adverse weather conditions affecting the capital on Wednesday night!
Royal Boussu Dour Borinage gave themselves no breathing space above the Exqi League drop zone in a match where defensive errors accounted for all three goals. KVSK United won their postponed match 2-1 at the Gestelsedijk with goals from Henkens and Dufour. New acquisition M’ Bessa gave the visitors hope in the first half with a non-deserved equaliser but home side United are now the virtual leader of this season trailing K. Lierse S.K. with only two points and have one game in hand. |
| 28/01/2010 - Frank Nicola |
AFTER CLEAN SHEET IN BRUSSELS |
l e a g u e y e l l o w (name in bold = misses next game) 3:Spencer Verbiest, Benjamin Lambot. 2:Thomas Phibel (26.08.2009 + 29.08.2009), Matthias Trenson (26.08.2009 + 04.09.2009), Ransford Addo (19.09.2009 + 02.10.2009), Bart De Corte (04.09.2009 + 18.10.2009), Tibor Tisza (04.09.2009 + 25.10.2009), Darko Pivaljevic (08.11.2009 + 23.01.2010). 1:Tibor Tisza (04.09.2009), Bas Vervaeke (26.08.2009), Manu Kenmogne (11.10.2009), Zarko Jelicic (11.10.2009), Ray Fränkel (21.11.2009), Kevin Oris (13.12.2009), Emmerik De Vriese (13.12.2009). |
| 28/01/2010 - het webteam |
PROFILE OPPONENT * FC M BRUSSELS S. |
WEDNESDAY 27 JANUARY 2010 8 PM (cet) EDMOND MACHTENS STADIUM
Despite the controversial chairman Vermeersch locking away his chequebook these days, the team of the capital look more than capable of retaining their place in the Exqi League. Boasting a promising young manager in Christophe Dessy and an attacking approach to the game, don’t be at all surprised if they even creep in to contention for a play-off berth this season. Although Brussels aren’t overloaded with players who can get goals, crucially, they don’t rely on one player. With 9 goals for Lutula and Dalibor Veselinovic and 3 goals from midfield dynamo Tohoua Brussels aren’t exactly goal-shy. Dessy is aware of the shortcomings and acknowledged that he needs more players to “give us a chance”. The Brussels manager is renowned for prevaricating in the market but even by his standards business has been slow. Chairman Vermeersch first and foremost want to offload some of his big earners before the manager will get a yes to do his wheeling and dealing. Central defence and central midfield are the biggest areas of concern with Charlet, Fellahi, Culek and Matumona leaving huge holes to fill. There are no like-for-like replacements either, with neither Nollevaux nor Le Postollec blessed with Zola Matumona’s composure. Our next opponents squad is so threadbare that the merest sign of an injury must send a shiver down Dessy’s spine. Having operated with fewer players than other Exqi League outfits the declarations of the chairman will mean that Brussels will become lighter still. Thus it must come as a relief to the manager that a promising group of youngsters is emerging including defenders Geoffrey Cabeke and Heris, in midfield Anthony Cabeke is one player who caught the eye before the winter break. Although there is little doubt that FC Brussels have the pace and power going forward to unsettle opponents (remember the first leg!), particularly when Tohoua is supplying the ammunition. But it has to be said that one area where Dessy doesn’t have options is up front. He is expected to play two from Coppin, French striker Coulibaly and Lutula from Congo, although most punters say that the team of the capital are arguably at their most effective when playing in a 4-5-1 formation with Veselinovic supporting the lone striker. As it is, they have an outside chance of establishing themselves among the top order, as long as the gaffer can significantly add to his squad. Even then, though, it cannot be taken for granted. Needless to say that this tie will be a crowd-pleaser so Brussels will have a big revenue and their average gate will go upwards with the presence of a 500+ contingent from Royal Antwerp.
Founded : 1933 |
| 26/01/2010 - Frank Nicola |
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