SUMMARY DAY FIFTEEN

Royal Antwerp Football Club shocked Sporting du Pays de Charleroi on Sunday afternoon and by doing so breathed new life into the title race as Benjamin Lambot gave us a first home win since 8 October.  The workmanlike midfielder connected well with his knee on a corner kick which gave the home side a deserved three points. While both defences looked vulnerable in the early stages it was gaffer Bart Wilmssen’s side who created the openings just for Diouck to miss from close range. 

Royal Antwerp, who were playing without injured Romeo Van Dessel and Romanian star man Andrei Ionescu on the bench, made a strong start to the second period and a Guy Dufour corner led to a win with the smallest margin against highflying Sporting du Pays de Charleroi (22 points out of a possible 24 before this game under new manager Tibor Balog). This win makes it 6 out of 6 for the new man at the helm of our club, Bart Wilmssen’s side did even not concede a single goal against two Walloon outfits and that is certainly a good sign for next week when our sixth place is in danger at newcomers VC Eendracht Aalst 2002.

PROFILE OPPONENT * R SPORTING DU PAYS DE CHARLEROI

Sunday 27 November 2011 - 3 PM (c.e.t.)

Bosuil Stadium

"I have not done justice to the fans in the black country", said a contrite chairman Abbas Bayat at the end of last season when his side was relegated after losing a round-robin of 5 ties against fellow strugglers K.A.S. Eupen. Join the queue, Abbas, behind Jacky Matthijsen, Hernan Losada, Massimo Moia, Naïm Arrab, Orlando and a lot of unknown foreign imports. As a headline in a sportspaper declared a couple of months ago, ‘Sporting Club Charleroi let down by Abbas generation.’ More than ten years after taking over the popular club, the Stadium du Pays de Charleroi’s dressing room is brimming with supposedly exceptional talents who have so far failed to achieve their potential. Time to take a long hard look in the mirror and start delivering on the pitch at last, we think!

But here comes a new season, a new start but under the guidance of manager supremo Jos Daerden the Walloon outfit had a terrible begin and knowing controversial chairman Abbas that was the sign to sack the well-travelled Jos Daerden and replacing him with an old player of the club, Tibor Balog. The latter managed to get a formidable 22 out of 24 points and everything in the black country is already certain that the stay in the second tier of Belgian football will only last one year.

At the press conference to announce he was staying at Charleroi, Onur Kaya, the midfield maestro, showed all the enthusiasm of a man heading to the gallows. Before his 11th-hour U-turn, the midfielder had been set to leave because he didn’t believe the club could immediately challenge for the second division title. But Onur, who was once playing for attractive Dutch Eredivisie outfit Vitesse Arnhem, surveyed the squad and came to the conclusion that they weren’t up for the job, yet with new manager Jos Daerden at the helm arriving fresh from another Dutch Eredivisie side Twente, and some new recruits to follow, he might just be surprised this season. Although our next opponent (like us) is at manager number two for the ongoing season.

The Charleroi attack looks better than ever. The croatian Van Basten, Matija Smrekar and Moussa Gueye could form a potent and lethal strikersduo with the latter already netting 14 goals. If midfielders Hervé Kage, Onur Kaya (a doubt for Sundays clash!) and former Germinal Beerschotplayer Ederson Tormena can deliver the necessary assists than the forwards will certainly capitalise to score a few. In goal is the reliable Coqu, while at the back Bojovic, Dzinic and Lazitch are always available to keep a clean sheet. If the Walloon outfit can strengthen the squad in the January transfer window than they are the team to beat in the second division. Just avoid a lazy over-reliance on Moussa Gueye, the team is a little bit infected by their top marksman and too many players certainly under the Jos Daerden regime were simply not prepared to work hard enough. Sporting Charleroi were last year in the Jupiler Pro League shocking away from home, winning nowt in 17 attempts. So, it was surely the right time to get rid of the prima-donnas who too often looked embarrasingly out of their depth in the highest tier of Belgian football. But, new season mean new chances and it will be a surprise if our next opponent won’t reach at least the dreaded play-offs!

Founded : January 1,1904
FA number : 22
Address : 19 Boulevard Zoé Drion, 6000 Charleroi
Stadium : Stade du Pays de Charleroi (20 000)
Ticket Office : 071/23 97 50
Website : www.rcsc.be
Budget : last year a whopping 8 million euro, this year approx. 4 million euro
Kit Colours : black and white
Club sponsor : VOO
Chairman : Abbas Bayat
Gaffer : Tibor Balog
Fact : Charleroi played in the highest tier of Belgian football since 1985, and was relegated
last term!

WOUTER SMEETS' FIRST YELLOW

l e a g u e - y e l l o w (20)(name in bold, misses next game):

3:Denis Viane (24.09.2011 + 06.11.2011 + 20.11.2011).

2:Zinou Chergui (24.09.2011 + 29.10.2011), Andrei Ionescu (15.10.2011 + 12.11.2011), Benjamin Lambot (01.10.2011 + 08.10.2011), Kevin Oris (24.08.2011 + 23.10.2011).

1:Prince Bobby (29.10.2011), Karel De Smet (12.11.2011), Niels Martin (17.08.2011), Christophe Meyers (17.08.2011), Marvin Peersman (23.10.2011), Wesley Pollemans (17.09.2011), Wouter Smeets (20.11.2011), Romeo Van Dessel (17.08.2011), Michaël Van Geele (01.10.2011).

l e a g u e - red:

Marvin Peersman (11.11.2011 - res.).

SUMMARY DAY FOURTEEN

For his first game in charge new gaffer Bart Wilmssen had to wait almost 70’ before Karel De Smet broke the deadlock on a set-piece against a stubborn Royal Boussu Dour home side. With only 9 minutes to play Royal Antwerp finished off the Walloon outfit when Diouck and Ionescu set up a neat passing move converted by substitute Dufour. This goal was a 20-yards strike from an acute angle to wrap up the points with only his second goal of this season.

The defeat for the home team was the work of a good team performance helped by for instance an excellent save of young starlet goalkeeper Dufourny who pushed away a dangerous curled shot of Guinot in the first half. But it has to be said that the Great Old had the best chance of the first half when a home defender blocked the goalbound effort from Lambot only to see Smeets shooting the ball in the side-netting in the rebound. After the interval in an until then evenly contested match the pendulum swung in favour of the oldest team in the country when more pressure on the rearguard of the Walloon defence was exercised. With the Walloon’s outfit depleted tiring the home fans were outraged by some decisions made by their own gaffer. But, all in all a good start for our new gaffer Bart Wilmssen who praised the good work ethic from his side and is looking forward to his first home clash against second-placed Charleroi.

Talking about the last year relegated Charleroi team, their topstriker Gueye struck in either half against highflying RCS Visé to net his 14th goal of the season. Championship leaders K.A.S. Eupen made no mistake in a tricky away tie at Eendracht Aalst courtesy of a Santos brace and is the only frontrunner in the league with a two points advantage on Charleroi.

At the bottom , AFC Tubize sacked their manager Ost after an unlucky defeat at RWS Woluwe with the smallest margin, a goal coming in the dying seconds of the game. How cruel a managers job can be sometimes…

PROFILE OPPONENT * ROYAL BOUSSU DOUR BORINAGE

20.10.2011

3 PM (c.e.t.)

Stadium Robert Urbain

R.B.D.B.

Referees: Serge Gumienny - Jo De Weirdt - Erik Waegemans

BART DE ROOVER LEAVES HIS ROLE AS ROYAL ANTWERP BOSS, GREAT OLD APPOINT BART WILMSSEN AS NEW MANAGER

Together with the approval of the board the club and Bart De Roover recruited in the summer transfer window a lot of big names and the feelgood factor surrounding our club was there for everybody to see.  Royal Antwerp did spent heavily just before the end of the transfer window at the end of August but after a promising start Bart De Roover didn’t manage more than a mediocre 3 points out of the last five ties, so we can say in all honesty that the promising start became an inconsistent start to the season, winning only 2 home games thus far against sometimes weak opposition sides, although it has to be said that most teams come to Bosuilstadium with one intention, playing for the 0-0 stalemate by parking the bus in front of their goalmouth.  But with sometimes strange and late substitutions, a general negative defensive approach Bart De Roover –although likeable and easy-going-  did alienate himself from the fanbase who favours a offensive style, pattern of play with many attempts on target.  In only a few games the free-flowing football the supporters wanted to see came to fruition but the latest meagre results led to the sacking of Bart De Roover.

While Norbert Gadisseur and Rik Van Goethem took charge at training sessions, the management team started with the recruitment of a new permanent manager within days.  And the owners have got very high aspirations so Gunther Hofmans decided to appoint a former collegue of him at the Pro Licence, Bart Wilmssen at the helm of our club.  Bart Wilmssen had a career in the lower echelons of the Belgian first division and the lower reaches (2nd division) for instance was also a happy hounting ground for our new headcoach.  As a gaffer he started at KFC Sint-Lenaarts (4th Division), onwards to KFC Duffel (4th Division – first position at the time of leaving his post) and then his latest management job at KVV Hoogstraten in the third tier of Belgian football.  At this club he was successfull by playing an offensive brand of football resulting in scoring 39 goals in 15 matches.  Also, on the individual front he guided topstriker Jimmy Fockaert to an unseen title of top marksman in the league with 35 goals on his tally.  

At Royal Antwerp everybody is aware of the risk of this appointement but by giving a young, dynamic and vibrant 40- years old gaffer the chance to shine at a higher level the club is following in the footsteps of many Jupiler Pro League outfits who did sign young managers with enormous potential with great reward so our club has given Bart Wilmssen only one target : to reach the dreaded play-offs with if possible an attractive style of play.  Than the feelgood factor stays at Bosuilstadium and the crowds will be tempted to watch a new-look, refurbished team play their trade on the holy ground.  All the best, Bart, and three points at Vedettestadium against Royal Boussu Dour Borinage won’t be bad for starters…

KAREL DE SMET: FIRST YELLOW

l e a g u e y e l l o w (18)(name in bold, misses next game):

2:Zinou Chergui (24.09.2011 + 29.10.2011), Andrei Ionescu (15.10.2011 + 12.11.2011), Benjamin Lambot (01.10.2011 + 08.10.2011), Kevin Oris (24.08.2011 + 23.10.2011), Denis Viane (24.09.2011 + 06.11.2011).

1:Prince Bobby (29.10.2011), Karel De Smet (12.11.2011), Niels Martin (17.08.2011), Christophe Meyers (17.08.2011), Marvin Peersman (23.10.2011), Wesley Pollemans (17.09.2011), Romeo Van Dessel (17.08.2011), Michaël Van Geele (01.10.2011).

c o m p e t i t i o n - red:

Marvin Peersman (11.11.2011 - res.).

SUMMARY DAY THIRTEEN

Royal Antwerp went ahead after only 11 minutes of play courtesy of a header of skipper Kevin Oris. For the visitors from the capital it was Houri who levelled the score and Baras converted a fluent attack but 6 minutes before the interval defender Viane made it 2-2 with a scrappy finish. Visiting goalkeeper Van Den Eynde did well to repel a number of Antwerp chances but in the second half the tie became a fraught affair with the pendulum swinging one way then the other. Despite the away side being under the cosh for long periods of the game, they held firm and were rewarded with one point. Royal Antwerp are lying in an uncomfortable eight position in the league and with three points out of a possible fifteen it is farewell to gaffer Bart De Roover.

Yes, former Jupiler League Pro outfit Zulte Waregem manager Bart De Roover has overseen an inconsistent start to the season and with only 3 points out of the last 5 fixtures he is no longer coach of Royal Antwerp FC. For the time being Norbert Gadisseur leads the training sessions helped by Rik Van Goethem. It had to happen because after spending heavily in the summer transfer window the new management team at Bosuilstadion wasn’t thrilled to say the least with the poor results in recent weeks and is prepared to start the process of recruiting a new permanent manager, more news is expected in the coming days. In the meantime, Bart De Roover refused to comment in the press other than to confirm his departure. Of course, the club and its board of directors would like to thank Bart for the contribution he has made during his one-year spell at Royal Antwerp.

SUMMARY DAY 12

The last couple of weeks were not the brightest for Royal Antwerp FC. At least, as far as the football performances are concerned. The Great Old only achieved a 2 out of 12 (including two home games), scored only two goals and conceived 6. However, Antwerp still remains the best defending side of the league, but the figures are now less impressive than four matches ago. Due to the bad streak, R.A.F.C. now finds itself in 8th position with 18 out 36 points.

The next game used to be a big one, being disputed in First Division. FC Brussels may be the child of many mergers in the area, but still contains the soul of what is left of the former 'RWDM', the people's club of Brussels. But the club went down a slippery slope the last few years, now seeing themselves at the bottom of Second Division. Nevertheless, chairman Johan Vermeersch called his side the best team since the relegation in 2008. Having sacked Michel De Wolf only weeks ago, the skies are clearing up again under new coach Christian Rits. Scoring 7 points in the last four games, Brussels moved up in the tables and out of the relegation zone.

Speaking of the relegation zone, AFC Tubize and Standard Wetteren find themselves in a world of trouble. Twelve games into the season, the bottom teams only collected a bare 5 and 3 points respectively. The gap with Sint-Niklaas at position 16 is now 6 points, a.k.a. a landslide. Things might change after this weekend though, when Wetteren go out and chase their first victory at the pitch of Sint-Niklaas. Tubize has invited KSK Heist (13pts) over for tea, while KVK Tienen (12pts) will need all its luck against high-flying side Waasland-Beveren. Sporting Charleroi will try to hunt down Division leader Eupen at the Kehrweg, while Lommel and Aalst will fight over fifth place. A position which is not out of range for our own Royal Antwerp FC, if of course they win against Brussels and start looking up again.

PROFILE OPPONENT * WS WOLUWE

06.11.2011

3 PM (c.e.t.)

Fallon Stadium

RWS Woluwe FC

Referees: Sébastien Delferière - Geert Bossuyt - Karel De Rocker

When Felice Mazzu arrived at WS Woluwe he wasn’t told to cut the club’s wage bill in half, release twelve players and act with a modest transfer kitty from the sale of topstriker Patrick Amoah to Jupiler Pro League team OH Leuven.  Instead, with the money pumped in the club by controversial chairman Michel Farin he opted to draft in eight new signings.  The manager is ambitious and proceeded to take our next opponent to the next level meaning a top ten finish come May.  Mazzu himself acknowledges that it will be difficult to better last year’s heroïcs and says : “ The top five or six will remain the same at the end unless someone takes a club over at the wintermercato and gives them a massive investment.”  This club isn’t exactly starved of funds but Mazzu has proved adept at getting the best out of players who had lost their way, including strikers Dufoor and Munyaneza.

Together with Loemba and Rodrigo De Oliveira they form a potent strike force and the defenders responsable for the promotion out of the third division are still at the club.  Goalie Minsart helped by astute defending from Bryssinck (captain and very important on and of the pitch) together with central halve pairing of Dessaer and Camara are keeping goals conceded to an absolute minimum.  So, Mazzu has also made WS Woluwe difficult to score against but the euphoria of winning the league last year is gone and the gaffer will have spent the summer “waking up in a cold sweat at 3am and worrying what lies ahead”.  It is hard to imagine the self-assured Mazzu losing sleep, but he knew his squad needed a major overhaul in midfield positions if they are to have any chance of lasting more than nine months in the second tier of Belgian football.

And then there is controversial chairman Michel Farin who has said that local rivals FC M Brussels S. have bought their survival ticket last term and the man feels physically sick when he has to shake hands with directors of clubs who have just beaten his side.  But by drafting in those eight reinforcements he doesn’t need advice to buy a box of anti-nausea pills because his side will ease relegation worries weeks before the final weekend.  With his brilliant young manager in charge, the club has a great chance of survival and if the squad stays injury-free a top ten finish could be theirs despite not having enough pure talent available.

Stadium : Fallon (3000)
Address : Struybekeweg 2, 1210 Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe
Ticket Office : 02/762 84 38
Website : www.whitestar.be
Colours : red and white
Chairman : Michel Farin
Gaffer : Felice Mazzu (° 12/03/1966) – manager career : 2008-30/6/2010 AFC Tubize from 01/07/2010-? WS Woluwe

PRINCE: FIRST YELLOW IN FIRST GAME

l e a g u e y e l l o w (15)(name in bold, misses next game):

2:Zinou Chergui (24.09.2011 + 29.10.2011), Benjamin Lambot (1.10.2011 + 8.10.2011), Kevin Oris (24.08.2011 + 23.10.2011).

1:Prince Bobby (29.10.2011), Andrei Ionescu (15.10.2011), Niels Martin (17.08.2011), Christophe Meyers (17.08.2011), Marvin Peersman (23.10.2011), Wesley Pollemans (17.09.2011), Romeo Van Dessel (17.08.2011), Michaël Van Geele (01.10.2011), Denis Viane (24.09.2011).

PROFILE OPPONENT * K.SK. HEIST

Saturday 29 October 2011 - 8 PM (c.e.t.)

Bosuil Stadium

TOTAL OF THIRTEEN YELLOW CARDS

l e a g u e y e l l o w (13)(name in bold, misses next game):

2:Benjamin Lambot Benjamin Lambot (1.10.2011 + 8.10.2011), Kevin Oris (24.08.2011 + 23.10.2011).

1:Zinou Chergui (24.09.2011), Andrei Ionescu (15.10.2011), Niels Martin (17.08.2011), Christophe Meyers (17.08.2011), Marvin Peersman (23.10.2011), Wesley Pollemans (17.09.2011), Romeo Van Dessel (17.08.2011), Michaël Van Geele (01.10.2011), Denis Viane (24.09.2011).

PROFILE OPPONENT * KV RS WAASLAND SK BEVEREN

23.10.2011

3 PM (c.e.t.)

Freethiel Stadium

Waasland-Beveren

Referees: Christof Virant - Gino De Belder - Patrick Van Ackere

 Season 2009-2010 K.S.K. Beveren

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 Beveren 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! Verdict : Played 36 Won 8 Lost 16 Draws 12 Goals Made 37 Goals Conceded 55 Points 36 Ranking 18th out of 19 teams, relegated!!!

 Season 2009-2010 KV Red Star Waasland

Could this be the first season when KV Red Star Waasland go backwards under gaffer Bart De Roover? In the 2008-2009 they finished fourth but unless there’s a flurry of transfer activity it is difficult to believe that the ex-Belgian international can manage it for a second season on the trot.  De Roover is already a good manager and isn’t far off completing a side in his own image – extremely competitive and capable of producing explosively attractive football.  KV Red Star Waasland have to deal with the departure of prolific striker Onana, Sampil and Kielo-Lezi must now score the necessary goals to give the Waaslanders an outside chance to reach the play-offs.

So, due to a worrying lack of new signings, the portents are not too promising and De Roover is aware of the shortcomings and acknowledged that he lacks leaders in his squad.  The defense were beaten too easily, too often but in contrast  a midfield comprising creative players such as Bourabia, Bou-Sfia, Neve and Paulussen can prise open most defences. The big change with the previous year is that the manager directly took control and stated his aim of reducing the average age of his squad, older players have been superseded by longer-term planning.  If the aforementioned strikers’ partnership can reach double digits an astute manager and brilliant motivator as De Roover can focus on finishing in the upper echelon of the second division in Belgium.  Verdict : Played 36 Won 13 Lost 10 Draws 13 Goals Made 46 Goals Conceded 49 Points 52 Ranking 6th out of 19 teams, just outside the play-offs!!!

 Season 2010-2011 KV RS Waasland KSK Beveren

Despite lots of supporters protests a merger between the two teams comes to fruition. The new team will play at the Freethiel using Waaslands FA number and board members.  So, the best of two worlds and another masterstoke was the appointment of new manager Dirk Geeraerd.  Between our next opponent and our beloved colours there was a flurry of transfer activity with Vermeerbergen and Peersman joining the Reds and Verbiest and Jelicic going the opposite way.  A little blow for the new formed team is the departure of Jeffrey Rentmeister but our next opponent hopes that the arrivals of goalkeeper Clepkens,defender Van Minnebruggen and Dutch targetman Gommans will make them a potent force in the Exqi League.  It looks like Waasland/Beveren are satisfied after winning the first period title which enables them to have a shot on promotion via the play-offs.  Although last week they had an superb performance when they held promotion hopefuls RAEC Mons to a 3-3 stalemate at their Tondreaustadium.  Crowds at the Freethiel are risen above the 5 000 mark and another bumper attendance is awaited for the visit of our Reds!

Season 2011-2012 KV RS Waasland KSK Beveren

Dirk Geeraerd is clearly not a man who worries about putting pressure on himself.  After arriving at Freethielstadium in the Summer of 2010 he wasted no time in calling himself a top manager.  On the same day, he said, rather more cautiously, that it will take up to three years seasons to win the second division promotion race, this is a recognition that despite the topclass players and unlimited funds at his disposal resulting in a flurry of incoming attacking forwards, it won’t be that easy to quickly bring success to KV RS Waasland KSK Beveren.  There is no doubt that our next opponent have the personnel in all compartments of the team to challenge for both the second division title and a good cup run.  Talking about their cup run, it was halted by Jupiler Pro League strugglers K. Sint-Truidense V.V. but with the embarrassment of riches all over the pitch it also resembled at a circus with a revolving door at the front for underachievers.  It’s not a great way to foster team spirit as Bourabia, Sampil, De Pauw, Gommans and our former player Zarko Jelicic have confirmed.  Squad rotation should now kept to a minimum; our next opponent need a settled side. 

After the play-off exit last May the yellow-blue mean business. And so it is, with a strikeforce of Didier, Kielo-Lezi, Da Silva, Snelders, Verhoeven and Onana they possess a potent forward line.  Helped by goals from midfield, courtesy of Seoudi, Vandamme and Paulussen this team will be hard to beat, certainly at home where a fervent crowd of 5 000+ is supporting them. In goal, the best keeper in the division, Michael Clepkens is with former Antwerpplayer Spencer Verbiest the stranghold of the defense and keeping clean sheets for fun.  Lardenoit and Masureel are two versatile defenders who get picked week in week out by Geeraerd and up front they rely on the goals of Onana. So, this tie will decide who is a frontrunner in this league on who is an also-ran.

Founded : 2010
FA number : 4068
Address : Stadionlaan 1 – 9120 Beveren
Stadium : Freethiel (9 200)
Ticket Office : 03/750 25 01
Website : www.waasland-beveren.be
Main Sponsor : Van Moer Group
Kit Colours : yellow-blue-red shirt, yellow short, yellow socks
Budget : 2 million euro
Chairman : Melchior Roossens
Gaffer : Dirk Geeraerd (° 02/12/1963) – manager career : Eendracht Aalter (1993-2000), KM Torhout (2000-2001), SK Deinze (2001-2003), Verbroedering Denderhoutem (2003-2005), RS Waasland (2005-2006), SV Roeselare (2006-10/2008), KSK Ronse (10/2009-2010), KV RS Waasland – KSK Beveren (from 07/2010-?).
Assistants : Danny De Maesschalck and Erik Amelinckx

ANDREI'S FIRST

l e a g u e y e l l o w (11)(name in bold, misses next game):

2:Benjamin Lambot (1.10.2011 + 8.10.2011).

1:Zinou Chergui (24.09.2011), Andrei Ionescu (15.10.2011), Niels Martin (17.08.2011), Christophe Meyers (17.08.2011), Kevin Oris (24.08.2011), Wesley Pollemans (17.09.2011), Romeo Van Dessel (17.08.2011), Michaël Van Geele (01.10.2011), Denis Viane (24.09.2011).

SUMMARY DAY 9

KV Ostend did not prove to be such an attacking and adventurous side after all. Although they managed to collect a fair amount of chances, one can hardly say the Coastside Boys played full throttle at the Bosuil Stadium. Ostend gained an early lead, as Ionescu missed his interception on a corner kick and diverted the ball into his own goal. Royal Antwerp fought back and managed to hit the woodwork twice in under 6 minutes. First Oris, then Ionescu were unlucky in their finish. Anyway, Ionescu made up for his mistake 8 minutes before half-time. He gave the last pass after a well-constructed Royal Antwerp attack, leaving Benjamin Lambot to shoot and score from 20 yards out.

In the second half, it were the goal keepers who dived themselves in the spotlights. Defourny performed 2 great saves and was lucky when a rebound shot ended up against the poast, while his antipode Dumesnil prevented Ionescu and Oris from scoring on multiple occasions. The draw seems like a fair result, although the 8000 people in the crowd would have liked a different outcome. The conclusion however is clear: in the last six games, only Ionescu has scored against the Great Old, so the Reds must be doing something right.

The draw didn't seem to affect the league table all too much. KAS Eupen was the only top team that secured the three points, extending their lead to 6 points already and hitting home the First Period Title. Antwerp (17), Lommel (17), Charleroi (17), Waasland-Beveren (16), Ostend (16) and Visé (16) are ranked 2 to 7 with only a 1 point margin between them, so a thriller is bound to be unwound in the Second Period. With an away game at Waasland-Beveren (16pts) coming up, the Antwerp players (17pts) will know why they will be followed by 3000+ away support.

Down below in the Second Division table, FC Brussels finally secured a win, and a very important one too! They defeated relegation-prone Wetteren by 0-4, ruthlessly leaving Tubize and Wetteren behind at the bottom. Tienen won the decisive game at Tubize, lifting the Blues over Heist and Sint-Niklaas (both suffering defeat this weekend) to a safer league position.

PROFILE OPPONENT * K.V. OSTEND

 Season 2010-2011

K.V. Ostend’s official website pictures 21 players in their first-team squad.  Gaffer and ex- player Frederik Vanderbiest is in his honeymoon period after taking over the reins from ex- Antwerpplayer Thierry Pister and will use the forthcoming fixtures to balance the second division  with the demands of 36 league matches, plus domestic cup games to come next year.  And in the Summer transfer window he may well lose highly-rated versatile defender/midfielder and skipper Wallaeys, Vanderbiest admits he would be powerless to stop the move if a Jupiler Pro League team will make a big-money approach. Ostend’s former midfield dynamo Vanderbiest also points out that last season Ostend had a relatively small, close-knit band of brothers in the dressing room and everyone knew what the starting eleven was.  Everyone knew that the others, relied on them week in, week out.  So, squad rotation is not in Vanderbiest’s vocabulary but it will be difficult for our next opponent to match, let alone beat, last term’s surprising seventh-place finish.

The Seasiders are currently in eight position and can leapfrog us in the ranking if they win this fixture against the Great Old . The defence comprising Vandenberghe (was once a trialist at the Bosuil), Lahousse, Martens, Luissint and January marquee acquisition Yohan Brouckaert coming from AFC Tubize only conceded fourty-one goals thus far.  In midfield Wallaeys is the defensive lynchpin and Houri, Jordi and Egyptian player Mohyeldin must deliver pinpoint crosses for the strikers Diallo and Coussement while former FCV Dender EH players Laurienté and  Saintini are certainly more than only benchwarmers.  Further the coastal team has a reliable shotstopper in former Jupiler Pro League goalkeeper Dantschotter. 

Further important news is that our next opponent budget in their one-hundred-year of existence tumbled down from 1,6 million euro to 1,3 million euro so ambitions are a play-off berth at best, but a place in upper mid-table looks more realistic in a town where basketball is more popular than football!

 Season 2011-2012

After failing to reach the coveted play-offs last term, it is now a refurbished and more ambitious team coming to our shores.  Jeremy Dumesnil has now stern competition from golden oldie Jurgen Sierens between the sticks while the backpairing of Luissint (on the right) and Essikal (on the left) is top material for the second division and the same can be said of central defense duo of Daby Gueye (a Phibel look-a-like) and Brillant (very brilliant indeed on set-pieces).  Anchorman in defensive midfield is still skipper Wallaeys and due to the long absence of our former player Kevin Baert the numbers in midfield are made up by Coussement, Jonckheere and Yohan Brouckaert.  But in the offense the real strenght of our opponent is housed; Dissa is the targetman but it is Jamaïque Vandamme who is grabbing the headlines lately by his return in his native Ostend.  With excellent cover such as Sam De Munter and Gertjan Martens this tie is not a foregone conclusion!  Because the coastal team deserved a hard-fought point at the Kehrweg last week they stay in the hunt for automatic promotion or a period title.

Founded : 1981
FA number :31
Address : Leopold Van Tyghemlaan 62 – 8400 Ostend
Stadium : Albertpark ( 8 000)
Ticket Office : 059/70 36 10 and 059/34 10 71
Website : www.kvo.be
Kit Colours : green shirt, red short
Budget : 1,3 million euro
Main Sponsor : Givova
Chairman : Yves Lejaeghere
Technical Sporting Manager : Guy Ghysel
Gaffer : Frederik Vanderbiest ( ° 10/10/1977)
Assistants : Guy Peene and Jean-Luc Sys

SECOND TIME YELLOW: BENJI LAMBOT

l e a g u e   y e l l o w (10)(name in bold, misses next game):

2:Benjamin Lambot (1.10.2011 + 8.10.2011),

1:Zinou Chergui (24.09.2011), Niels Martin (17.08.2011), Christophe Meyers (17.08.2011), Kevin Oris (24.08.2011), Wesley Pollemans (17.09.2011), Romeo Van Dessel (17.08.2011), Michaël Van Geele (01.10.2011), Denis Viane (24.09.2011).

SUMMARY DAY EIGHT

K.V.K. Tienen sacked their manager on Friday and with caretaker boss Schuermans at the helm and already 16 goals conceded everyone in the 6 500 crowd was expecting a goalfest.  But it didn’t happen because the Sugarboys were stubborn enough to threaten with our former player Alex Di Gregorio as skipper one of the mainstays of resilience for the visitors.  Alex had been in lively mood after he was restored to his side and gave Dufourny an anxious moment with an effort from distance that flashed just wide.  But Royal Antwerp had already squandered a golden opportunity to break the deadlock, just for Dosunmu to miss the target.

One-way traffic also after the break and Dutch referee Higler ruled out a valid goal from Oumar Diouck and afterwards pointing to the spot for a previous handball move from visiting defender Vandenbergh.

This led to two dismissals for Vandenbergh and Govoni and for our skipper Kevin Oris it was goal number five of the season. In a frenetic end midfield lynchpin Dunkovic got his first competition goal and a home win and another clean sheet in a party atmosphere let us climb the ranking as joint second. Ten goals made in 8 games isn’t something to be proud of, but with 5 consecutive clean sheets and only 4 goals conceded this is Jupiler Pro League standards. And then there was the arrival of new Ghanaian striker Bobby Prince which augment the attacking options gaffer Bart De Roover has to his disposal.

With leaders K.A.S. Eupen hold at the Kehrweg by KV Ostend, surprise package Eendracht Aalst losing at home to WS Woluwe and Lommel United winning with the smallest margin against promotion hopefuls RS Waasland/KSK Beveren courtesy of a Meeus goal, Royal Antwerp now trail the habitants of the Kehrweg by four points and three teams are joint second with each 5 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw out of 8 games.

PROFILE OPPONENT * K.V.K. TIENEN

R Antwerp FC - KVK Tienen

In his first full season in charge gaffer Valère Billen will go for the traditional K.V.K. Tienen virtues of solid organisation, psychical strenght and good team spirit in Saturdays clash at Bosuilstadium. The ‘Sugarboys’ and Royal Antwerp have to win this game to reach the dizzy heights of the upper echelon of the second division table for the home team or to keep momentum going and stay in touch with the left row of the ranking and ease eventual relegation worries for the visiting team.

The back four of our opponent comprises Hias, Vandeput, Collin and Lowet who don’t offer the guarantees Billen is looking for and although in goal K.V.K. has the reliable shotstopper between the sticks, Ludovic Govoni, they are the team that shipped in the most goals thus far. 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. Now the defender is a stranghold of the Royal Antwerp defense. Di Gregorio went the opposite way. 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, Neven and Siegeling support the front two. The abovementioned Di Gregorio is together with new acquisition Rocky Peeters a well-drilled experienced midfield pair.

Normally exciting youthful striker Biatour is one to watch and will buzz around in the left and central areas and in the centre but the intelligent runs of scoring midfielder Belme will certainly be missed.. Further attacking options are Matusiwa and Grondelaers, while midfield box-to-box player, an acquisition from Jupiler League outfit STVV Siegerd Degeling is proving his doubters wrong. Remember it was Degeling who netted the decisive goal in that dramatic encounter in 2009, which we lost 4-3 in injury time after being in the lead on 89 minutes. Can we do better this time at our own holy ground?

Founded : 1981
FA number : 132
Address : Bergévest 12 – 3300 Tienen
Stadium : Bergé (6000)
Ticket Office : 016/81 32 24
Website : www.kvktienen.be
Kit Colours : blue shirt, white short, green socks
Budget : 1,15 million euro
Chairman : Willy Schepers
Gaffer : Valère Billen (° 23/11/1952) – manager career : 1991-1993 Houtem VV, 1993-1996
K.V.K. Tienen, 1996-1997 KV Mechelen (youth), 1997-2000 KV Mechelen (assistant-coach),
2000-2001 KV Mechelen 2001-2002 FC Satellite Abidjan (Ivory Coast), 2002-2004 KVO
Aarschot 2004-01/2005 KTH Diest 01/2005-06/2005 Sporting Lokeren 08/2005-12/2005
Ujpest Dosza (Hungary, assistant-coach), 2006 Ujpest Dosza (headcoach), 2007-09/2007
Sint-Truidense VV (headcoach), 09/2007-02/2008 Sint-Truidense VV (second team and
youth), 02/2008-06/2008 KSK Tongeren 07/2008-01/2009 KFC Dessel Sport 01/2009-02/
2011 Germinal Beerschot (youth), 02/2011- ? K.V.K.Tienen

FIRST TIME YELLOW: BENJI LAMBOT & MIKA VAN GEELE

1:Zinou Chergui (24.09.2011), Benjamin Lambot (01.10.2011), Niels Martin (17.08.2011), Christophe Meyers (17.08.2011), Kevin Oris (24.08.2011), Wesley Pollemans (17.09.2011), Romeo Van Dessel (17.08.2011), Michaël Van Geele (01.10.2011), Denis Viane (24.09.2011).

SUMMARY DAY SEVEN

Royal Antwerp’s strikeforce of influential skipper Kevin Oris and man of the match, leftwinger Guy Dufour scored the goals that settled the tie at Schiervelde – but KSV Roeselare were left complaining bitterly about Euvrard’s disallowed goal just 30 seconds before our captain broke the deadlock against his former team.  After that goal, the home team offered nothing going forward in the opening period and that continued after the break, encouraging Royal Antwerp to flood forward. 

The Bosuil team began to hold a much higher line, passing and moving with greater urgency, and their reward was forthcoming.  De Roover’s men were suddenly buzzing and a second goal of Oris sealed the points.  Five minutes later Guy Dufour then got in on the act, rounding off a counter-attack with a drilled finish past a helpless goalkeeper.  If Royal Antwerp can combine the free-flowing football of last week against FCV Dender EH with the efficiency showed at Schiervelde they will make steady progress in the Belgian second division table.

The tie of the weekend was played at the Freethiel, K.A.S. Eupen won the fixture with the smallest margin courtesy of a Defebve goal in the first half.  With this win the East Canton team are now the frontrunner in the league with 19 points out of a possible 21. Six points behind are Royal Antwerp and between them are surprise package Eendracht Aalst and coastal team KV Ostend.

PROFILE OPPONENT * KSV ROESELARE

TWO MORE YELLOW CARDS

l e a g u e   y e l l o w (7)(name in bold, misses next game):

SUMMARY DAY SIX

 R Antwerp FC - FCV Dender EH 

FCV Dender EH won on their last four visits at Bosuil Stadium from Royal Antwerp – and for 90’ frustration was in the air again as they mounted a wall of well-organised resistance that kept Bart De Roover’s side at bay in front of a healthy crowd figure of 7 500 spectators.  Although Royal Antwerp created more than a dozen open chances and demonstrating the patience and persistance they needed the game ended on a stalemate.  Dender’s dour approach is likely to be mirrored by plenty of fellow seond division outfits coming to Bosuil Stadium this year.  It will happen off-course in an attempt to suppress the free-flowing attacking football and counter the almost unlimited wide range of options at Deurne North.  Dender’s tactics were designed to secure a draw and perhaps aim to take an isolated chance on the break.  But Vital Borkelmans’ side were undermined by a failure to offer anything in attack and even stopping the storm of Royal Antwerp’s offensive powers led to the dismissal of goalkeeper De Raes (44th minute) and defender Wille (88th minute). Fifteen attempts on/off target against one but the final score in the football history books will be 0-0!

Meanwhile, RS Waasland/SK Beveren travelled to Eendracht Aalst in one of the Sunday fixtures protecting a 100% record, but that run was ended by an assured performance from Bart Van Renterghem’s home side. Paulussen gave the league leaders the lead with a fine strike late in the first half but a stubborn home side netted the equaliser four minutes after the interval via Depoitre in an end-to-end game.  Second placed K.A.S. Eupen brushed aside mid-table K.V.K. Tienen at the Kehrweg courtesy of Saglik, Kocabas and a brace from star midfielder Masmanidis.  These two results set-up a mouthwatering tie at the Freethiel next week when the top two meet each other.

PROFILE OPPONENT * F.C.V. DENDER E.H.

Saturday 24 September 2011 - 8 PM (c.e.t.)

Bosuil Stadium

Referees: Karim Saadouni - Raphaël Maeck - Cedric Lescalier

 Season 2009-2010

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. 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 competition and so they should with a whopping budget in the Exqi League of 3.2 m €!!!

FCV Dender EH must say thank you for the parachute payments they received this season as a relegated Jupiler Pro League team last term.  With more than 10 incoming and outgoing transfers they gave the wheeling and dealing procedures a new dimension.  Now they are looking for money of their local council to stay afloat. 

 Season 2010-2011

And the miracle did happen, the local council delivered the necessary funding for our next opponent to stay in business, although with a minimal budget of 1m euros.  Goalkeeper De Boodt, defenders Blondelle, Essikal, Wiggers and Zukanovic all parted company with FCV Dender EH, as did scoring midfielder Imschoot and strikers Laurienté, Saintini and Munyaneza.  But with some shrewd buys (leftovers and fringe players from other teams) such as new strikers partnership Waeghe and Claessens the Denderboys are flying high at the time being and enjoying every minute in the upper echelon of the Exqi League.  Other acquisitions include defenders Artz, De Ly and Vaesen while upfront Peers and Meeus are taking their chance in the starting eleven.  Due to a limited wage structure policy our next opponent did sell their hottest property in the winter transfer period. Evariste Ngolok, the defensive anchorman who forms the ideal connection between defense and attack is now playing for Jupiler Pro League outfit KVC Westerlo.

 Season 2011-2012

FCV Dender EH fans should set up a roadblock to keep Gunther Thiebaut in the city.  They will have a better chance of making the play-offs if the burly striker due to his constant supply of goals can be persuaded to stay.  The homegrown talisman is so important that a couple of summer additions almost went unnoticed.  There’s for instance defender Cor Gilis and striker Joren Dom strenghtening the side not only in numbers but also in quality.  Midfielder Daan Vaesen is the other experienced head in the squad full of youngsters coming from the lower leagues.  While at the back, Wouter Artz, Bram De Ly and Osman Serbest will be hard to get past, the midfield might be too workmanlike to unlock better defences in the second tier of Belgian football.  Just a pity that our next opponent did lose a master in assists and goals in striker Roy Meeus, the forward with the deadly shot opted to play for Lommel United. Just to say that nothing less than three points will do at Bosuilstadium on Saturday.

Founded : 1952
FA number : 3900
Address : Stadionlaan 5 – 9470 Denderleeuw
Ticket Office : 053/66 91 92
Stadium : Florent Beeckmanstadium (8157)
Website : www.fcvdendereh.be
Kit Colours : blue shirt, black short, black socks
Main Sponsor : Van Gansewinkel and Brother
Chairman : André Van Roy
Gaffer : Vital Borkelmans (° 01/06/1963) – manager career : K.F.C. Evergem-Center (2005-10/2006),Sporting Club Blankenberge (10/2006-10/2007), SV Zulte Waregem (10/2007-10/2009, youth),  FCV Dender EH ( from 28/01/2010)
Assistants : Roland Van Den Bosch and Wim Moyson

FIVE YELLOWS AFTER FIVE GAMES

l e a g u e   y e l l o w (5)(name in bold, misses next game):

1:Niels Martin (17.08.2011), Christophe Meyers (17.08.2011), Kevin Oris (24.08.2011), Wesley Pollemans (17.09.2011), Romeo Van Dessel (17.08.2011).

SUMMARY DAY FIVE

Royal Antwerp manager Bart De Roover will take plenty of encouragement from the performance of his side – featuring the signings recruited since the new management team took over the reins of the Bosuil club – ran rings around their opponents at times at the Leburton. When Lambot passed the ball onto the path of Nigerian striker Dosunmu, the latter was given plenty of room to roam and laid on the ball for inspirational skipper Kevin Oris to head the visitors in front after only 150 seconds of play. 

An ideal start but AFC Tubize tried to bounce back immediately and home striker Sylla did manage to hit the post on an Ambroise cross, nevertheless they were booed off at the interval by the sparsely dejected home fans.  In the second half it was on the other side that Ionescu and Dufour were a real handful for the Tubize defence but home keeper Lahaye was there to deny with a smart save the double lead for our colours.  At the end home gaffer Danny Ost reacted to his team’s inertia by making a triple substitution, bringing on Vanderzijl, Chiarelli and Villano but they failed to raise the spirits of the home crowd.  So, 9 out of 15 possible points in the league and a glamour cup tie at first division outfit KV Kortrijk tomorrow on the horizon to deal with before taking on FCV Dender EH at the holy ground on Saturday, let’s hope every squad member stays fit for this important double-header.

While the Waasland team managed to beat lowly KS Wetteren and stay in top position with maximum points it was at Schiervelde that K.A.S. Eupen dropped two valuable points courtesy of a 2-2 stalemate.  Although Dirk Geeraerd’s men are helped by a rather friendly fixture list in the opening 5 games it has to be said that their attacking threat with Didier, Seoudi, Kielo-Lezi, Verhoeven, Snelders, Da Silva and Onana are a joy to watch and make them at least a candidate for the title come May.

PROFILE OPPONENT * AFC TUBIZE

17.09.2011

8 PM (c.e.t.)

Leburton Stadium

AFC Tubize/Tubeke

Referees: Kenny Snoeck - Christophe Hemberg - Philippe Bourbon

 Season 2008-2009

Sunday 1st June 2008, our next opponent did manage to stun a full capacity Bosuil crowd via a Stuckens goal in the first half and our promotion dream was over.  It was AFC Tubize finest hour and Lambot and his Sang et Or colleagues were having a party together with their meagre 300 travelling fans.  Although no one gave Tubize a prayer when they were promoted to the Jupiler Pro League it was gaffer Cartier who has inspired his troops to a remarkable season.  Wonders do happen sometimes but AFC Tubize were relegated last term, they were sunk under the weight of off-the-field chaos, schockingly bad buys (Quinton Fortune anyone?) and the sense that however bad things got, they were about to get worse.  In the latter stages of the season Cartier lost his managerial vim and political heavyweight and chairman Langendries made it clear that next Exqi-League season there would be a new man on the helm.  That man is their former assistant manager Felice Mazzu who appears to be safe for the moment but that does not mean he will allow his players to ease up. 

 Season 2009-2010

Although Dufer, Sorokin, Pinelli and Lambot have chosen other horizons Tubize drafted in Steens, Gillis, goalkeeper Govoni and last but not least giant striker Njock returned to the club so you could say they bought cannily.  Even Jérémy Perbet stayed at the Leburtonstadium and this strikers’ partnership does mean business. But at the winter mercato Les Sang et Or have been rocked by their high-profiled departures, but our next opponent still have a number of young players who’ve now been together for a fair period of time. The most important part of the team is the rearguard with butcher Neels playing a major role in Tubize not conceding a lot of goals in the current campaign.  In midfield good old Alan Haydock and youngster Villano have the most important roles.  Upfront a lot was expected from Alandson Da Silva but he took performance-enhanced drugs and the verdict is a three month ban for the striker that let bulge the opposite nets five times this season!

So, Mazzu has built a side based less on talent and more on hard graft and self-sacrifice. A lesson from this season thus far is that Tubize must take the teams at the bottom as seriously as those at the top.  If you can beat K. Lierse S.K. at their own ground that’s wonderful but then losing points against relegation candidates at their half-empty spanky new Leburtonstadium made them also-rans for the play-offs tickets.

 Season 2010-2011

AFC Tubize may just be the Exqi League’s most fearsome club.  A wind-swept stadium whose meagre 1,500 inhabitants defy its structure to generate the most intimidating din in the land (remember the chant Allez Tubize, vos supporters sont là – just joking), burly players who challenge and charge relentlessly (remember the play-acting butcher Neels – not joking), and a fresh new clear-headed manager in Frenchman Mwinyi Zahera (coming from Feignies) who refuses to apologise for his no-frills approach and might not be prissy enough to rule out an admonitory bout of naked headbutting if the situation demanded it.

All involved with Tubize deserve acclaim for making their club so feared after being relegated had also one negative side-effect that not only opponents fear Les Sang et Or : transfer targets seem wary, too.  It is easy to deduce that although Tubize are now an established Exqi League force, they are not viewed as a club where strikers can enhance their careers – at least not forwards of the calibre they seek (in the Perbet/Njock mould that is!).

It’s easy to see why : attackers have to work extremely hard at the Leburton for relatively little reward – Tubize created probably fewer shooting opportunities than any other side, averaged a poor ball possession rate per game and completed fewer passes. Their strikers tend to spend a large amount of their time chasing and closing down and, as a consequence, find themselves under inordinate pressure to take any opportunities that do eventually come their way. The best way to attract a top-notch striker may be firstly to demonstrate an intent to evolve by bringing in a couple of midfielders to free the forwards. Now that Haydock has left the club and Baseggio is past his sell-by date it’s hard to see how our next opponent will improve their tally of a meagre 41 goals in 36 games from last season.

Similarly, a tad more creativity and penetration should be introduced to central midfield where Brazilians Montagna and Camargo helped by Kwembeke and Villano can all be relied on to do fundamentals diligently but they do not possess the ingenuity to inspire Tubize into the top half of the table.  A good cup run is also not on the cards because in the first round they were knocked out by the mighty Peruwelz.

Unless chairman Langendries and his sporting advisors can lure upgrades before the transfer window closes at the end of January there seems little hope of Tubize making a great leap forward.  Both Italian players Daddi and Cacciatore left the club by mutual consent and the Walloon team is now in negociations with FCV Dender EH topstriker and free agent Norman Sylla. Although it has to be said that despite the above concerns we should not exclude that possibility because our next opponent is famous for landing some last-minute deals because they are proud to be a crafty operator when the market enters it’s business end. 

Nor, however, does there seem any likelihood of them significantly regressing.  Despite some debaggings in the beginning of this season and with Gilis and Neels on board, Tubize should remain a generally well-organised, highly driven defensive unit who will not concede ground lightly.  With the new gaffer Danny Ost at the helm they managed to win the vital sixpointer game at Royal FC Tournai although Brouckaert and Alex Da Silva got their marching orders and Les Sang et Or ended the game at the Varennestadium with 9 men. Can Ost, whose main aim is to keep AFC Tubize out of the relegation battle use his Jupiler Pro League experience with K.A.S. Eupen to keep the yellow and red in the Exqi League. 

 Season 2011-2012

When Danny Ost was appointed manager of AFC Tubize last autumn his remit was simple : keep our next opponent in the second tier of Belgian football.  He did rather better than that.  Despite being marooned at Leburtonstadium and denied the riches lavished upon his predecessors when they were playing top-flight football, gaffer Ost presided over a rather famous comeback in the latter league stages by leading les Sang et Or to a comfortable mid-table position.  But, now that the club is playing in an almost all-seater spanky, new stadium, some of Ost’s players might have got a bit carried away by saying they can now barge their way into the top five this season.  Because anyone who saw Tubize’s losing rather easily to frontrunner K.A.S. Eupen last week will know this isn’t a side capable of some wonderful free-flowing football.  In fact, at the back Steens, Diawara and Da Silva must try to keep as many clean sheets as possible because the midfield isn’t brimming with inventive and lively players such as holding midfielder Vinamont and wide players Norman Sylla and Ladrière.  Exception here for diminutive playmaker Villano who must offer assists to strikersduo Ambroise and Coppin. All offensive players have their merits, but none can be expected to properly replace Izzet Akgul, a player with topclass experience who opted not to stay at the Leburton.  But who cares, our next opponent still can count on the service of Gregoire Neels and the question is can he captain his side to a much-needed win.  We hope not because unless Les Sang et Or find a cutting edge to finish moves off, they are more likely to repeat last season post-Ost plot than the blazing form after the new manager took over after last year’s wintermercato.

Founded : 1953
FA number : 5632
Address : Allée des Sports 7 – 1480 Tubize
Stadium : Leburton (8 000)
Ticket Office : 02/355 55 04
Website : www.afctubize.be
Kit Colours : yellow-red shirt, red short, yellow socks
Main Sponsor : Duferco Clabecq
Budget : 1,5 million euro
Chairman : Raymond Langendries
Gaffer : Danny Ost (° 04/02/1960) – manager career : 1998-2000 KFC Rhode Verrewinkel, 2000-2003 Olympic Charleroi, 2003-2004 KFC Strombeek, 2005-2006 Heppignies Lambusart-Fleurus, 2006-10/08 Olympic Charleroi, 11/2008-09/2010 K.A.S. Eupen, from 10/2010 AFC Tubize
Assistants : Laurent Demol (T2) and Eric Deleu (goalkeepers)
Honours : Winner play-offs Second Division 2007/2008 with 18 points.

SUMMARY DAY FOUR

Tosin Dosunmu grabbed a brace to set Royal Antwerp on their way to a first home league win this season at Bosuilstadium in front of 6 000 spectators against a toothless and vulnerable at the back SK Sint-Niklaas side.  Royal Antwerp FC went close in an open first half, opposite goalkeeper Willockx denying the Nigerian with a good clearance.  But it was Tosin who forced the crucial breakthrough, collecting a fine headed pass from fellow striker Oris at a free-kick taken by the majestic left foot of Chergui and the deadlock was broken.  Five minutes later he wrapped up a precious win with a low finish past a helpless goalkeeper.  It will be a hugely welcome and important three points for the Reds after their faltering start to the season – and to have it secured it at home against former manager Regi Van Acker will only boost the spirit of the oldest club in the country. 

So, pre-season optimism at Bosuilstadium with all the incoming transfers has been slowly eroded by two unlucky defeats and Bart De Roover’s revelation that the mood at the club has been soured by heavy expectations. It was therefore with some relief that the gaffer was able to draft in Andrei Ionescu in his preferred 4-4-2 line-up in the search for some much-needed fresh impetus from the Romanian midfield maestro.  The opponent SK Sint-Niklaas were overwhelmed by the noisy home support and always savvy to be intimidated by big-name players but they more than matched RAFC for ambition until the deadly 40th minute mark in a wildly open first half.  Also, in the second half, Willockx was busy and had lady luck to thank that a Dosunmu belter stroke the bar.  In the meantime Dufour and Dunkovic were at the heart of everything, bossing the midfield while Ionescu’s performance was excellent, the Romanian player providing a notable step-up in work-rate and tenacity in the home midfield.

With 6 out of a possible 12 points, it is just reward thus far and with the latest outing being a far more composed performance, nullifying the SK Sint-Niklaas threat in attack and showing more patience going forward we are all hoping for a second away league win on Saturday at the Leburtonstadium from AFC Tubize.

In a great spectacle coastal team KV Ostend managed to beat surprise package Eendracht Aalst courtesy of Brouckaert, Dissa and skipper Wallaeys goals but the team from East Flanders staged a comeback via Kestens and Moreels goals.  But in taking risks our former players Bas Vervaeke (on for a cameo of 20 minutes) and Marco Gbarssin got sent off by referee Saadouni for two bookable offences.

KV RS Waasland/Beveren and K.A.S. Eupen still have maximum points, the former winning the other big clash in the league against last year relegated side RSC Charleroi while the latter was the better side at the Leburton beating AFC Tubize with a 3-1 scoreline.

PROFILE OPPONENT SK SINT-NIKLAAS

Saturday 10 September 2011 - 8 PM (c.e.t.)
Bosuil Stadium

Referees: Luc Wouters - Yves Kenens - Christophe Baillieul

Sint-Niklaas’s joy at being promoted to the second tier of Belgian football after a draining play-off competition with fellow third division sides is tempered by the real fear they will only be there for one season.  While WS Woluwe and Eendracht Aalst are like a couple of excited kids, merrily skipping around at the prospect of second division football, Sint-Niklaas are the cynical old man in the corner, grumbling about how hard it is to survive. All of Regi Van Acker’s celebrated managerial skills will be tested during what could be a very difficult season.  The acquisititons of our former players Yannick Put (loan) and Greek misfit Stavros Glouftsis is not going to concern defenders too much.  Although Glouftsis netted a brace in the home game against WS Woluwe he and Yannick Put will be no more than pedestrian this season.  And Regi Van Acker has some money to spend thanks to the generous support of chairman Van Lijsebetten, as can be seen in his relatively busy summer shopping: midfielders Enzo Neve and Jonas Vandermarliere were drafted in and in defense Marko Petrovic is an astute signing.  In goal two former Royal Antwerp keepers are fighting it out for the number one spot, for the time being Ivan Willockx has the goalkeeper jersey and Jochem Tanghe is his deputy, but it’s a duo that doesn’t inspire too much confidence of survival.

Sint-Niklaas are already a tremendous success story that could be ruined if they overreach and forget what should always be their main concern : to remain in the Belgian second division.  Our next opponents’ defence isn’t good enough to force the team into the top half, but Lode Vertongen and Roel Engelen will keep them probably just above any relegation scraps.  The strengths of the team is that these players are Regi’s boys now and the gaffer is more settled in Meesterstraat these days – there are no more erratic team selections and he has absolute control of his players.  And from struggling to find two pennies to rub together, with chairman Van Lijsebetten our next opponent now have the potential clout to match most relegation-threatened sides in the transfer market. 

Will Stavros Glouftsis especially have to prove he’s not a fading force at this level, in the short-term, the vast majority of Sint-Niklaas fans are hoping the Greek scores for fun this season and with a manager as Regi Van Acker they hope their team are lifted clear from relegation worries with a few games to play.

Founded : 1992
FA number : 9264
Address : Meesterstraat 112c, 9100 Nieuwkerken (Sint-Niklaas)
Stadium : Meesterstraat ( capacity 3000 spectators)
Box Office : 03/760 18 00
Website : www.fcnieuwkerken.be
Main Sponsors : Cock’s Fresh, Print Factory Van Lijsebetten, Wood Factory Van de Walle
Colours : yellow shirt, blue short, yellow socks
Manager : Regi Van Acker – manager career : Sinaai (1983-1988), SK Sint-Niklaas (1988-1995), KV Kortrijk (1995-1998), R Antwerp FC (1998-2001), K. Lierse S.K. (2001-2002), Bregenz (Austria, 2002-jan 2005), R Antwerp FC (jan 2005-2006), RS Waasland (2006-2007), RC Mechelen (2007-2009), SK Sint-Niklaas (2009-?).
Assistants : Ivan De Laet (T2) and Geert Vermeire (goalkeepers).

SUMMARY DAY THREE

C.S. Visé have started the season far better than anyone expected, solid, resilient and tough to beat, their victory over Royal Antwerp on Sunday has apparently made a mockery of gloomy pre-season predictions by naming one of our former gaffers Marc Grosjean as headcoach as third in a row and this before a ball was kicked!  Although Royal Antwerp instinctively fear the worst coming from almost a decade of disappointing and a generation of pessimism at Bosuilstadium because there is an undeniable sense something is still not quite right.  For once, there wasn’t a pre-season bordering on the chaotic, soured by the sale of star players (bar Emmerik De Vriese and Kevin Baert that is) and there was certainly no concern over the lack of investment in their replacements with on this occasion Dennis Viane covering at right-back and Guy Dufour at left-midfield making a rather hesitant debut in our colours.

As a new-look side we made it one win and two losses in the second division league table – as well as a 6-0 thumping of fourth division outfit Charleroi FC in the Cofidis Cup – but more importantly there is still a good-feel factor around the team, the prove was another 1000+ contingent of travelling Reds visiting the outskirts of the Liège province. 

After an insipid first half display, Royal Antwerp exploded into life at the start of the second half but once again the convertion of a few 100% chanches went begging.  When Meyers got his marching orders from Walloon referee Delacour for a clumsy foul, it was home midfielder Dessart who found the net five minutes from time when his shot was deflected by our skipper Kevin Oris.  So, three out of a possible nine points and St. Niklaas to come next week with in their ranks loanee Yannick Put and last year’s misfiring striker Stavros Glouftsis and ex-gaffer Regi Van Acker at the helm will mean nothing else than a win will do!

At the top with maximum points two frontrunners, the same as last week, the Pandas from K.A.S. Eupen (a home win with the smallest margin against lowly FCV Dender EH) and Waasland/Beveren who manged to beat Royal Boussu Dour away courtesy of late Da Silva and Onana goals.

PROFILE OPPONENT CS VISE/WEZET

Season 2010-2011

Our next opponent was founded in 1924 as CS Visétois and received the Belgian FA number 369.  Their first spell in the national football leagues was in 1948-1949, and they remained there for two consecutive seasons.  From 1960 CS Visé played in the Belgian fourth division and this until 1996 when they were promoted to the third division.  Afterwards the club from the province of Liège played yo-yo between the second and third tier of Belgian football.  Last year followed with a star-studded team a new promotion to the second tier where they are now considered by most journos as the surprise package of the Exqi League.

Les Oies (the geese) are already a tremendous success story that only can be ruined if they overreach and forget what should always be their main concern at the start of this season: to remain in the Belgian second division. And with a current sixth place in the ranking that’s exactly what they are doing, they even punch a little bit above their weight.

Signing both Legros brothers from last year relegation fodder RFC Liègeois was a very smart bit of business by Visé.  The pair will augment an already impressive midfield and strike force where Lecomte, Françoise, Dessart are other superb players attracting interest from larger clubs.  The Visé defence isn’t normally good enough to force the team into the top five, but Ciza, Vervalle, Wisniowski, Schmisser and Johan Gerets (son of former Belgian footballlegend Eric) will always keep them above any relegation scraps.  Only prolific striker Harbaoui and old Antwerpveteran Verjans left the ambitious club.

Manager Riga’s ambition could perversely by the undoing of our next visitor at De Bosuil. "I have been a manager for almost 20 years and there will come a time when moving will be the right thing." It will happen at a certain time and if it does it could be catastrophic for the habitants of Le Stade de la Cité de l’Oie.

So, this year punters back the Geese for the drop but they are wrong because Sunday’s visitors do their dough.  It ain’t clever and it’s certainly ain’t pretty but they do know how to stay up.  More even they will end in upper mid-table if they watch out for that end-of-season slump were some promoted teams are known for.  If they don’t dust down their passports in March then a highest position in their history will come to fruition and punters will know for a fact that this team you do not back for the drop under any circumstances.  And they didn’t…

For the future all seem rosy in the garden of the city in the neighbourhood of Liège because Indonesian investors have committed themselves with the crystal clear ambition to climb the football tree onto the Jupiler Pro League and this in a time-schedule of only two years.  Because if the Pandas from K.A.S. Eupen can achieve such a miracle why can’t the Geese from RCS Visé not follow their example?  Wait and see…

Season 2011-2012

Do you ever get the feeling you’re not earning the praise you deserve?  José Riga knows exactly how you feel.  Amid relegation fears of much coveted sides as AFC Tubize and FC M Brussels S. and Royal Antwerp’s failure to clinch a play-off berth at the penultimate day of the season, his achievement in guiding CS Visé from the Belgian third division to fifth in the second tier of Belgian football in two successive seasons was virtually ignored.  No, it wasn’t because toptier highflyers R Standard CL hired Riga’s services for the current season.  After an unpleasant intermezzo with gaffer for one week, the Swiss manager Vittorio Bevilacque, the club soon appointed an ex-manager of our colours at the helm in the Stadium de la Cité de l’Oie.  His name is Marc Grosjean but he still has some transferbusiness to do because both Legros brothers left the club and it’s crystal clear that despite having a cast of striking superstars on the pay-roll, goals have been a problem.  Grosjean should have heeded the warnings over Jhon Van Beukering, who was never been the same player since he left Holland.  Luckily for the Geese, his strikepartner Carraciolo is a rather expensive but also proven goalscorer in the second division of Dutch football.  So, it will be for Grosjean an almost impossible task to better last season’s position but with the Indonesian investors group Bakrie backing them they will be my dark horses in the play-off race come May 2012.  They remain unconvincing against the more glamorous sides and can’t be backed for the title until they show greater steal but with the influx of Italian and Indonesian players this outfit is one to be reckoned with.

Founded : 1924
FA number : 369
Address : Rue de Mons 15 – 4600 Visé
Stadium : Stade de la Cité de l’Oie (5 200)
Ticket Office : 04/379 37 80
Website : www.cs-vise.be
Kit Colours : blue shirt, white short
Budget : a whopping 5(!) million euro
Chairman : Guy Thiry
Gaffer : Marc Grosjean (° 11/09/1958) – manager career : FC Wiltz 71 (1994-1996), UR Namur (1996-1998), R.A.A. La Louvière (1998-2001), RFC Liège (2001-2002), RAEC Mons (2002-2003), R Antwerp FC (jan 2004-june 2004), K.A.S. Eupen (sep 2004-2008), Seraing (2008), FC M Brussels S. (2008-2009), F91 Dudelange (Lux) (2009-2011), CS Visé (aug 2011-?)

NEW FACES AT ROYAL ANTWERP FOOTBALL CLUB

At the press conference after the Eupen game, the sound of visiting gaffer Wolfgang Frank almost killing his counterpart Bart De Roover with kindness may have been the most ominous noise of all for a manager who had just suffered his greatest humiliation in the Royal Antwerp dug-out.  So to hear Wolfgang Frank expressing genuine sympathy bordering on sorrow for Bart De Roover at Bosuilstadium, the place were RAFC were thumped by the free-flowing efficient football K.A.S. Eupen produced last Wednesday eve.  This loss only added a further layer of embarrassment to Bart De Roover’s suffering.  The gulf between the two sides were there for everyone to see, as the departed Bart Van Zundert said to the pundits : our opponents were playing first class football and we squandered several opportunities in the first 20 minutes so a superbly efficient East Cantons side didn’t steal the threepointer.

G. Blay	M.Van Geele	A. Ionescu	Guy Dufour	P. Bahamboula

But, more importantly for us, new supremo of the new management team in our club Gunther Hofmans decided to end this summer of relative transfer inaction (he did sign livewire striker Tosin Dosunmu and midfield lynchpin Antun Dunkovic though) and started to do his homework by inking five players.  The first one is George Blay who played for Standard CL in his younger days and now made the journey back to Belgium from Romanian outfit Unirea Urizceni. To strenghten midfield positions Michaël Van Geele (who knows the manager from a previous stint at KV RS Waasland), Andrei Ionescu (Romanian utility midfield man coming from Steau Boekarest) and Guy Dufour (master in giving assists and goals at KVSK Lommel United and nowadays fringeplayer at Jupiler Pro League topteam Standard CL) all signed contracts with our club.  Young starlet Plaisir Bahamboula did join our club on a three-year deal from French first division side Sochaux.  With this five newcomers Royal Antwerp Football Club have made a statement, with nothing less than a play-off berth at least the new commercial bosses will be satisfied…

SUMMARY DAY TWO

K.A.S. Eupen gave evidence of a shift in their attacking ambitions by beating Royal Antwerp in an entertaining game at De Bosuil in front of 8 000 spectators.  And overall it was a performance which oozed with attacking purpose with the Eupen players interchanging positions with relative ease.  Royal Antwerp struggled to match their opponents’ inventiveness at times, but in coming back once via Phibel, the home team showed they are a team who can compete with the more expensively-assembled Belgian Second Division sides.  At certain moments Royal Antwerp were outplayed by the Pandas, but De Roover’s side began with real gusto, furiously harrying the Eupen players to win the ball back and the home side squandered several top notch chanches to take the lead between minutes ten and twenty.  But as the Pandas settled, Masmanidis and young starlet Saglik, as is so often the case, bagan to dictate the play by cutting in from the wings and the latter managed to score a brace before the interval.  Bart De Roover stated at the press conference that his team gifted the visitors the goals and it was indeed promising goalkeeper Defourny who was left embarrassed when his poor clearence was punished by some tremendous finishing by Saglik.  Game over and three points out of a possible six after a start of the season against play-offs hopefuls or even title candidates isn’t that bad, but a further strengtening in certain attacking positions would be a wise thing to do to maintain the positive flow surrounding our club at this time.

A late winner of Didier saw Waasland/Beveren snatch a winner against FC M Brussels S. meaning there are two frontrunners in the second division at this moment in time, the team from East Flanders are joined by the Pandas with maximum points after two rounds.

PROFILE OPPONENT * K.A.S. EUPEN

Bosuil Stadium - 24 August 2011 - 8.00 PM (cet)

Referees: Jean-Baptist Bultynck - Dirk Gilon - Erik Waegemans

 Season 2009-2010

"The day I took the Eupen job, I dreamt of staying up", admits Dany Ost.  He did rather better than that, finishing in fourteenth spot last term after a mammoth 14 defeats conceding 42 goals in the process amply proved there was a fragility to his Eupen side, particularly at the rearguard of the team who didn’t offer their goalkeeper Wins enough protection.  But that was before the winter break, afterwards a rejuvenated side bought together by rich Italian investors proved too strong for relegation rivals R.O.C. de Charleroi M, Royal Excelsior Virton, K.F.C. V.W. Hamme, K.M.S.K. Deinze and whipping boys Union Royale Namur.  So, basement club K.A.S. Eupen from 5 points before the January transfer window to 43 points and safety from relegation worries at the end of last years’ Exqi-League campaign.  A job well done by Dany Ost who said to his players: "You’ve achieved that, now go a step further."

Our next opponent looked to be establishing themselves as a solid Belgian second division club until Ost rode to the rescue, to offer Eupen fans a fresh start.  Dany bought himself enormous goodwill with his end-of-season heroics and the Italian investors made it clear that thanks to the greater organisation and discipline they should benefit from this Exqi-League season.  Preseason preparation and unseen at this level was a three weeks team-bonding sessions and training camp in Italy and all punters agree this is a sign of a professional club and it shows in the ranking were Eupen is the proud leader after fifteen games in the current season.

The backline of the team comprises charismatic Czech goalkeeper Petr Radek, the centre-halves pairing of Belgian youth international Kocabas together with Maric from Croatian descent but with also a Swiss passport and Colin, Brazilian Dos Santos, Djuric, Sissoko and Italian Iandoli making up the numbers..  In midfield Colinet and Vinamont lead by example and Aguilar from Paraguay, Milicevic from Serbia but also with a Swiss passport and Saglik completes the multi-lingual midfield players Ost can rely on.   Further the team from the Eastern part of Belgium possesses a front line second to none in the Exqi-League.  Although wanted by clubs in the highest tier of Belgian and European football striker Mombongo forms an impressive frontline together with Serbian starlet Obradovic and the player who’s attracting the most headlines is exciting striker and set-pieces specialist Matthias Lepiller.

 Season 2010-2011

K.A.S. Eupen didn’t manage to stay in the upper tier of Belgian football, after winning a five-game play-off against Walloon counterparts Charleroi they did qualify for a round-robin tournament with second division outfits KV RS Waasland/SK Beveren, RAEC Mons and Lommel United but failed to impress on these occasions by surrendering rather easily with a zero points total out of 6 matches.  Their Kehrwegstadium was renewed with three brand new stands thanks to the support of the German city council of Eupen and now can receive up to 8 500 spectators.  Money well spent for only one season in the top flight of Belgian football?  We don’t think so…

 Season 2011-2012

K.A.S. Eupen has parted company with the Italian investors group around former manager of Batistuta, Imborgia has now chosen other football horizons at possibly Royal Boussu Dour Borinage and instead of the Italians it’s now up to a German investor group who drafted in a new manager and a lot of new German imports to try to lift the club back up on the first time of asking.  Deumeland is the number one between the sticks, Kocabas is one of the few survivors of the previous seasons while Teruel, Stiller and Kis make up the numbers in defense.  In midfield young starlet Saglik opted to stay in the Eastern part of Belgium and is accompanied by new topsignings Le Postollec and German midfield maestro Masmanidis.  The latter was responsible for the opening win against RCS Visé by converting a late spot-kick and will provide the bullets for Espinal, Santos, Lallemand and Kabasele.  Short on numbers just a fortnight ago new gaffer Wolfgang Frank has now a fully fit and decent squad with whom he will try to get something at De Bosuil on Wednesday.

Founded : 1945
FA number : 4276
Address : Kehrweg 14 – 4700 Eupen
Stadium : Kehrwegstadium  (8500)
Ticket Office : 087/56.13.77
Website : www.as-eupen.be
Main Sponsor : V.O.O. and Grenz-Echo
Kit Colours : white shirt, black short, white socks
Chairman : Dieter Steffens
Financial Manager : Ingo Klein
Gaffer : Wolfgang Frank (GER) – manager career : RW Essen (1993-1994), 1 FSV Mainz 05 (1995-2000), MSV Duisburg (2000-2001), Sp Vgg Unterhaching (2002-2004), Kickers Offenbach (2005-31/10/2007), Wuppertaler SV (from 07/02/2008), SV Wehen Wiesbaden (19/12/2008-23/03/2009), FC Carl Zeiss Jena (12/10/2010-20/04/2011) K.A.S. Eupen (07/2011-?).

SUMMARY DAY ONE

Talismanic striker Kevin Oris scored the only goal of the game as Royal Antwerp beat Lommel United to record their first win under gaffer Bart De Roover. Our star forward connected on a Dosunmu cross after only nine minutes of play and controlled the game in the first half with ease although Defourny showed good agility to palm away an effort of the home striker that looked destined for the corner and ensure the visitors headed into the interval with their lead intact. But after our goal Kevin Oris and Tosin Dosunmu had opportunities to double the lead so the Arsenalscore at half-time was only scant reward for the free-flowing football our lads displayed at the Gestelsedijk. Lommel United’s passing hasn’t been up to scratch as of yet because the hosts had been guilty of giving away possession rather easily. 

There are a dozen minutes left on the clock and Lommel United continue to push for a goal but Royal Antwerp soaked up a lot of pressure and look relatively comfortable at the back. The home side are showing some intent towards the end of the match but won’t want to push too far forward in case they are caught on the break. It ended on a victory with the smallest margin for our colours but it was particularly fine to see the travelling contingent of more than 2 200(!) supporters go fucking mental after the game, Royal Antwerp deserved their victory and could go top of the Belgian Second Division next Wednesday when they entertain K.A.S. Eupen, another winner on opening day of the season, and results elsewhere go their way. Are we going for a first 7 500+ crowd of the season at the Bosuil next Wednesday?

PROFILE OPPONENT * LOMMEL UNITED

Municipal Sports Stadium - 17 August 2011 - 8.00 PM (cet)

Referees: Peter Vervecken - Ruben Wyns - Lennert Becquet

Season 2009-2010

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 the 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.

Season 2010-2011

Chairman Luyckx is very proud at the fact that local lads thanks to a good youth policy are coming through the ranks because with the departures of Caramazza, Chergui, Oyen, Scheelen and Noukeu the squad looked very thin on paper.  With defender Lenaerts, midfielders Debauve, Dufour, Henkens and Vanaken and strikers Azevedo and Cerigioni Lommel United has a lot of young stars ready to shine at Exqi League level. The only acquisition this season is left-back Giles Colin, an incoming transfer from Jupiler League outfit K.A.S. Eupen.

Finishing at an admirable second spot last year with 20 wins, 6 defeats and 10 draws and as many goals made as our beloved colours last term it was the goals conceded that made all the difference between our two sides (27 for Lommel United, 53 for Royal Antwerp).  How things can change was proven that despite occupying a sixth spot in the ranking at the time of playing us at De Bosuil in our home fixture before the New Year it is the ambition of the Limburgers to finish first come May, but they will also compete fiercely for the period titles at stake (they won the second period title).  Hopefully our mercurial striker Kevin Oris will get a better reception against his former teammates as he did receive at Gestelsedijk earlier this season when we knocked Lutlommel from the lower divisions out of the Belgian Cup.  Needless to say that a bumper crowd is expected at the division’s pacesetters Lommel United at Gestelsedijk against our mighty Reds who are hoping to improve on their tally of 6 out of a possible 9 points counting for the third and last period title.

Season 2011-2012

Losing topplayers such as Björn Sengier (Helmond Sport, Holland), Thomas Azevedo (OH Leuven), Gilles Colin (KVK Tienen), Guy Dufour (Standard), Robin Henkens (YR KV Mechelen), Harald Pinxten (Neerpelt), Sebastien Stassin (?) and more importantly Dutch top strikerspair Jason Oost to Dutch Eredivisie team Excelsior Rotterdam and prolific striker Jeroen Ketting to ambitious Dutch second division team FC Zwolle didn’t bode well in the mind of manager Van Der Elst so he asked his board to make hasty work of much needed reinforcements to keep Lommel United at bay for their bid to a play-off place at least in May 2012.  He was delighted that the club drafted in goalkeeper Yannick Thoelen, defenders Egon Wisniowski and Jelle Rykx, midfield lynchpin Jérôme Colinet and the final attacking missing link in the team jigsaw, front man Roy Meeus who was the creative author of ten goals and ten assists at FCV Dender EH.  Will that be enough to replace all those important outgoing losses, knowing that for instance talismanic striker Jeroen Ketting was always good for more than 20 goals a season?  Wait and see in the ouverture against a new-look Royal Antwerp side.  Needless to say that a bumper crowd is expected in their new named but still good old Soeverein Stadium!

Founded : 2003
Belgian FA number : 2554
Address : Speelpleinstraat 20 – 3920 Lommel
Stadium : Soeverein Stadium Gestelsedijk (12 500)
Ticket Office : 011/81 64 60
Website : www.lommelunited.be
Kit Colours : green/white shirt, green short
Main sponsor : Telecom
Budget : 1,4 million euro last year
Chairman : Frans Luyckx
Gaffer : Franky Van Der Elst (° 30/04/1961) – manager career : Germinal Beerschot (1999-2003), Lokeren (2004), Club Brugge (2005-01/2007, assistant), FC M Brussels S (01/2008-06/2008), KVSK United OL (from 01/2009-?)
Assistants : Philip Haagdoren (T2), Eddy Diels (T3) and Paul Peeters (goalkeepers).

HOW MUCH DOES PRE-SEASON FORM MATTER?

While Michael Owen’s winning goal gave Manchester United some sweet revenge in the States against CF Barcelona and our demonstration against La Liga highflyers CF Getafe courtesy of Put, Dosunmu and skipper Oris fantastic goals gave us a real reason for optimism we must ask the question if there is a worse time to be a football fan than now, during the round of pre-season friendlies when the season is still more than a fortnight away?  We certainly enjoyed the initial break at the end of the last campaign, which ended in another year of disappointement with Royal Antwerp not qualifying for the Belgian second division play-offs let alone promotion!

We welcomed the diversion of the summer tournaments but it has to be said they were never really something into which you could put your heart and soul.  We may even have found new and exciting ways to spend those weekdays and Saturdays in which we suddenly find ourselves at a loose end.  But now we’re bored.  We have become reacquainted with our family, and remembered why we spend so much time trying to avoid them on matchdays.  There are only so many trips around shopping malls, a visit to the Belgian coast or National Heritage sites you can make before you go round the bend.  We just need football.

And that’s were pre-season friendlies come in.  They know you don’t really care for 100%, but equally they know that you will watch given a half chance out of desperation and stubborn faith.  Like on Friday July 29, when we entertained Spanish club Getafe CF it was like the fourth or fifth installment of a Hollywood action franchise, everyone is complicit in a conspiracy of mediocrity, getting a meagre placebo hit while we all wait for the good stuff to come on Wednesday August 17 when we are travelling to Lommel United for the first game in the second division of Belgian football.  Are we ready?  A lot of transfer activity can happen in the last month of the window and with the new investor group from Jos Verhaegen taking over the management in our club (hopefully a deal will be in place before Aug 5) the future could be red and white in the Province of Antwerp!

PROFILE GETAFE C.F.

Date	Kick off	Venue	Opponents
09.07.2011	6 PM cet	De Bist Ekeren	FC Ekeren
12.07.2011	7.30 PM cet	Wijnegemsteenweg	K Antonia FC
17.07.2011	3 PM gmt	Tynecastle Stadium	Hearts FC
19.07.2011	7.30 PM cet	Ludo Coeck Stadium	K Berchem Sport
23.07.2011	6 PM cet	Bosuil Stadium	KV Mechelen
26.07.2011	7 PM cet	Van Roey Stadium	KFC Zwarte Leeuw
29.07.2011	8 PM cet	Bosuil Stadium	Getafe CF
02.08.2011	7 PM cet	Sportcomplex Seminarie	Hoogstraten VV
05.08.2011	8 PM cet	Sports Stadium	KV Woluwe-Zaventem
07.08.2011	1 PM cet	Bosuil Stadium	Fandag
09.08.2011	7.30 PM cet	Van Wellen Stadium	RFC Cappellen

Getafe aren’t La Liga’s gatecrashers anymore.  Seven years after winning an improbable first-ever promotion to the Primera Division, and having survived the drop with surprising comfort under Quique Sanchez Flores and then German enfant terrible Bernd Schuster, what seemed ridiculous now feels right.  Nowadays, the team from the industrial satellite town south of Madrid belong in the top flight, having followed up their 13th-placed debut with mid-table rankings all the way until this term. 

As if to prove the point, the Madrid Metro runs to the door and in the 2006-2007 season they reached their first Copa del Rey final, thrashing Valencia and Barcelona en route.  The Catalan giants thought they won the two-legged tie by hammering the Madrid outfit 5-2 at home but a remarkable comeback at the Coliseum (4-0) meant a 6-5 aggregate score for Los Azules.  With fellow finalists Sevilla having reached the Champions League, that final place has earned Getafe C.F. their first ever European campaign!  That success, built according to president Angel Torres’ blueprint of cautious progress, is truly remarkable for a club with a tiny budget and virtually no tradition and with gates around the 10 000 mark many of the fans are – or were – Atletico supporters and even the president is a member of Real Madrid.

Getafe’s history and traditions are yet to be built.  So too is its identity, although an edgy rivalry is starting to be formed with Barça after Samuel Eto’o accused Los Azules supporters of being racist and also, the rivalry with the Madrid clubs is there to a lesser extent, both of whom have been thrown to the lions at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez in recent years.

Getafe has also been the springboard for two of the division’s top coaches, Sanchez Flores going to Valencia and Schuster eventually joining Real Madrid after an acrimonious dispute between Angel Torres and his Real counterpart Ramon Calderon.  The man taking over is another young coach, Danish legend Michael Laudrup followed by Michel and the current gaffer at the helm of the Getafe club, Luis Garcia.

With players such as Soldado, Del Moral, Granero, Albiol, Güiza, Gavilan, Abbondanzieri, Pernia and others Getafe always did good business by selling them against good prices.  So, every year the team is strengthened with fresh blood and a finish above the drop zone of La Liga is a certainty.  And maybe with the takeover of the Dubai Group a new European campaign is on the horizon!

PROFILE HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN

A travelling contingent of 1 000 fans followed Royal Antwerp to Ashton Gate (Bristol City), 800 saw Royal Antwerp entertain Hull City at the Kingston Communications Ground and 600 were omnipresent to cheer on the lads at the Reebokstadium in Bolton. Even last year more than 200 vociferous fans made the trip to the Scottish Highlands were we halted an impressive run of results of SPL new boys Inverness Caledonian Thistle.  On Sunday, July 17, the mighty Jambos from Hearts take on Royal Antwerp to mark the 125th anniversary of Tynecastle to see gaffer Jim Jefferies’ new signings in action in their only pre-season friendly at home before starting the SPL a week later.  Royal Antwerp will certainly have a revamped and revitalised squad to deal with the Jam Tarts who will be playing in this year’s Europa League because they are the best side outside the Glasgow area.

Unfortunately, the talk of the pre-season is all Hearts and for once has nothing to do with loudmouth owner Vladimir Romanov. For him, last year was a quiet year but still the Lithuanian based Russian banker couldn’t resist poking fun at his SFA chums when Scotland emerged from a trip to Kaunas with only a goalless draw.  “You’d think the SFA would do more with all the money I give them in fines” he equipped.  And Mad Vlad also revealed that the Liverpool fans actually got lucky with Tom Hicks and George Gillet because they could have had him as owner instead, had he not passed up the chance to buy the Anfield club for £200 million.

No, all the talk is coming from the police who have confirmed they are making inquiries into fresh allegations against Craig Thomson, a defender on the roster of Hearts.  The player was suspended by the club following his conviction earlier this month for lewd, libidinous and indecent behaviour towards two under-age girls. 

Founded : 1874
Address : Gorgie Road, Edinburgh, EH11 2NL
Phone Number : 0871 663 1874
Pitch : 107 x 74 meter
Nickname : Hearts, The Jam Tarts or The Jambos
Undersoil Heating : Yes
Sponsors: Wonga
Kit Manufacturers : Umbro
Home Kit : Maroon & White
Away Kit : White & Blue
Website : www.heartsfc.co.uk
Ticket Prices against RAFC : £10 adults  £5 concessions
Gaffer : Jim Jefferies
New signings : John Sutton, Mehdi Taouil, Jamie Hamill and Danny Grainger

ROYAL ANTWERP ON TOUR

A BORING JUNE AND JULY AT BOSUILSTADIUM, YOU’VE GOT TO BE JOKING

And so we’ve reached one of those periods in the life of a football fan which feels like walking through the desert without even a mirage in sight.  Yes, the light at the end of the tunnel during a non-World Cup or non-Euros summer seems some distance away at the start of July.  Only for the fanatics to watch coverage of the Women World Cup in Germany, the Concacaf Gold Cup in the States or U-17 and U-20 championships elsewhere.  But not all is doom and gloom because there’s still plenty to keep us entertained at Bosuilstadium with 2 logical friendly wins against teams from the Antwerp provincial league (compare it with the Darlington’s, Gateshead’s and others in England).

Agent brinkmanship and clubs unwilling to cough up thousands of euros in wages for a month’s pay in June to a player sitting on the beach hardly helps the anxieties of fans up and down the country.  Therefore Royal Antwerp did play those two friendlies in front off a healthy crowd figure of almost 1 000 spectators.

That’s not to say our club won’t be bringing in new faces coming to Bosuilstadium in July, far from it.  But with offers already on the table for Belgian and European talent, the issue is staight-forward – or at least from the point of view of the agents who will pull the strings this summer on football’s deals concerning the second tier of Belgian football.  With the acquisitions of defenders Romeo Van Dessel and Karel De Smet, midfielder Wouter Smeets and the outgoing transfers of livewire leftwinger Emmerik De Vriese to the newly crowned champions OH Leuven and Kevin Baert to KV Ostend our club was already very active in the transfer window.

The delays at most Belgian second tier clubs and Royal Antwerp are that all of them have the prospect of deals in place but of course no modern football transfer window would be complete without the role of agents.  A player may feel keen and ready to become a red and white, only for an agent to utter the “wait” word to see if better offers come in.  This widespread occurence could well work in Royal Antwerp’s favour with a knock on effect expected later this summer. For example player A has an offer from Royal Antwerp but has been told to “sit tight” by his agent with more money a possibility at say promoted OH Leuven if their move for player X falls through and he decides to go to a Jupiler Pro League outfit because he can get even more money there.

What Royal Antwerp can’t offer at the time of writing is first division football but instead they can offer a chance to be part of a big club, play in front of 6 000 every other week and be a real hero.  Yet in the modern football world, does any of that cut any ice with the mega-rich footballers of this generation?  These the wages of some players are astronomical – and the greed of agents looking to make a killing makes them the real players in the world of sport.  People are quick to point the finger at board members, chairman, technical staff for a variety of reasons but agents get a pretty easy ride in comparison with the abovementioned in order to get what they want from football clubs.

Also throw into the mix, where RAFC are today financially and sportively it’s no foregone conclusion that players who want to sign for the sixth ranked team in Belgian’s second division may need more persuasion than others but what are words compared to euro signs these days?  You certainly do not envy the task of gaffer Bart De Roover in some ways.  No doubt there will be twists and turns in the coming weeks and De Roover has a A,B,C,D list to get through first.  Then there are the contracts…  As ever, there is never a dull moment at Bosuilstadium and with the new investor group around former GBA supremo Jos Verhaegen being installed at the moment of writing the future could be red and white for once and incoming transfers, a financial and commercial sound business plan is coming at Bosuilstadium so always look at the bright red and white side of life!

DO YOU REMEMBER RITCHIE DE LAET

season 2010-2011 part one

Sheffield United have won the race to sign Manchester United’s and our young homegrown Belgian international defender Ritchie De Laet.  Blades boss Gary Speed (ex-Leeds and Newcastle) has beaten off competition from several other Championship and Scottish Premier League clubs to land De Laet on a one-month-loan.  De Laet will boost Speed’s defensive options as he can play anywhere across the back four and made his debut already in the Yorkshire derby at Elland Road.  In front of a massive 33,622 crowd he replaced Calve but saw the home side win courtesy of a late Bradley goal for the first time in 17 years.
The highly-rated De Laet moved to the Britannia Stadium in a switch from Royal Antwerp in 2007 and will now play to the best of his abilities at Bramall Lane under gaffer Gary Speed.

season 2010-2011 part two

Manchester United have reached agreement for Preston to sign Ritchie De Laet on an emergency one-month loan.  Manager Darren Ferguson turned to his father for help and Sir Alex decided and allowed the centre half to join the Championship’s bottom club despite massive interest from Preston’s rivals.  De Laet, 21, impressed while on loan at Sheffield United earlier this season and they were keen to take him back to Bramall Lane.  However, the Old Trafford boss feels that Ritchie can fill a more important role at Preston with the club a few points adrift at the bottom of the table.  A real test for De Laet’s resilience but after manager Darren Ferguson got his marching orders it was the end of the loan story at Deepdale.

season 2010-2011 part three

For the remainder of the season Ritchie De Laet was loaned to Portsmouth.  Ritchie was one of the defensive lynchpins in a midtable outfit.  At Pompey his main contributions under gaffer Steve Cotterill was bringing stability to a rather dodgy rearguard.  He succeeded with flying colours and at a certain time the habitants of Fratton Park were close to the play-offs.

season 2011-2012

Norwich City have signed Manchester United defender De Laet on a season-long loan, subject to the relevant paperwork being completed.  Ritchie was delighted to play against topstrikers as Drogba, Torres, Defoe, Crouch, Arshavin, Van Persie, Demba Ba and others.  He said: "I’m really pleased to be able to continue my development as a young player with the Canaries.  I know it’s going to be tough because the lads there have done really well.  I am sure everybody can’t wait to get going.  Every game will be very tough and competitive, that’s what the Premier League is all about.  I’m looking forward to joining in with pre-season training and getting to know the rest of the lads as we all start getting down to some serious work and then the friendlies before the Premier League starts." Needless to say that Old Trafford manager Sir Alex Ferguson rates Ritchie as a future top star, but is keen for him to go out on loan to get valuable first-team experience.  Our former player has made six senior appearances for Fergie’s side since joining from Stoke some years ago.

ROYAL ANTWERP HIT ILORIN FOR KFA: BELGIAN SIDE TO OPEN REFURBISHED KWARA STADIUM

The newly renovated Kwara State Stadium in Ilorin will be officially inaugurated on Saturday by the outgoing Kwara State Governor, Dr Bukola Saraki, with an international friendly match between Kwara Football Academy and Royal Antwerp of Belgium.

The Belgian club will arrive in Nigeria on Friday, and will proceed to Ilorin for the match on Saturday before departing for Belgium the following day.

Already, Mr Kumbi Titiloye, the Administrator of the Kwara Football Academy, is in Brussels, Belgium, to tidy up the friendly match and is expected to arrive with the squad on Friday.

Media Co-ordinator for the organising committee of the match, Bayour Issah, informed Complete Sports that the stadium was renovated to the tune of N1.3billion with such facilities as floodlights, scoreboard, AstroTurf and covered stands. The stadium's sitting capacity was also increased.

WAFFLE RAFC 2010-2011

At the end of the season 2009-2010 Colin Andrews told the press that it had been another lousy rollercoaster season. He wasn’t wrong and also hinted at the board’s lack of ambition by saying that there are fundamental problems that are preventing Royal Antwerp from reaching the play-offs let alone clinching the title in the second tier of Belgian football. Colin Andrews was about to discover that the only problem with a successful pre-season campaign is it tends to raise the expectations to ridicilous levels. After a win in the derby and a creditable draw at SPL newcomers Inverness Caledonian Thistle the momentum was carried into the August and September fixtures but 2 points out of a possible 27 meant that the decision had to be taken to remove Colin from the managerial reins. The gaffer with whom we started the season, Colin Andrews needs to rein back that urge of his to always play attacking football. He tried it against a much stronger Lommel United side at home and was humiliated 4-0.  And such tactics don’t give the necessary protection to what is a rather exposed unexceptional Royal Antwerp defence. When some players confirmed that there was little respect for the gaffer within the dressing-room and that everybody could notice it in the team’s insipid displays.

I’m pinching myself at being the manager of a Jupiler Pro League outfit in Zulte Waregem said Bart De Roover on his appointment at the beginning of the past season. Some of the club’s fans were pinching themselves too, but more in disbelief that they now had a manager without top-flight experience, who had been chosen over for instance Hugo Broos. Because Bart De Roover had his own way to manage the team from West Flanders with almost no similarities to his very successful predecessor Dury the club decided to sack him and Royal Antwerp was first to talk and convince him to sign a contract until the end of the season. You know you have a problem when managers of fellow Exqi League clubs poke fun at your defence. Most of them stating that it was 'slow and indecisive' and they had a point.  With the exception of Thomas Phibel, Royal Antwerp’s defenders don’t inspire as much confidence as they should. Marvin Peersman and Thomas De Corte are both great bombing forward but weaker at the back, while Vermeerbergen is injury-prone and the supporting cast of Jef Vogels shouldn’t be let loose in the first team.

Colin Andrews and Bart De Roover instilled in their players plenty of passion, but it spilt over too often this season. A poor record of 72 yellows (Marvin Peersman and Thomas Phibel with ten cards each the main culprits) and four reds meant an appearance before the Belgian FA disciplinary panel and plenty of unwanted suspensions. But all is not lost because Peersman and Phibel should get even better under the tutelage of gaffer De Roover, one of the modern game’s best central defenders. Royal Antwerp have to improve their concentration at set-pieces and corners of the opposite side and conceding late in games is also out of the question. Too many points were thrown away by conceding equalisers or winners from other teams in the dying minutes. These are Bart’s boys now, De Roover adapted and settled quickly to his new coaching environment and with him there are no more erratic team selections and he has absolute control of his players. 

Gaffer Jacky Matthijsen from our local rivals used to say if Royal Antwerp were playing at the end of his garden he would draw the curtains. But if the much travelled manager would be honest you sense he might be tempted to take a peek at this Royal Antwerp side, led by an ex-Red Devil with a Pro Licence degree, a young Belgian with many of his own characteristics. Bart De Roover has lifted Royal Antwerp out of the soul-sapping malaise of his predecessors from a previous era to create a vibrant young team on the brink of competing with the more experienced other sides in the upper echelon of the Exqi League and getting the team from a pathetic 13th place at his arrival to sixth in the final ranking, this is an achievement in itself.

Kevin Oris will continue to scare the hell out of defenders with 21 goals on his tally, while the livewire Emmerik De Vriese should prove his pace and goals are just as important.  It’s all very well boasting mercurial striker Kevin Oris, but he needs better service.  The Royal Antwerp midfield has players like Lambot and Di Gregorio who can win the ball, but no one who can pass it on with flair and cunning.  Nor do any of these midfielders chip in with enough goals.  Exception made for right midfielder Kevin Baert but unfortunately for us he was out for more than seven months after picking up an injury in the friendly against the unwashed from the other side of the town.

Despite winning hatfuls of corners and free-kicks it has been said that Royal Antwerp fans start reading the match programme when their team obtain a set-piece. We never seem to score out of this standard positions in comparison with fellow Exqi League outfits.

Thomas Phibel continues to divide Royal Antwerp fans. One camp fervently believes he will never realise his enormous potential due to his nonchalance and a lack of mobility when he had to turn against speedy opponents but the other camp hails him as the rock mountain at the back with an aerial prowess second to none but let’s keep it crystal clear maybe the next year should determine who is right or wrong.

Our Greek player Stavros Glouftsis in his second spell at our club ignores all the misplaced criticism to keep scoring at an impressive rate. We are having a laugh because this striker can only find the net in Reserve League matches and will therefore be transferred to the mighty Sint-Niklaas in the third tier of Belgian football.

In comparison with his predecessor Colin Andrews, Bart De Roover’s style of play remains far too organised even defensive if you like that word, with Royal Antwerp failing to put opponents under enough pressure. This tepid approach can lead to some groans from the Antwerp faithful certainly in home games where we are supposed to dominate play.

Bart De Roover is often hailed as one of the brightest young managers in Belgium. We know this from the gushing testimonies of players, staff and board members from KFC Wuustwezel, RFC Cappellen and RS Waasland. Chairman Eddy Wauters is an unusually patient man, but De Roover must surely with the necessary acquisitions do next season to justify his lofty reputation by guiding our team to the promised land whether it is by clinching the title or via the dreaded play-offs lottery!

Book Marvin Peersman on an anger-management course. Royal Antwerp can’t afford to have his only left-back in the squad serving a three-match ban due to picking up 10 most of the time unnecessary bookings this season. Royal Antwerp’s other strikers were particularly grateful for Oris’s sensational form this season as it helped to hide their own shortcomings.  De Vriese contributed another nine goals but Darko Pivaljevic, Stavros Glouftsis, Audrey Diansangu and others didn’t participate enough in the goalscorers chart because Kevin and Emmerik can’t do it all on their own again next season.

Even if Royal Antwerp don’t have a cohesive team at the moment, they have plenty of talented individuals in their ranks.  But also hampered by injuries most of the team can’t be satisfied individually or as a collective unit.  Do we have a problem with the antics of certain youngsters on the pitch to derail the whole season?  Not really, but certainly we have some young elements seem to who have some problem handling fame and fortune… a few seem determined to outsmart former GBA and Antwerpplayer Dirk Goossens (compare him with the likes of Cassano or Balotelli) in their behaviour!

SUMMARY SEASON 2010-2011

As OH Leuven manager Ronny Van Geneugden tried to get to grips with his team’s promotion to the Jupiler Pro League at Bosuilstadium on Sunday April 24, he repeated one word over and over again. "It is a miracle", said the former Antwerpplayer after his team’s creditable 2-2 draw secured promotion onto the big boys after an absence of 61 years in the top flight. We have rarely seen Van Geneugden look overawed but he did seem a little stunned, perhaps even a touch perflexed after Royal Antwerp’s late comeback and he tried to absorb what had happened in the city of the famous university and beer since the start of the 2010-2011 season. 

Van Geneugden inherited a team occupying and wandering in the lower reaches of the Exqi League the previous campaign and transformed them into world-beaters. One that he thought was short of fitness and lacking steel and prolific strikers. It did not take the former Antwerpplayer long to remedy the problem and with the approval of the ambitious board and political bosses in the city he strengthened his squad extensively with goalkeeper Lenaerts, experienced defender Hayen, defensive lynchpin Van Goethem and last but not least as icing on the cake prolific strikers in Jordan Remacle and Hamdi Harbaoui. Further came also another player with Jupiler Pro League experience in Wouter Scheelen to feed the strikers with assists. 

However, very few envisaged at the start of the season that the play-offs were the highest possible target and that promotion wasn’t attainable as champions of the Exqi League.  Lommel United was the frontrunner at the wintermercato, OH Leuven trailing by four points.  But even after that good start Van Geneugden took every opportunity to dampen expectations and take every game as it comes but with Lommel United fading away and RAEC Mons not living up to their favourite tag the Leuven team have shown incredible staying power.  They have not lost back-to-back games in a very tight division, won 22 times and scored a bumper 75 goals in the process.

So, Ronny Van Geneugden must take huge credit for Leuven’s rise and at the promotion party at the Town Hall it was announced that Leuven’s CEO Callewaert from sponsor Option inked him for another four years. Callewaert acknowledged that our former midfield player moulded a squad with (compare with other teams!) relatively little Exqi League experience but with the hunger to prove they are good enough to succeed  in the second tier of Belgian football. The magnitude of this promotion is up there with anything in his career (including his spell at first division side RC Genk as a newbie gaffer) but especially he has one player, summer signing Hamdi Harbaoui to thank for banging in 25 goals which made the Tunesian player topstriker in the division with our mercurial forward Kevin Oris trailing him by four goals.

Regarded as a gifted and stylish midfielder in his playing days, Ronny isn’t a man who suffers fools. A stupid or unwanted question is met with an icy stare but one thing is sure: with the gaffer and the board helped by hefty sums donated by political bosses in Leuven, we are sure that with at least 3 or 4 acquisitions this squad can survive at the highest tier of Belgian football! OH Leuven had waited 61 years to get back in to the top flight and they start with the distinct advantage of having the right manager, chairman, fan-base and backing from the city to survive the next twelve months but rumours are getting stronger that prolific striker Harbaoui is on his way to other football horizons so fingers crossed for the champions of the Exqi League season 2010-2011!

GLORY GLORY MANCHESTER UNITED

In front of 29,867 spectators at Ewood Park a well-taken spot-kick of Wayne Rooney was enough to secure Manchester United’s record-breaking 19th league title.  United came back from a goal down courtesy of a goal from Blackburn midfielder Emerton who capitalised on nervous goalkeeping from Kuszczak in the 20th minute.  When in the 73rd minute Mexican livewire Javier Hernandez was brought down by home goalkeeper Robinson, Wazza stepped up to take the penalty and slammed the ball into the back of the net.  United’s army of supporters in a title frenzy and more important it’s now Mancunians vs Scousers 19-18 in favour of Alex Ferguson’s men.  In the starting line-up there was a place for our former player Jonny Evans who did replace Patrice Evra as left-back and he was reliable as ever.

Talking about Sir Alex Ferguson, his monument is cast in silver pots and can be found displayed in the Old Trafford trophy room, so there will be little indulgence on his part to the historical weight of his achievement.  In a football world with the acid of reckless owners and feckless agents corrodes a game devoured by a media whose ubiquity Sir Alex finds repellent.  In this context, building a club over a quarter of a century appears absolutely incongruous.  But with the voracious hunger for winning, you suspect, that keeps Manchester United’s gaffer going and in a fortnight at Wembley another showpiece with Spanish giants FC Barcelona at Wembley awaits the red half of Manchester.  Time for more silverware and contributions from Jonny Evans and John O’Shea in the grand final at the venue of Legends?

ROYAL ANTWERP INKS DE SMET, SMEETS AND DE ROOVER

For the first time in years Royal Antwerp’s mad, loyal, passionate and famously long-suffering fans have nothing to moan about long before the beginning of the new season.  Instead, they have plenty to look forward to: a stunning new stadium in 2015(?) and a realistic prospect of finishing at least in a position that guarantees play-offs football or maybe more (me being optimistic for once).  “It is better to be a lion for a day than a lamb for the rest of your life,” could this be the favourite saying of the Royal Antwerp chairman Eddy Wauters, and it’s an approach he has been using in the transfer market thus far.  Antwerp’s agression has so far yielded centre-half Karel De Smet and exciting midfielder Wouter Smeets who can operate on both flanks to sign a contract for two years with our club.  Further news from the managers dugout is that Bart De Roover signed a contract extension for one more year until the end of next season.

A commanding centre-half needs to be recruited.  Job done with the acquisition of Karel De Smet, a very tall defender who must bring stability especially on set-pieces of opponents.  He is renowned for his aerial prowess defensively and offensively which is a bonus because three years ago at one of his former clubs KFC VW Hamme he managed to score 5 goals before the end of the calendar year.  With his last club, KVK Tienen he netted a consolation goal in his side’s humiliation at Bosuilstadium.  At thirty he must become one of the leaders on and off the pitch.  Good luck, Karel!

A creative midfielder needs to be recruited.  Job done with the acquisition of Wouter Smeets, a 20-years old graduate of the famous PSV’s Academy.  He is renowned for his passing and vision and will bolster our midfield options.  In the Netherlands he played together with Arne Nilis, the son of former Aston Villa star Luc Nilis and this season he opted to play for ambitious Belgian third division outfit Geel-Meerhout for whom he starred in several matches producing nine goals in the process.  Several top-flight teams were interested in signing this starlet but he chose Royal Antwerp to continue his promising career with already 20caps for the Belgian youth teams on his tally. Good luck, Wouter!

One of the brightest young managers with a Pro Licence degree need to sign a new contract for the Reds.  Job done because the former player of the Belgian national team (5 caps) did put pen to paper for a contract extension for one more year.  De Roover must take huge credit for guiding Royal Antwerp from the lower reaches of the Exqi League (13th at the end of Nov) to finish on a creditable sixth spot in the final ranking.  De Roover is keen to deflect all the plaudits on to his players, insisting: “It is a job well done by the players.  They are the ones who have gone out and won games.”  De Roover has really stamped his authority on the squad and the lads know exactly what he wants f.i. working extra hard at training sessions to help his team realise their potential.  He will never change his methods and his preparation remains excellent.  At the last day of the footballing season he told media representatives that he wanted a reinforcement in every compartment of his squad so that he can compete with almost the same weapons than those teams who are starting with rocket high ambitions into the new season!  Good luck, Bart!

LEAGUE YELLOW: FINAL STATS

SUMMARY DAY THIRTY-FOUR

A noisy public announcement system, an irritating female presenter, youth players of the local club, an orchestra and last but not least the outgoing Minister of Finance Didier Reynders in the bumper crowd of 2 500 at Municipal Stadium of the Geese.  Further there was a speech from the chairman and the new Indonesian investor group Bakrie (in broken French) who are going to splash the cash in the forthcoming seasons and guide the mighty team from the neighbourhood of Liège into the promised land of the Jupiler Pro League. 

That’s all good news but the home side fell behind in the 11th minute when Kevin Oris netted his 21st goal of the season by connecting marvellously on a Marvin Peersman cross.   Royal Antwerp partypoopers…not really because only two minutes later G. Legros sliced a Gerets cross home with a close-range equaliser.  When Lecomte on 22 minutes put the Geese in front it was another feather in the cap of inspirational manager Riga, whose side not only overhauled Royal Antwerp for fifth place in the Exqi League final ranking but will endear him certainly to continue because it has to be said he managed to get his side from the start of the season in good positions, all but extinguishing any relegation fears from day one.   For the stats, G. Legros completed his brace against our colours when Vogels misjudged a through ball in the dying minutes.

Yet, such is the alchemy wrought by Riga that his side as newcomers now sit proudly above Royal Antwerp in the final ranking of the second tier of Belgian football.  Talking about a surprise package and there’s more to come …(read above).

All other prices were already decided bar one, it will be K.V. Turnhout competing to stay in the division with teams from the Belgian third division.  Gaffer Braeckmans got the sack after a meagre and unconvincing draw against relegated RFC Tournai and it’s now up to ex-Red Devil and Lierse manager Eric Van Meir to deliver safety.  As well known, K.V. Turnhout operates as a feeder club for K. Lierse S.K. and can use some fringe and reserve players of the big brother to avoid relegation.

PROFILE OPPONENT CS VISE/WEZET

Municipal Stadium  of the Geese - 1 May 2011 - 3.00 PM (cet)

Referees: Philipppe Flament - Lauren Conotte - Michele Scatorchia

Our next opponent was founded in 1924 as CS Visétois and received the Belgian FA number 369.  Their first spell in the national football leagues was in 1948-1949, and they remained there for two consecutive seasons.  From 1960 CS Visé played in the Belgian fourth division and this until 1996 when they were promoted to the third division.  Afterwards the club from the province of Liège played yo-yo between the second and third tier of Belgian football.  Last year followed with a star-studded team a new promotion to the second tier where they are now considered by most journos as the surprise package of the Exqi League.

Les Oies (the geese) are already a tremendous success story that only can be ruined if they overreach and forget what should always be their main concern at the start of this season: to remain in the Belgian second division.  And with a current sixth place in the ranking that’s exactly what they are doing, they even punch a little bit above their weight.

Signing both Legros brothers from last year relegation fodder RFC Liègeois was a very smart bit of business by Visé.  The pair will augment an already impressive midfield and strike force where Lecomte, Françoise, Dessart are other superb players attracting interest from larger clubs.  The Visé defence isn’t normally good enough to force the team into the top five, but Ciza, Vervalle, Wisniowski, Schmisser and Johan Gerets (son of former Belgian footballlegend Eric) will always keep them above any relegation scraps.  Only prolific striker Harbaoui and old Antwerpveteran Verjans left the ambitious club.

Manager Riga’s ambition could perversely by the undoing of our next visitor at De Bosuil.  “I have been a manager for almost 20 years and there will come a time when moving will be the right thing”. It will happen at a certain time and if it does it could be catastrophic for the habitants of Le Stade de la Cité de l’Oie.

So, this year punters back the Geese for the drop but they are wrong because Sunday’s visitors do their dough.  It ain’t clever and it’s certainly ain’t pretty but they do know how to stay up.  More even they will end in upper mid-table if they watch out for that end-of-season slump were some promoted teams are known for.  If they don’t dust down their passports in March then a highest position in their history will come to fruition and punters will know for a fact that this team you do not back for the drop under any circumstances.  And they didn’t…

For the future all seem rosy in the garden of the city in the neighbourhood of Liège because Indonesian investors have committed themselves with the crystal clear ambition to climb the football tree onto the Jupiler Pro League and this in a time-schedule of only two years. Because if the Pandas from K.A.S. Eupen can achieve such a miracle why can’t the Geese from RCS Visé not follow their example?  Wait and see…

Founded : 1924
FA number : 369
Address : Rue de Mons 15 – 4600 Visé
Stadium : Stade de la Cité de l’Oie (5 200)
Ticket Office : 04/379 37 80
Website : www.cs-vise.be
Kit Colours : blue shirt, white short
Budget : 1,2 million euro
Chairman : Guy Thiry
Gaffer : José Riga (° 30/07/1957) – managerial career : Haccourt (1991-1996), Espagnola (1996-2000), CS Wezet (2000-2002), Sprimont (2002-2003), Standard (2003-2005, assistant), RAEC Mons (2005-01/2008), CS Visé (from 08/2008-?).
Assistants : Luc Sluysmans (T2) and Gaston Lejeune (goalkeepers).

THOMAS PHIBEL MISSES NEXT GAME(S)

SUMMARY DAY THIRTY-THREE

Once upon the river Scheldt, encounters between Royal Antwerp and OH Leuven were billed as titanic and title-deciding affairs.  Once as in yesterday when OH Leuven knew a win at Bosuil Stadium in front of 7 500 spectators would cement automatic promotion back to the Jupiler Pro League after a 61-year absence.  But, Royal Antwerp mounted a sturdy defense of their home turf to secure a creditable 2-2 draw against Exqi League leaders OH Leuven.

The closest our beloved colours seem to have to a predator right now are Kevin Oris and Emmerik De Vriese, unfortunately both players were sidelined through suspension. In the first half both teams looked largely devoid of ideas in and around the penalty area, with several crosses from Baert for the home side going to waste. On 28 minutes prolific striker Harbaoui edged OH Leuven ahead in this first versus fifth clash, heading home Remacle’s corner with a little help of goalkeeper Wauthy. Before that home winger Diansangu had missed an one-on-one after being put through but OH Leuven’s top-scorer showed him two minutes later how it should be done.

In the second half on the hour mark, a left-footed, inswinging curler from the right flank deceived everyone including Wauthy as the ball from Scheelen sailed into the net at the far post.  Then the relentless pace and intensity from OH Leuven dropped when they heard that fellow title contenders Lommel United were trailing at home and Royal Antwerp capitalised in the last minutes to draw level courtesy of skipper Lambot and Vermeerbergen goals.  In stoppage time Stavros Glouftsis failed to pinch a winner, a goal that would keep us in contention with the last play-offs place if results the last day of the competition should go our way.  It didn’t happen and if our team avoid defeat next week at surprise package RCS Visé a creditable fifth place in the Exqi League ranking is ours.

After a dour stalemate at bottom club RFC Tournai the curtain has fallen on K. Rupel Boom FC.  Both teams will play their competitive football in the third division of Belgian football next year. 

So, OH Leuven champions and further Lommel United, Waasland/Beveren and RAEC Mons in the play-offs lottery battling it out with K.A.S. Eupen for one coveted spot in the Jupiler Pro League next year.

PROFILE OPPONENT * O.H. LEUVEN

Bosuil Stadium - 17 April 2011 - 3.00 PM (cet)

Referees: Tim Pots - Jimmy Cremers - Peter De Bast

Season 2009-2010

Jean-Pierre Vande Velde once boasted, “the club I couldn’t turn around has yet to be built”.  It increasingly looks like it has been built, atop an imposing hill above Leuven city centre.  After succeeding Rudi Cossey and Marc Wuyts whose rocky start last term saw them struggle for survival it was the former FCV Dender EH supremo that led our next opponent to their lowest-ever finish in the Belgian second division with only 45 points out of 36 games. With 66 goals conceded OHL had the worst defensive record in the second tier of Belgian football. Certainly not enough for the commercial and political bosses OHL always can rely on. From the moment JPV was installed his target was a team that could challenge for honours, at previous clubs JPV could always make title-winners out of nothing.

O.H. Leuven has received some transfer funds by selling right-back Odoi but didn’t manage to offload Jarakovic and this gives the gaffer not enough room to manoeuvre because with this limited ressources prudence remains a watchword in the city known for his famous university and beer.  Leuven fans were not so much concerned about relegation as bored last season and the manager appears to have acknowledged the problem by promising that the team will ditch their direct style of play to robust striker Ruytinx and become a more attractive prospect.

Season 2010-2011

Last season was only one game old when JPV felt the first jabs of the pressure that would follow him throughout what turned out to be his most punishing campaign. The post-match inquisition evidently wasn’t too interested in the details of the game and went straight to the heart of the matter: how many more seasons can you go without promotion to the Jupiler League, the highest tier of Belgian football?  How can you sell some of your best players and seriously expect to win the second division title, JPV? 

Well, the new gaffer and former Antwerpplayer Ronny Van Geneugden has made one fairly important adjustement to his strategy for 2010-2011.  He appears to have had a Eureka moment.  It didn’t come from a team who do what OHL can’t – such as the power play of some Walloon teams, the clean sheets ground out by the likes of K. Lierse S.K. and K.A.S. Eupen impeccable defensive partnership, or the dynamics of other midfield pairings in this league.  Not at all, it came from the team who do what OHL think they can do, only they do it much better: Barcelona. 

Ronny Van Geneugden has come to the conclusion that shape, and then to a lesser degree personnel, will be the key to a big improvement.  Like the Catalan giants the gaffer always rely on a 4-3-3 formation and with new strikers acquisitions Harbaoui and Remacle, substitute Bloudek if a plan B is needed and further the ever reliable Ruytinx, Kurt Weuts and Wouter Scheelen he has plenty of options to form his attacking trio.  A Barcelona-style passing game, with a bit more bite up front (71 goals made out of 32 games!) is the new formula. 

With defenders Euvrard, Hayen and Raeymaekers and ever-present left-back and captain Vastmans, midfielders Annijs and Van  Goethem offer the manager outlets that already given OHL variation from their tippy-tappy possession game, either by using a high ball to robust striker Ruytinx (route-one stuff) or one of the aforementioned defenders or midfielders cavaliers runs upfield from the back. 

Leuven fans want to see a competitive team, not a competitive balance sheet. They do not  want to see more of the defensive vulnerability that is OHL’s undoing but they ought not hold their breath. For the time being, our next opponent is the proud leader of the Second Division by making astute signings in the Summer transfer window.  Regulars of Den Dreef will continue to back manager Van Geneugden if he decided to let some players leave provided the money is invested back into the team pronto. The manager can be trusted that he will use the money wisely on some Mongolian wunderkind or if he will surprise them and lay out for the finished article. Will he buy a massive, ugly defender?  Might he bring in an experienced, midfield destroyer to dovetail with the technically gifted midfielders already on board or could he inject a little more of the calibre of Remacle (16 goals) and Harbaoui (22 goals) that made such a difference to the team? Two more points out of the remaining two fixtures and the party can start for Van Geneugden’s men…

Founded : 2002
FA number : 6142
Address : ‘Den Dreef’ – Kardinaal Mercierlaan 46 – 3001 Heverlee
Stadium : Den Dreef (10 000)
Ticket Office : 016/22 85 08
Website : www.ohl.be
Kit Colours : white shirt, white short, white socks
Main Sponsor : Option
Budget : 2,25 million euro
Chairman : Henri Kumps/Jan Callewaert
Gaffer : Ronny Van Geneugden (° 17/08/1968) – manager career : Excelsior Veldwezelt (2002-2003), RC Genk (2003-02/2008, youth + second team + interim headcoach), RC Genk (02/2008-03/2009, headcoach), Oud-Heverlee Leuven (from 07/2010 - ?).
Assistants : Hans Vander Elst (also technical director) and Jürgen De Braeckeleer.

KEVIN ORIS & EMMERIK DE VRIESE SUSPENDED

SUMMARY DAY THIRTY-TWO

Mercurial striker Kevin Oris showed the route to goal as he spearheaded a dominant Royal Antwerp side to victory at KV Ostend. Royal Antwerp outplayed the Seasiders and it was justice done as Martin raced clear in the penalty area and drove in a shot to break the deadlock after 30 minutes of play. Some shoddy defending and a masterly placed through ball from Put to De Vriese set the latter free in front of dodgy goalkeeper Dantschotter. Foul from defender Luissint and captain Oris converted the spot-kick to give our side a comfortable double lead at the interval. Kevin led the line with power as well as a degree of panache, he played a pivotal role in Royal Antwerp’s domination. When in the second half referee Snoeck awarded the home team a soft penalty the loyal away contingent feared the most. Houri converted but one minute later the tie was put to bed when inspirational skipper Oris netted  his 20th goal of the season by connecting a cross from sub Diansangu. With this win at Albertpark in front of a meagre crowd we have an out-side chance to even qualify for the play-offs but we need to take maximum points out of the remaining two fixtures and rely on other results to go our way.

Home gaffer Vanderbiest stated at the press conference that the goals of Royal Antwerp could have been easily avoided and that gave his side a mountain to climb. He wouldn’t comment on his defenders shortcomings but said that his backs are against the wall against a mercurial striker as Oris and that they are all trying to stick together and believe. He stated further that there are for his side two games left and that KV Ostend under his stewardship have got plenty of fight in them, the coastal team have shown that before and must show it again. Our manager De Roover said that bar the mediocre performance at FC M Brussels S. the players have been showing a great level in the last few games and that he was extremely proud of them because this game wasn’t a end of season tie and the team made a very important step forward. KV Ostend have some technically good players so it was really hard for a short spell in the second half due to the squandering of some promising chances although the victory was never in doubt.  He ended that it was great to see three composed finishes from Martin and Oris and that for him it was a very significant victory.

Leader OH Leuven won their derbygame against K.V.K. Tienen courtesy of Harbaoui and Remacle goals. They now need a further two points to clinch promotion but with games at De Bosuil and against promotion rivals Lommel United that isn’t a foregone conclusion.

At the other side of the ranking KSV Roeselare are within touching distance of safety after winning the vital clash at K. Rupel Boom FC when Van de Velde’s free-kick found the net behind a hapless De Boodt. After that fluke goal KFC Rupel Boom were becoming increasingly disjointed and with their confidence looking brittle after to many defeats in their last outings, KSV Roeselare sensed the victory was theirs for the taking. So, the first season in the second tier of Belgian football can not be called a succes for the bricklayers but they have endured a lot of unlucky referee decisions against them this season.  Not getting the rub of the green can lead to a relegation to the third division together with Walloon side Royal FC Tournai.

PROFILE OPPONENT * K.V. OSTEND

Stadium Albertpark - 17 April 2011 - 3 PM (cet)

Referees: Kenny Snoeck - Jan Busschaert - Jan Vermeulen

K.V. Ostend’s official website pictures 21 players in their first-team squad.  Gaffer and ex- player Frederik Vanderbiest is in his honeymoon period after taking over the reins from ex- Antwerpplayer Thierry Pister and will use the forthcoming fixtures to balance the second division  with the demands of 36 league matches, plus domestic cup games to come next year.  And in the Summer transfer window he may well lose highly-rated versatile defender/midfielder and skipper Wallaeys, Vanderbiest admits he would be powerless to stop the move if a Jupiler Pro League team will make a big-money approach. Ostend’s former midfield dynamo Vanderbiest also points out that last season Ostend had a relatively small, close-knit band of brothers in the dressing room and everyone knew what the starting eleven was.  Everyone knew that the others, relied on them week in, week out.  So, squad rotation is not in Vanderbiest’s vocabulary but it will be difficult for our next opponent to match, let alone beat, last term’s surprising seventh-place finish.

The Seasiders are currently in eight position and can leapfrog us in the ranking if they win this fixture against the Great Old . The defence comprising Vandenberghe (was once a trialist at the Bosuil), Lahousse, Martens, Luissint and January marquee acquisition Yohan Brouckaert coming from AFC Tubize only conceded fourty-one goals thus far.  In midfield Wallaeys is the defensive lynchpin and Houri, Jordi and Egyptian player Mohyeldin must deliver pinpoint crosses for the strikers Diallo and Coussement while former FCV Dender EH players Laurienté and  Saintini are certainly more than only benchwarmers.  Further the coastal team has a reliable shotstopper in former Jupiler Pro League goalkeeper Dantschotter. 

Further important news is that our next opponent budget in their one-hundred-year of existence tumbled down from 1,6 million euro to 1,3 million euro so ambitions are a play-off berth at best, but a place in upper mid-table looks more realistic in a town where basketball is more popular than football!

Founded : 1981
FA number :31
Address : Leopold Van Tyghemlaan 62 – 8400 Ostend
Stadium : Albertpark ( 8 000)
Ticket Office : 059/70 36 10 and 059/34 10 71
Website : www.kvo.be
Kit Colours : green shirt, red short
Budget : 1,3 million euro
Main Sponsor : Givova
Chairman : Yves Lejaeghere
Technical Sporting Manager : Guy Ghysel
Gaffer : Frederik Vanderbiest ( ° 10/10/1977)
Assistants : Guy Peene and Jean-Luc Sys.

ALEX AND BENJAMIN ARE BACK

SUMMARY DAY THIRTY-ONE

De Roover’s frustration at Royal Antwerp’s recent collapse at FC M Brussels S. was obvious before the game but the victory against lowly KS Wetteren at Bosuilstadium on Saturday evening will lift the spirits of manager, players and supporters as Royal Antwerp still retain hope of catching top five team RCS Visé. For KS Wetteren, this defeat increased their relegation worries and extended a dismal sequence of losing or drawing 11 out of 13 Exqi League games since the turn of the year.

After only four minutes of play Royal Antwerp’s defensive shortcomings were brutally revealed when KS Wetteren took the lead courtesy of a Servais goal with Vermeerbergen losing the crucial header, Phibel not covering and Wauthy racing from his line but all to no avail.  De Roover immediately moved towards the touchline to reorganise and attempt to lift his players, whose bright start in the first three minutes had been totally undermined by their calamitous lack of composure at the back. Kevin Baert, predictably, was probing and trying to spark life into our Reds and succeeded on 25 minutes when Oris connected on one of the crosses of the inspirational midfielder.

From then onwards, Royal Antwerp threatened to unlock Wetteren’s defence every time they attacked but had to wait for some stern words from the home gaffer in the dressing room to clinch victory after the interval. They steamed into Wetteren on the resumption and it was on 72 minutes before our beloved colours did get the goal their renewed ambition deserved.  Our mercurial striker Oris with his 18th goal of the season and 3 minutes before the end Phibel drove into the area before sending a thumping finish past De Vroe.  Another three points in the bag and only trailing Visé by two points.  A fifth place isn’t enough to reach the play-offs but after another rollercoaster season it would be a half decent finish.

In the other ties the surprise came from FC M Brussels S., K. SK. Heist and to a lesser degree KV RS Waasland/SK Beveren who managed to beat promotion hopefuls Lommel United, RAEC Mons and OH Leuven.  The latter is still leading the race for promotion but with mouth-watering ties against derby rivals K.V.K. Tienen at home and our Reds in a fortnight it looks like the home tie at the last weekend against promotion rivals Lommel United will make or break the season for Ronny Van Geneugden’s men.  This game is already sold out meaning that the teams of the upper echelon of the Exqi League without any television coverage are doing something right in this departement.

PROFILE OPPONENT * KS WETTEREN

Bosuil Stadium - 9 April 2011 - 8.00 PM (cet)

Referees: Stephane Gleton - Emmanuel Vocale - Philippe Bourbon

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 two years agoWim 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 worst defences in the entire football league with 59 goals conceded, but as long as they have one reliable goalscorer in Jan De Langhe the goals made won’t be a big obstacle to climb. Ewout Denijs who scored a fistful of goals last term  parted company with the team and is now playing for ambitious Third Division outfit Eendracht Aalst..  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.

KS Wetteren have a large squad comprising 24(!) 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  Van Damme, De Wilde and new acquisition Vleminckx.  The creativity in midfield comes from Claessens and our former player Bas Vervaeke 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 Maertens 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 were the surprise package of the Exqi League last year, for their second year  they 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 and will the second year in the Exqi League prove vital in their way upwards?

Founded : 1951
FA number : 5479
Address : Massemsesteenweg 56 A – 9230 Wetteren
Stadium : Marcel De Kerpel (3500)
Ticket Office : 09/369 66 23
Website : www.stw.be
Kit Colours : yellow-green shirt, green short
Budget : 450 000 €
Chairman : Karel Maudens
Gaffer : Wim De Corte (° 13/11/1971) – manager career : Standaard Wetteren (1986-11/2001, youth), KS Wetteren (from 11/2001 as headcoach).
Assistants – coaches : Peter Moreels (T2) and Chris De Smet (goalkeepers)

ALEX DI GREGORIO & BENJAMIN LAMBOT SUSPENDED

l e a g u e   y e l l o w (65)(name in bold, misses next game):

SUMMARY DAY THIRTY

FC M Brussels S. earned a vital threepointer in their bid to avoid the drop and dealt a blow to Royal Antwerp’s hopes of a top-five finish.  Royal Antwerp produced an uninspiring display, looked suitably distracted and they comprehensively failed to stamp their mark on proceedings at the Edmond Machtensstadium.  With Emmerik De Vriese missing through injury Royal Antwerp began in laboured fashion and, despite the occasional flurry of crosses to robust striker Kevin Oris, they never exerted any serious pressure on the Brussels goal.

A lack of width and predictable forays forward from our team will have given the home side renewed hoped of staying in the second tier of Belgian football although the quality of their display wasn’t great either.  With so much at stake for the home team, it was little surprise to see such a nervy start but it took an age for there to be any real improvement and when there was, it was Brussels who went ahead on 33 minutes courtesy of a Nollevaux goal against the run of play.  One-nil down and while Wayne Rooney’s hat-trick inspired Premier League leaders Manchester United to fight back from a two-nil deficit at Upton Park to beat West Ham one day later it’s needless to say that we have not one player of the calibre of Rooney to turn things round.  One-nil was the final verdict and with this loss we are now occupying seventh spot in the Exqi League table.

OH Leuven players Hayen, Remacle and prolific striker Harbaoui helped their side move a step closer to the Belgian First Division with crucial goals against relegation battlers RFC Tournai.

Royal Boussu Dour Borinage climbed out of the bottom six after a brace of Ouejdide secured a vital win against Lommel United.  Gaffer Wintacq had urged his men to show some “bottle” ahead of the game and the Boussu Dour players started with his words ringing in their ears.  But Lommel United pressed their opponents from the off and their high-octane start quickly paid dividends courtesy of a Cerigioni goal.  But with the dismissal of Lenaerts and mercurial striker Ketting not playing Lommel United couldn’t stage a comeback and now trail frontrunner OH Leuven by five points.

Another relegation candidate desperate to stay in this division is K. Rupel Boom FC who began the second half of their tie against promotion hopefuls RAEC Mons with a bang, roared on by a vocal crowd.  When Jarju was sent off for the Walloon side, it was not long before the hosts broke the deadlock through a Oliveira header.

PROFILE OPPONENT * FC M BRUSSELS S.

Edm. Machtens Stadium - 1 April 2011 - 8.30 PM (cet)

Referees: Thierry Derycke - Gino De Belder - Jeroen Walschap

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 an unexperienced manager in Michel De Wolf and an attacking approach to the game, don’t be at all surprised if they even creep out of relegation worries now they picked up maximum points out of the last two games.  Although Brussels aren’t overloaded with players who can get goals, crucially, they do rely on one player.  With Croat Dalibor Veselinovic already in double digits and last season’s topscorer and new acquisition Kevin De Broyer certainly gone bang them in from a certain moment Brussels aren’t exactly goal-shy.   But the mercurial Croat was sold in the wintermercato and De Broyer isn’t getting playing time so new boys Siani and Lutula must deliver the necessary goals to steer FC M Brussels S. clear from relegation worries.

De Wolf 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 two seasons ago, this term goalkeeper Werner and the promising Cabeke brothers and Tohoua have all chosen other football horizons which mean there are huge holes to fill.  Only one like-for-like replacement either, with experienced goalkeeper Sierens drafted in from Jupiler League outfit KSV Roeselare.  Further are the other new midfielders Vandermarliere and Van Geele nor Nollevaux blessed with Zola Matumona’s composure.  Luckily for the team of the capital youngsters as goalkeeper Van den Eynde and defender Heris are good cover for the main defensive duties because for instance conceding four goals at home against relegation rivals K. Rupel Boom FC doesn’t bode well in the Edmond Machtensstadium.

Our next opponents squad is so threadbare that the merest sign of an injury must send a shiver down De Wolf’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 Archambeau, Heris and Diakhaby but in midfield there ain’t one player who caught the eye in the first period.

Although there is little doubt that Brussels have the pace and power going forward to unsettle opponents particularly when Nollevaux is supplying the ammunition.  But it has to be said that one area where the Brussels’ manager  doesn’t have much options is up front. He is expected to play Siani and Lutula in the forward positions now that Nigerian striker and free agent Onyeka Onwuekelu is injured.

For the hosts this game is from a huge importance to stay up so they didn’t find anything better than to give season ticket holders three free tickets per person to thank them for the marvellous support in the last two encounters.  Will that mean the Royal Antwerp visiting contingent will be outnumbered for once in the capital of Europe?  Answers on Friday evening 8.30 pm!

Founded: 1933, in 2003 a merger between RWDM and Strombeek
FA number: 1936
Address : Karel Malisstraat 61 – 1080 Brussel
Stadium : Edmond Machtens (11 266)
Ticket Office : 02/411 69 86 or 02/412 71 70
Website : www.fc-brussels.be
Kit Colours : red-black shirt, black short
Main Sponsor : Vermeersch Construct
Budget : 1 million euro last term, no information available for this season
Chairman : Johan Vermeersch
Gaffer : Michel De Wolf
Assistant-coaches : Christian Rits (T2) and Thierry Berghmans (goalkeepers).

ALREADY FIVE HAVE TO FEAR

l e a g u e   y e l l o w (60)(name in bold, misses next game):

5+5:Marvin Peersman.

5+4:Thomas Phibel (08.01.2011 + 15.01.2011 + 26.02.2011 + 20.03.2011).

4:Emmerik De Vriese (11.09.2010 + 17.10.2010 + 24.10.2010 + 29.01.2011), Benjamin Lambot (28.08.2010 + 15.01.2011 + 20.01.2011 + 26.02.2011), Bart Van Zundert (24.10.2010 + 20.01.2011 + 23.01.2011 + 26.02.2011), Alex Di Gregorio (28.08.2010 + 09.10.2010 + 19.02.2011 + 05.03.2011), Kevin Oris (26.09.2010 + 09.10.2010 + 27.11.2010 + 26.03.2011) .

3:Kerem Zevne (18.08.2010 + 26.09.2010 + 14.11.2010), Niels Martin (18.08.2010 + 04.09.2010 + 27.11.2010), Jef Vogels (11.09.2010 + 21.11.2010 + 5.02.2011), Jasper Vermeerbergen (23.01.2011 + 13.02.2011 + 26.02.2011).

2:Audry Diansangu (21.11.2010 + 15.01.2011), Thomas De Corte (11.09.2010 + 13.02.2011), Darko Pivaljevic (25.08.2010 + 26.02.2011).

1:Said Abbou (06.11.2010), Ferhat Kaya (23.01.2011), Franky Pelgrims (31.10.2010), Yannick Put (24.10.2010), Kevin Wauthy (18.08.2010).

SUMMARY DAY TWENTY-NINE

A decent crowd comprising 20 fans of Blue Premier League outfit Forest Green Rovers were hopeful to see a goalfest against lowly Royal Boussu Dour Borinage. But the visitors, disciplined and hard-working as ever under gaffer Wintacq forged the better openings early on. Their efforts and hopes of forcing a breakthrough were repeatedly thwarted by our defensive rock at the back, Thomas Phibel. As both teams showed a lack of composure in front of goal it was on 30 minutes that Ouejdide – perhaps off-side- tried his luck from 6 yards out, after showing good control, his low drive flew into the net past a helpless Wauthy. In the dying seconds before the interval Kevin Oris restored parity with a beautiful 20-yard free-kick. 

After the break Royal Antwerp, with momentum firmly in their favour continued to press and were rewarded through Van Zundert’s strike. And it could have been worse for RBDB as our beloved colours forced a series of openings with the visitors chasing an equaliser. In the second half Royal Antwerp always looked a threat, despite lacking their usual fluency going forward but with three points in the bag we are once again climbing in the Exqi League ranking!

At the pressconference our gaffer Bart De Roover stated: "Royal Boussu Dour started well, they started with the foot flat on the pedal. Luckily we managed to stay composed and could reply before the interval to the opening goal of the visitors.  And in the second half I thought we dominated most of the game, controlled it and passed the ball around. We netted the decisive goal and probably deserved the lead and at 2-1, that is where I think our team has mentally progressed and improved.  There was no sign of panic.  They threw everything to get an equaliser but we stayed in place."

On the top of the table OH Leuven leapfrog Lommel United, the former won at relegation candidate KSV Roeselare courtesy of a strike of Harbaoui in injury time, while the latter couldn’t beat K. SK. Heist at Gestelsedijk. Dutch striker Oost broke the deadlock just before the break, Van Asten levelled the score after the interval in this derbygame. It was the first point in seven games for the team from the outskirts of the Province of Antwerp.

PROFILE OPPONENT * ROYAL BOUSSU DOUR BORINAGE

Referees: Geert Barbry - Kris Messely - Guy Evens

This team, formerly known as Francs Borains made a big step up after winning the play-offs from the Third Division two seasons ago. Our next opponent wanted to turn the Vedettestadium into a fortress this season. Opposition fans and players dread the long journey south and with crowds expected to reach around the 1,500, RBD Borinage have an opportunity to make their mark on the Exqi League by becoming invincible at home. The Walloon team boast one of the worst disciplinary records in the League – will they continue that form that made them a fearsome outfit last term or are there more dismissals to come? With already 69 yellows and 10 red cards the walk to the disciplinary commission fo the Belgian FA is there for everybody to see!

Manager Michel Wintacq has been busy building a squad more than capable of dealing with life in the second tier of Belgian football.  All will be vital if they’re to stop the relegation form in the ongoing campaign, but even more imperative was that RBD Borinage kept their inspirational manager and not replace him with an unknown coach as AFC Tubize did at the start of the season.  Linked with a number of high-profile positions over the summer, Wintacq committed his long-term future to a club that’s intent on continuing to climb. 

RBD Borinage are strong all over the pitch, Frenchman Coqu is a decisive and agile presence between the posts and the experience of Savigny does the defense no harm.  The Frenchman is at the wrong side of 30, he lacks a litlle pace when up against the liveliest strikers but nevertheless, it’s a minor flaw in an otherwise solid rearguard with youngsters such as Satli and Leclercq making up the numbers with long-serving reliable back Duez always vying for a starting place in defence. Further to mention is that Royal Antwerp old boy Préseaux did get a rare chance to prove himself in this Exqi League outfit last term and didn’t take it and was therefore transferred to lower division outfit Péruwelz.  In  midfield experienced Frenchmen Assou-Ekotto and Saffer are pulling the ropes and a forward line comprising Delplace (7 goals), Lai, Ouejdide (9 goals) and supersub Robail must deliver the goals but with only thirty-eight goals made you can argue if they are ready for that task.  It has to be said that the lack of firepower up front sees or next opponent have a flirtation with relegation, it could be imperative to stay positive and keep looking for goals from other team compartments!

In the first leg at Vedette Stadium where Oris was sent off we lost the tie with a 3-0 hammering courtesy of Guinot (30’), a spot-kick from Delplace (78’) and a Ouejdide strike (80’).  Can we do better this time?

Founded : 1983
FA number : 167
Address : Rue Saint-Antoine 6 – 7300 Boussu
Stadium : Vedette (8500)
Ticket Office : 065/61 00 61
Website : www.rbdb167.be
Kit Colours : green-white shirt, green-white short
Budget : 700 000 euro
Chairman : André Arbonnier
Gaffer : Michel Wintacq (° 02/10/1955) – manager career : US Centre (1991-1992, player-manager), FC Vacresse (1992-1997, player-manager), RAEC Mons (1998-2008, assistant), Royal Boussu Dour Borinage (from 09/2008-?)
Assistants : Nasca (T2), Hogne (goalkeepers) and Padovana (physical trainer).

MARVIN PEERSMAN IS BACK AFTER SUSPENSION

l e a g u e   y e l l o w (61)(name in bold, misses next game):

5+5:Marvin Peersman.

5+4:Thomas Phibel (08.01.2011 + 15.01.2011 + 26.02.2011 + 20.03.2011).

4:Emmerik De Vriese (11.09.2010 + 17.10.2010 + 24.10.2010 + 29.01.2011), Benjamin Lambot (28.08.2010 + 15.01.2011 + 20.01.2011 + 26.02.2011), Bart Van Zundert (24.10.2010 + 20.01.2011 + 23.01.2011 + 26.02.2011), Alex Di Gregorio (28.08.2010 + 09.10.2010 + 19.02.2011 + 05.03.2011).

3:Kerem Zevne (18.08.2010 + 26.09.2010 + 14.11.2010), Niels Martin (18.08.2010 + 04.09.2010 + 27.11.2010), Kevin Oris (26.09.2010 + 09.10.2010 + 27.11.2010), Jef Vogels (11.09.2010 + 21.11.2010 + 5.02.2011), Jasper Vermeerbergen (23.01.2011 + 13.02.2011 + 26.02.2011).

2:Audry Diansangu (21.11.2010 + 15.01.2011), Thomas De Corte (11.09.2010 + 13.02.2011), Darko Pivaljevic (25.08.2010 + 26.02.2011).

1:Said Abbou (06.11.2010), Ferhat Kaya (23.01.2011), Franky Pelgrims (31.10.2010), Yannick Put (24.10.2010), Kevin Wauthy (18.08.2010).

SUMMARY DAY TWENTY-EIGHT

As we approach the business end of the domestic season attention increasingly turns to who will be making the move up to join the bright lights of the Jupiler Pro League.  And until two weeks ago you’d have to think Lommel United were unlikely to be caught. Not only were they the best backed team at the winter break for promotion by pundits but they have one of the more astute managers in Franky Van der Elst and were acknowledged as the best team in the league by most observers. But after two defeats away from home OH Leuven has now the same number of points and only trail the team from Limburg by the total of games won (19 for United Lommel and 18 for OH Leuven).  Even with a slip-up here and there I just can’t see them dipping out of the top two, although the remarkable run of good results of third placed RAEC Mons almost went unnoticed. The Dragons trail both frontrunners by seven points. Fourth placed team Waasland-Beveren are six points behind Mons but who are the best of the rest? After Waasland-Beveren it looks like being the annual dogfight between a host of clubs jostling to reach the upper echelon of the Exqi League.  One of them are Royal Antwerp…!

OH Leuven maintained their unbeaten run at home in 2011 with a superb victory over KV Turnhout in an entertaining match.  The home side took the lead after only four minutes when burly striker Ruytinx headed in Remacle’s cross.  They added a second before the break when Schoonjans capitalised on a defensive mistake.  Chances for the visitors just after the interval gave them belief they could get back into the match but those hopes were dealt a blow between minute 75 and 80 when the star studded forward line of Remacle and Harbaoui put the tie to bed.  KV Turnhout were rattled and succumbed to a lob of Remacle and a low fierce shot of Harbaoui, with goalkeeper Goris rooted to his spot.  Our former player Van Geneugden flying high and they are now joint-leaders in the Exqi League.

In our profile we promised you goals and goals galore it was at Municipal Stadium in Heist in front of a sell-out crowd. KSK Heist manager Francis Bosschaerts recently pledged to curb his team’s attacking enthusiasm to help preserve their Exqi League status but there was little evidence of caution in a cavalier display that typified their season. Our Greek striker Stavros Glouftsis was the man of the tie with a hattrick. For the hosts Meeus and Criel netted consolation goals. First win in four encounters for our lads while KSK Heist must try to stave off relegation in the forthcoming weeks!

PROFILE OPPONENT * K.SK. HEIST

Sunday 20 March 2011 - 2 PM (c.e.t.)

Referees: Philippe Vinche - Stijn Eben - Pascal Cheslet

There was a distinctly hollow feel to Heist’s Third Division title celebrations inside the Municipal Stadium last May.  It was modest reward from a season in which opposing title candidate K. Rupel Boom FC (who did clinch promotion via the dreaded play-offs) gaffer Urbain Spaenhoven had boasted they could go unbeaten, and in which they led the third division by as much as a mile.  But at the end all the praise K. Rupel Boom FC showered upon in autumn and winter looked meaningless as they capitulated to … K. SK. Heist.

On the eve of Heist’s entrance between the big boys of the Exqi League, the club’s board decided to budget for relegation.  But two months later, they found themselves in seventh position, their highest ranking for this century.  “It all went beyond expectations,” admits the club’s chairman Patrick Wijns.  Now the expectations are rather different: thoughts of relegation have been banished, and the aim is to finish in the top ten. 

A quick glance around the Heist dressing-room should reassure gaffer Francis Bosschaerts that his side can be worldbeaters again.  There he will find an agile goalkeeper in Olieslagers, solid defender Geets, the third division’s most exciting performer in Webers, midfielders with an eye for a goal in Van Vlasselaer and Van der Mieren and up front the deadly strikers partnership of Bram Criel (10 goals) and Glenn Van Asten (5 goals) who did perform his attacking tricks at Jupiler League outfit KVC Westerlo last season.

You know you have a problem when fellow league managers poke fun at your defence.  Last season the aforementioned Urbain Spaenhoven said it was “slow and indecisive”, and he had a point.  With the exception of Geets, Heist’s defenders don’t inspire as much confidence as they should.  The backs are both great bombing forward but weaker in the rearguard of the team, with already 55 goals conceded they have one of the leakiest defences in our league.  Bosschaerts instils in his players plenty of passion, but it never spilt over thus far with a marvellous record breaking low total of 46 yellow cards and only three dismissals in the ongoing campaign.  The outcome is almost no appearances before the Belgian FA disciplinary panel and if it continues no unwanted suspensions in this important period.

Do you ever get the feeling you’re not earning the praise you deserve?  Gaffer Francis Bosschaerts knows exactly how you feel.  Amid Turnhout’s relegation fears and Royal Antwerp’s failure to clinch the first two period titles, his achievement in guiding the team from the Antwerp outskirts to seventh at the winter break in the Exqi League was virtually ignored.  Never mind Cis (his nickname), console yourself with what promises to be another great season at Heist.  He may not have made that many friends in the last couple of years but he is still a pal to punters as his team tend to play their best for him.

While many other clubs incurred heavy losses and are struggling for survival, K. SK. Heist thanks to a donation from the local council for ground improvement still made an operating profit.  “The club is now in a relatively strong financial position,” said chairman Patrick Wijns.  So, after the winter break blue-white fans are hoping for another successful season achieving their goals of at least survival and improvement, rock solid home performances in front of a meagre crowd figure should see them home and dry come April - and definitely not as many pundits predicted in the Summer -  maybe they will survive on the last day if only by the skin of their teeth.

But with only 5 points collected from January onwards, the acquisition of ex- Germinal Beerschot and K. Lierse S.K. defender Kurt Van Dooren was necessary to steady the ship.  It has to be said that our next opponent are overachieving on their first season in the Exqi League but are also desperate to avoid an immediate return to the Third Division via the play-downs.  One thing you can guarantee on Sundays clash in front of a sell-out crowd of 3,000 spectators is that there will be goals – every game involving K. Heist SK. has them.  Cis Bosschaerts’s men are extremely attacking and play in a very open and expansive style, so you will create a lot of goalscoring opportunities against them.  Our boss Bart De Roover will have identified this as an absolute must-win match by throwing the heavy artillery at Municipal Stadium in Heist!

Founded : 1940
Belgian FA number : 2948
Address : Lostraat 50 – 2220 Heist-op-den-Berg
Stadium : Municipal Stadium (3000)
Ticket Office : 015/24 49 65
Website : www.kskheist.be
Kit Colours : White shirt, blue short
Main Sponsor : Kovera
Budget : 750 000 euro
Chairman : Patrick Wijns
Club Honours : Third Division title last season
Gaffer : Francis Bosschaerts (° 15/10/1956) – manager career : Excelsior Kessel (1983-1988), KSK Schilde (1988-1990), KFC Nijlen (1990-1999), K. SK. Heist (from 07/1999-?)
Assistants : Hugo Van Doninck and Benny Wuyts.

WHAT PRICE MID-TABLE MEDIOCRITY?

If Royal Antwerp finished 9th this season, I wouldn’t be surprised nor too disappointed after the rollercoaster emotions of the last two seasons.  If anything, we’re due a stable finish as much as I’d love to see the lads push on and make it a fairytale finish and get into the top five in the second tier of Belgian football.  What were your expectations at the start of the season, mere survival, top ten, or the long shot of automatic promotion via the Exqi League title or participating in the dreaded play-offs?  I’m sure there are some doom-mongers who expected Royal Antwerp to go straight to the Belgian Third Division after a transfer embargo hit us in June and July. In August the club got the necessary reinforcements and optimists helped by a unforgettable row of marvellous results in pre-season fixtures saw us finish in the upper echelon of the Exqi League.

In the friendlies (especially in the local derby affair against KFC GBA in front of 12 000 spectators and the trip to Tulloch Stadium in Inverness against the SPL newcomers) I saw a different side, got to know them a bit more, witnessed the humility that was needed and generally everything that you want to believe is good about footballers was there for all to see. And the good results were coming thick and fast in August and September.  In a season that had started in turmoil off the field, the bond between the players and the fans was the strongest it has been for years. 

This young, vibrant squad is the best bunch of players drilled first and foremost by Colin Andrews in the early stages of this season and the reason for that is because they – believe it or not – come across as human beings.  And while in the not so distant past watching certain players file through stadiums up and down the country after a defeat in Royal Antwerp tracksuits and heading to their flashy cars without a care in the world, this lot actually seem to care about losing.

That for me is why if they pull off the ultimate this season in the last seven games and get something big, they’d deserve it.  Normally spoken with 3 points out of 30 against the highest placed teams it will a difficult task because in these encounters a lack of experience, cutting edge, resilience and marking at opposite’s set-pieces were several times the culprit of our defeats. 

This season isn’t over yet, if we had beaten FCV Dender EH at our own holy ground, we would have been fifth in the ranking.  It would then have made it an interesting final seven games for the Red and White and relegation via the play-downs spot or automatically will almost be out of the equation.  Red and White euphoria?  Perhaps not, but if we can build on this squad with an addition in every team compartment than the future can be bright for the red half of Antwerp next season.

The quality or state of being mediocre? Doesn’t sound as painful as it could be, does it?

ALEX DI GREGORIO 3 + 1 = 4

l e a g u e   y e l l o w (60)(name in bold, misses next game):

5+5:Marvin Peersman (06.11.2010 + 11.12.2010 + 23.01.2011 + 5.02.2011 + 26.02.2011) - (2/2)

5+3:Thomas Phibel (08.01.2011 + 15.01.2011 + 26.02.2011).

4:Emmerik De Vriese (11.09.2010 + 17.10.2010 + 24.10.2010 + 29.01.2011), Benjamin Lambot (28.08.2010 + 15.01.2011 + 20.01.2011 + 26.02.2011), Bart Van Zundert (24.10.2010 + 20.01.2011 + 23.01.2011 + 26.02.2011), Alex Di Gregorio (28.08.2010 + 09.10.2010 + 19.02.2011 + 05.03.2011).

3:Kerem Zevne (18.08.2010 + 26.09.2010 + 14.11.2010), Niels Martin (18.08.2010 + 04.09.2010 + 27.11.2010), Kevin Oris (26.09.2010 + 09.10.2010 + 27.11.2010), Jef Vogels (11.09.2010 + 21.11.2010 + 5.02.2011), Jasper Vermeerbergen (23.01.2011 + 13.02.2011 + 26.02.2011).

2:Audry Diansangu (21.11.2010 + 15.01.2011), Thomas De Corte (11.09.2010 + 13.02.2011), Darko Pivaljevic (25.08.2010 + 26.02.2011).

1:Said Abbou (06.11.2010), Ferhat Kaya (23.01.2011), Franky Pelgrims (31.10.2010), Yannick Put (24.10.2010), Kevin Wauthy (18.08.2010).

SUMMARY DAY TWENTY-SEVEN

Kevin Oris’s fifteenth goal of the season wasn’t enough to ensure that Royal Antwerp collected maximum points, as they ended a run of two successive home wins by sliding to defeat against a poor FCV Dender EH side on Saturday evening at Bosuil Stadium. And rather than reaching for the dizzy heights of the top five, the Red and White were left glancing over their shoulder despite remaining in ninth spot – after results elsewhere made the race to avoid a play-down ticket or to avoid automatic relegation ever more open. Kevin Baert made a return to playing action after being sidelined for more than seven months due to an horrible injury picked up in the friendly tie against our local rivals KFC GBA in preseason.

Without an away league win after the winter break FCV Dender EH were lacking a few players due to injury and suspension, the visitors managed to clinically convert two out of three chances in the game while our attempts on and off target exceeded the fifteen number mark.  De Vriese, Pivaljevic, Oris and sub Martin all missed golden opportunities to kill the tie in our favour when the score was 1-0. This time Royal Antwerp were pegged back after the interval when Meeus was finding acres of space down the Dender left and funnelling a low ball across the edge of the Royal Antwerp box for Peers to crack home. Deficiencies and confusion in the home backline were highlighted once again just eight minutes before the final whistle when Jans netted the decisive goal for the visitors!

In the glamour tie of the weekend RAEC Mons gave a lesson in football skills to frontrunner Lommel United. While top marksman Ketting was alarmingly subdued, rarely can a Van Der Elst team have performed with so little conviction or cohesion. As the chastened visitors sloped back to Lommel, the noise behind them was deafening because courtesy of a brace of Jarju and a Matthijs strike the Dragons put the tie to bed in the first half.  And to make matters worse Lenaerts was sent off and Lommel United now lead the ranking by 3 points.  RAEC Mons are in third position and needless to say that the sound system in the home dressing-room was almost knocking the plaster off the ceiling with a song for the unstoppable Jarju and Matthijs.

At K. Rupel Boom FC visitors OH Leuven collected maximum points thanks to a retaken spot-kick of Remacle. The hosts created a handful of chances but Van Geneugden’s men were more clinical when home defender Snoeys played volleyball in the penalty area with referee Jerome Nzolo given no other option than a penalty. The team of the town of the famous university and beer now trail Lommel by three points.

PROFILE OPPONENT * F.C.V. DENDER E.H.

Saturday 5 March 2011 - 8 PM (c.e.t.)

Bosuil Stadium

Referees: Erik Lambrechts - Jan Busschaert - Cedric Lescalier

 Season 2009-2010

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. 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 competition and so they should with a whopping budget in the Exqi League of 3.2 m €!!!

FCV Dender EH must say thank you for the parachute payments they received this season as a relegated Jupiler Pro League team last term.  With more than 10 incoming and outgoing transfers they gave the wheeling and dealing procedures a new dimension.  Now they are looking for money of their local council to stay afloat. 

 Season 2010-2011

And the miracle did happen, the local council delivered the necessary funding for our next opponent to stay in business, although with a minimal budget of 1m euros.  Goalkeeper De Boodt, defenders Blondelle, Essikal, Wiggers and Zukanovic all parted company with FCV Dender EH, as did scoring midfielder Imschoot and strikers Laurienté, Saintini and Munyaneza. But with some shrewd buys (leftovers and fringe players from other teams) such as new strikers partnership Waeghe and Claessens the Denderboys are flying high at the time being and enjoying every minute in the upper echelon of the Exqi League.

Other acquisitions include defenders Artz, De Ly and Vaesen while upfront Peers and Meeus are taking their chance in the starting eleven. Due to a limited wage structure policy our next opponent did sell their hottest property in the winter transfer period. Evariste Ngolok, the defensive anchorman who forms the ideal connection between defense and attack is now playing for Jupiler Pro League outfit KVC Westerlo. First goalkeeper Mollez, defender Artz and striker Waeghe are doubtful for the clash at Bosuilstadium. With a win Royal Antwerp can leapfrog FCV Dender EH in the ranking although our opponents have other things on their mind, namely to stay in business with investors not really coming thick and fast in their region!

Founded : 1952
FA number : 3900
Address : Stadionlaan 5 – 9470 Denderleeuw
Ticket Office : 053/66 91 92
Stadium : Florent Beeckmanstadium (8157)
Website : www.fcvdendereh.be
Kit Colours : blue shirt, black short, black socks
Main Sponsor : Van Gansewinkel and Brother
Budget :last season 3,2 million euro, this season 1 million euro
Chairman : André Van Roy
Gaffer : Vital Borkelmans (° 01/06/1963) – manager career : K.F.C. Evergem-Center (2005-10/2006),Sporting Club Blankenberge (10/2006-10/2007), SV Zulte Waregem (10/2007-10/2009, youth),  FCV Dender EH ( from 28/01/2010)
Assistants : Roland Van Den Bosch and Wim Moyson.

MARVIN PEERSMAN SUSPENDED

SUMMARY DAY TWENTY-SIX

Lommel United enhanced their automatic promotion credentials as a Lenaerts header five minutes before the interval, Ketting’s spot-kick and a rare Dufour header inspired the hosts to a well-deserved win over Royal Antwerp. That’s 7-0 on aggregate this season in the favour of the Limburgers.

Lommel United dominated both territory and possession but were lucky not to concede when Pivaljevic and Oris were one-on-one with goalkeeper Sengier to beat, but both Antwerp stalwarts missed the golden opportunities. On the other side after 40 minutes Wauthy could do nothing to stop Lenaerts header on a beautifully-worked opener from a corner (once again!) for the hosts. After the interval debatable referee decisions when Lommel’s top marksman dashed into the box, was curtailed by Marvin Peersman, our leftback sent Ketting crashing to the ground in the penalty area and a converted spot-kick was given to Lommel United. This was off-course the one-sided biased view of match official Loeman. 

Then United eased into cruise control as they extended their lead after 82 minutes when Dufour met a Delande cross, the former headed past a helpless Wauthy. Hopefully our players and manager have enough professional pride to make the end of the season games enjoyable goalfest occasions for the loyal support! It will be without Peersman who is sidelined for two weeks for picking up his tenth yellow card of the season, in a fair contested game at the Gestelsedijk we managed to have 7 players in the referee’s notebook which is a season high for our Reds.

Next week Lommel United travel to RAEC Mons (winners at RCS Visé with 3-0) so you can imagine they were happy to know the final score from their only rivals for the title, OH Leuven that is.  Ronny Van Geneugden’s team didn’t come unscathed out of their home tie against AFC Tubize. Home striker Bloudek was sent off, Remacle and Raeymaekers in the final minute couldn’t prevent AFC Tubize from nicking one point at Den Dreef courtesy of a brace of Ambroise.

From bad to worse for FC M Brussels S., they got beaten in the capital by KSV Roeselare thanks to a Stojanovic strike, while SK Heist were beaten by a better KV Waasland/SK Beveren side.  Kielo-Lezi netting his seventh goal of the season.

PROFILE OPPONENT * LOMMEL UNITED

Saturday 19 February 2011 - 8 PM (c.e.t.)

Season 2009-2010

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 the 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.

Season 2010-2011

Chairman Luyckx is very proud at the fact that local lads thanks to a good youth policy are coming through the ranks because with the departures of Caramazza, Chergui, Oyen, Scheelen and Noukeu the squad looked very thin on paper.  With defender Lenaerts, midfielders Debauve, Dufour, Henkens and Vanaken and strikers Azevedo and Cerigioni Lommel United has a lot of young stars ready to shine at Exqi League level. The only acquisition this season is left-back Giles Colin, an incoming transfer from Jupiler League outfit K.A.S. Eupen.

 Finishing at an admirable second spot last year with 20 wins, 6 defeats and 10 draws and as many goals made as our beloved colours last term it was the goals conceded that made all the difference between our two sides (27 for Lommel United, 53 for Royal Antwerp).  How things can change was proven that despite occupying a sixth spot in the ranking at the time of playing us at De Bosuil in our home fixture before the New Year it is the ambition of the Limburgers to finish first come May, but they will also compete fiercely for the period titles at stake (they won the second period title).  Hopefully our mercurial striker Kevin Oris will get a better reception against his former teammates as he did receive at Gestelsedijk earlier this season when we knocked Lutlommel from the lower divisions out of the Belgian Cup.  Needless to say that a bumper crowd is expected at the division’s pacesetters Lommel United at Gestelsedijk against our mighty Reds who are hoping to improve on their tally of 6 out of a possible 9 points counting for the third and last period title.

Founded : 2003
Belgian FA number : 2554
Address : Speelpleinstraat 20 – 3920 Lommel
Stadium : Municipal Stadium Gestelsedijk (12 500)
Ticket Office : 011/81 64 60
Website : www.lommelunited.be
Kit Colours : green/white shirt, green short
Main sponsor : Telecom
Budget : 1,4 million euro
Chairman : Frans Luyckx
Gaffer : Franky Van Der Elst (° 30/04/1961) – manager career : Germinal Beerschot (1999-2003), Lokeren (2004), Club Brugge (2005-01/2007, assistant), FC M Brussels S (01/2008-06/2008), KVSK United OL (from 01/2009-?)
Assistants : Philip Haagdoren (T2), Eddy Diels (T3) and Paul Peeters (goalkeepers).

ALEX'S THIRD OF THE SEASON

l e a g u e   y e l l o w (53)(name in bold, misses next game):

5+4:Marvin Peersman (06.11.2010 + 11.12.2010 + 23.01.2011 + 5.02.2011)

5+2:Thomas Phibel (08.01.2011 + 15.01.2011).

4:Emmerik De Vriese (11.09.2010 + 17.10.2010 + 24.10.2010 + 29.01.2011).

3:Kerem Zevne (18.08.2010 + 26.09.2010 + 14.11.2010), Niels Martin (18.08.2010 + 04.09.2010 + 27.11.2010), Kevin Oris (26.09.2010 + 09.10.2010 + 27.11.2010), Benjamin Lambot (28.08.2010 + 15.01.2011 + 20.01.2011), Bart Van Zundert (24.10.2010 + 20.01.2011 + 23.01.2011), Jef Vogels (11.09.2010 + 21.11.2010 + 5.02.2011), Alex Di Gregorio (28.08.2010 + 09.10.2010 + 19.02.2011).

2:Audry Diansangu (21.11.2010 + 15.01.2011), Thomas De Corte (11.09.2010 + 13.02.2011), Jasper Vermeerbergen (23.01.2011 + 13.02.2011).

1:Said Abbou (06.11.2010), Ferhat Kaya (23.01.2011), Franky Pelgrims (31.10.2010), Darko Pivaljevic (25.08.2010), Yannick Put (24.10.2010), Kevin Wauthy (18.08.2010).

SUMMARY DAY TWENTY-FIVE

What was billed as the tie of the weekend between RAEC Mons and Royal Antwerp turned out to be a turgid affair.  The Dragons will not mind as they ruined our Reds comeback in the last weeks with a hard-fought 1-0 victory.  Mons did a fantastic containing job on Royal Antwerp’s frontline, which looked lacklustre and not on the same wavelength.  Jeremy Perbet capitalised on some slack defending in the first half to earn the home side an important three points as their revival under new gaffer Dennis Van Wijk picked up more momentum.

In the early stages for all their territorial advantage, Wauthy’s goal was rarely coming under direct threat. After 30 minutes of play courtesy of Perbet the home side took the lead, his right-foot first time shot from inside the area had enough curl on it to evade the grasp of an excellent Wauthy in the Royal Antwerp goal. Our side switched to play more attack-minded football after the interval but the new tactical formation meant we were even more susceptible to conceding on the break. At the end sub Pivaljevic and Oris had opportunities to level the score but that lack of cutting edge and the below-par performance of several players in this tie left De Roover with plenty to ponder before our next away tie at pacesetters Lommel United.

Another fixture to follow was fourth placed home team CS Visé against second placed OH Leuven who could go top if Lommel United made mistakes at lowly KVK Tienen. Yet, that rich incentive initially looked a dim prospect as OH Leuven resembled the high-flying surprise package CS Visé with an early full-on assault on the home team for which they were unlucky not to be rewarded.  After the interval Scheelen for the university team and robust striker G. Legros for the inhabitants of the Stadium de la Cité de l’Oie made sure both team shared the points.  Meanwhile, Lommel United returned with three points courtesy of another goal of Ketting and are now leading Van Geneugden’s team in the ranking by four points.

And yes, believe it or not courtesy of a brace of Mouissi and a spot-kick of Niçoise rock-bottom club Royal FC Tournai picked up their first win of the season.  Five hundred spectators were there to watch it in the flesh.  Victims KSK Heist now have picked up 5 points out of a possible 27 and are drifting away to the lower reaches of the ranking while AFC Tubize and KV Turnhout are going upwards with a home win for both teams this round!

PROFILE OPPONENT * RAEC MONS

Saturday 19 February 2011 - 8 PM (c.e.t.)

Stadium Tondreau

Referees: Luc Wouters - Eddy Roosens - Jean-Marie Dans

What if there is a cult computer game called Exqi League manager which does just what it says on the tin.  Every minute detail is sitting there, waiting to be tinkered with by a wannabe boss.  From setting up scouting systems, to negotiating contracts, to buying players, to selecting a team, to playing an actual match.  Which mean there is a whole generation of geeks who think managing an Exqi League club is a doddle.  So come on then.  What would you footballing stats nerds give as advice to Dennis Van Wijk who succeeded Geert Broeckaert as the gaffer of RAEC Mons?

Our next opponent were relegated from the Jupiler League two years ago and are hoping to bounce back on the second occasion.  But this is not the same squad that went down two seasons ago, this big squad is much better, RAEC Mons should flourish back as ordinary Jupiler League side so expect the division’s best strike partnership, what high profiled names are concerned with Sanogo,Jarju and wintermercato marquee signing Perbet, to help themselves to a pile of goals after the winter break, while new French goalkeeper Cédric Berthelin keeps them out at the other end.

Two years ago the budget for the Walloon based team was something about 6m € in the top tier of Belgian football, last year the budget in the second tier it was a whopping 3.5m €. The 2010-2011 campaign promises to offer a budget of around 2.3 million euros but that didn’t prevent gaffer Geert Brouckaert at the start of this season to give chairman Leone’s chequebook another hammering in order to acquire the service of tried and tested performers such as Berthelin, Blondelle, Cardon, Verbrugghe, Matthijs, Santiago Rafael and last but not least Vandamme who is a long-term absentee due to an injury on his ankle ligaments.  Further the team is backed by influential political bosses who set up a spanky new Tondreaustadium which holds 10,000 but is even half empty when they take on the top sides in the Exqi League. 

And then there is the small matter that Mons received a wad of cash from departing players such as ex- Belgian international goalkeeper Peersman, defenders Demets and Dickson, midfielders Grondin, Bailleul and Diane while talismanic ex-Wolves striker Roussel opted to play in the lower divisions.  His strike partner Gueye has made the upward step to Jupiler League outfit RCS Charleroi.  From the abovementioned names defensive midfielder Bailleul is back from an unsuccessful stay at Jupiler Pro League outfit KSC Lokeren.

But with this enormous budget RAEC Mons were also big spenders by drafting in several high ranked players and are certainly among those teams harbouring realistic promotion aspirations come May, it is expected that our next opponent clinch a play-off berth at least. DR Congo international Zola Matumona still is the undisputed midfield maestro, Van Imschoot the anchor man but our hopes will be once again at the Dragons former player Kevin Oris.  Our mercurial striker is in line to add to his already impressive goal tally although with star defender Lepicier in the Walloon rearguard to nullify him it will be a stern confrontation all over the pitch, nevertheless, this tie could be a classic.

Founded : 1910
FA number : 44
Address : Avenue du Tir 80 – 7000 Bergen/Mons
Stadium : Charles Tondreau ( 10 150)
Ticket Office : 065/22 11 11
Website : www.raec-mons.be
Kit Colours : red shirt, white short, red socks
Budget : last season 3.5 m , this season 2.3 million euro
Main Sponsor : Holcim
Chairman : Domenico Leone
Gaffer : Dennis Van Wijk (° 16/12/1962) – manager career : (1994-1996) FC Knokke (1996-10/1998) KV Ostend (10/1998-11/1998) Daring Blankenberge (11/1998-2002) Cercle Bruges (2002-2006) KSV Roeselare (2006-11/2007) Willem II (11/2007-12/2007) KV Ostend (12/2007-06/2008) Sint Truiden VV (10/2008-06/2010) KSV Roeselare  (from 01/2011-? ) RAEC Mons
Assistants : Geert Broeckaert (T2) and Franky Vandendriessche (goalkeepers).

MARVIN'S & THOMAS'S SECOND OF THE SEASON

l e a g u e   y e l l o w (47)(name in bold, misses next game):

5+4:Marvin Peersman (06.11.2010 + 11.12.2010 + 23.01.2011 + 5.02.2011)

5+2:Thomas Phibel (08.01.2011 + 15.01.2011).

4:Emmerik De Vriese (11.09.2010 + 17.10.2010 + 24.10.2010 + 29.01.2011).

3:Kerem Zevne (18.08.2010 + 26.09.2010 + 14.11.2010), Niels Martin (18.08.2010 + 04.09.2010 + 27.11.2010), Kevin Oris (26.09.2010 + 09.10.2010 + 27.11.2010), Benjamin Lambot (28.08.2010 + 15.01.2011 + 20.01.2011), Bart Van Zundert (24.10.2010 + 20.01.2011 + 23.01.2011), Jef Vogels (11.09.2010 + 21.11.2010 + 5.02.2011).

2:Alex Di Gregorio (28.08.2010 + 09.10.2010), Audry Diansangu (21.11.2010 + 15.01.2011)? Thomas De Corte (11.09.2010 + 13.02.2011), Jasper Vermeerbergen (23.01.2011 + 13.02.2011).

1:Said Abbou (06.11.2010), Ferhat Kaya (23.01.2011), Franky Pelgrims (31.10.2010), Darko Pivaljevic (25.08.2010), Yannick Put (24.10.2010), Kevin Wauthy (18.08.2010

SUMMARY DAY NINETEEN

Strikers duo Stavros Glouftsis and Kevin Oris sensed the vulnerability of hosts K. Rupel Boom FC to secure a much needed win to stay afloat in the Exqi League ranking. All was running smoothly for the hosts until their former marksman Glouftsis profited from a mistake of skipper Poorters to give our Reds the lead. Royal Antwerp then dealt a killer blow 20 minutes after the interval when Oris glided a De Vriese cross into the net past De Boodt – cue mass celebration inside the Municipalstadium coming from more than 2 000 travelling fans.

Home gaffer Yves Cloots stated afterwards that if Poorters had converted the spot-kick when the score was 1-0 for Royal Antwerp, the game could have taken another dimension but De Roover did say that our Reds knew where the danger was coming from included an eventual penalty. He did give goalkeeper Wauthy instructions to which corner Poorters would fire, Rupel Boom’s inspirational skipper did change his mind and the result was a wasted penalty for the home side. With this win against the little brother in the province of Antwerp we climb to seventh spot in the Exqi League with difficult away games in Mons and Lommel to come.

Frontrunner Lommel United made no mistake neither did OH Leuven. The former won at AFC Tubize with a 3-0 scoreline courtesy of Henkens, Pinxten and Azevedo goals all coming in the first 30 minutes of play.  The latter won at home against Heist 4-1 with goals coming from Harbaoui, Annijs, Remacle and Ruytinx.  OH Leuven now trail Lommel United by two points.

Good crowds everywhere this round only for this season surprise package CS Visé not reaching the 1 000+ mark. That’s a pity because with spectacular and offensive football Riga’s boys are now reaching the dizzy heights of fourth spot in the table. They defeated FCV Dender EH thanks to a brace of G. Legros, Dessart and Caramazza netting the other goals in a rout after visiting player Peers got his marching orders.

Two trainers casualties this weekend, our former player Thierry Pister (right) got the sack at coastal team KV Ostend while his Tienen counterpart Daniel Nassen (left) after a six year reign is no longer the manager of the Sugarboys.  Never boring, the second tier of Belgian football!

PROFILE OPPONENT * K. RUPEL BOOM F.C.

Sunday 13 February 2011 - 3 PM (c.e.t.)

Municipal Park Stadium

Our next opponent was founded in 1998, a result of a merger between K. Boom F.C. and Rupel SK. The club started playing in the third division of the Antwerp provincial leagues. Six years later and having already three promotion parties under their belt, the club started in the Belgian Fourth Division. After two yo-yo seasons and some stability another title was achieved in the outskirts of the Antwerp region. In 2008-2009 they narrowly missed a play-offs place in the Third Division. Last season they were on top from mid September onwards but provincial neighbours K.S.K. Heist pipped them for an automatic promotion berth in May. The dreaded promotion play-offs to reach the second tier of Belgian football was successful by defeating and outplaying Eendracht Aalst, R.O.C. de Charleroi M. and finally Walloon outfit U.R.S. du Centre (with former Antwerphero Ristovic in goal) were beaten with a 5-4 aggregate scoreline.

In all their matches the brickmakers (their nickname) played for more than 2,000 enthousiastic fans and to away legs the Blue Army always travels in large numbers. So, K. Rupel Boom F.C. have now been promoted for the sixth time in twelve years and the last couple of promotions was obtained under stewardship from Urbain Spaenhoven but for the new season the manager said farewell to Boom to partner Marc Brijs at Belgium Jupiler Pro League outfit YR KV Mechelen. New man at the helm is Yves Cloots who did replace Peter Van Wambeke, a former clubplayer, Yves must now handle the added weight of expectation hung around his shoulders.

For K. Rupel Boom F.C. the transfer traffic has all been going the wrong way, with inspirational gaffer Spaenhoven leading the way followed by the high profiled departures of Laevaert, Verroken, Mewis, Dewoyer, Aters and last but not least also their top marksman, the Greek Stavros Glouftsis have all chosen other football horizons. But new gaffer Van Wambeke drafted in reliable goalkeeper De Boodt and prolific midfield dynamo Beyens in the summer transfer window and in the wintermercato came targetman Rodrigo De Oliveira but the latter is not eligible to play against us. Together with some loanees from YR KV Mechelen (midfielder Kourouma and striker Ngadrira) they must do well for the team that came searing out the third tier of Belgian football last season.  Can inspirational skipper Poorters (very dangerous at set-pieces) and the other ex-teammates from Stavros Glouftsis avoid the drop?

By the way, in several press communications our other former player from the youth ranks, Nick Van Der Westerlaeken promised the readers he will score against Royal Antwerp and he hopes the tie will be played in front of a bumper crowd of 4 000+ spectators! Wait and see…

Founded : 1998
FA number : 2138
Address : Acacialaan, 2850 Boom
Stadium : Municipal Stadium (8,000)
Ticket Office : 03/844.63.73
Website : www.krupelboomfc.be
Kit Colours : Blue – black – white
Chairman : Walter Leijs
Gaffer : Yves Cloots
Honours : champions in Belgian Third Division 2009-2010

MARVIN PEERSMAN MUST FEAR AGAIN

l e a g u e   y e l l o w (47)(name in bold, misses next game):

5+4:Marvin Peersman (06.11.2010 + 11.12.2010 + 23.01.2011 + 5.02.2011)

5+2:Thomas Phibel (08.01.2011 + 15.01.2011).

4:Emmerik De Vriese (11.09.2010 + 17.10.2010 + 24.10.2010 + 29.01.2011).

3:Kerem Zevne (18.08.2010 + 26.09.2010 + 14.11.2010), Niels Martin (18.08.2010 + 04.09.2010 + 27.11.2010), Kevin Oris (26.09.2010 + 09.10.2010 + 27.11.2010), Benjamin Lambot (28.08.2010 + 15.01.2011 + 20.01.2011), Bart Van Zundert (24.10.2010 + 20.01.2011 + 23.01.2011), Jef Vogels (11.09.2010 + 21.11.2010 + 5.02.2011).

2:Alex Di Gregorio (28.08.2010 + 09.10.2010), Audry Diansangu (21.11.2010 + 15.01.2011).

1:Said Abbou (06.11.2010), Thomas De Corte (11.09.2010), Ferhat Kaya (23.01.2011), Franky Pelgrims (31.10.2010), Darko Pivaljevic (25.08.2010), Yannick Put (24.10.2010), Jasper Vermeerbergen (23.01.2011), Kevin Wauthy (18.08.2010).

SUMMARY DAY TWENTY-FOUR

One of the most remarkable weekends in Premier League history saw a record 41 goals scored in eight games on Saturday with the possibility that Manchester United could stretch their lead at the top after Arsenal’s slip-up at St. James’ Park but their unbeaten run came to an abrupt end following a 2-1 loss at Molineux.

In the same weekend the Exqi League produced 34 goals and the team that let bulge the net on five occasions was Royal Antwerp. Our beloved colours have been far from free-scoring this season but they bucked the trend on Saturday against K.V.K. Tienen, beating the Sugarboys at our ground 5-1! Fans at De Bosuil certainly got their money’s worth after an astonishing display which saw Kevin Oris find the back of the net three times and skipper Alex Di Gregorio added a brace with a fierce shot in the bottom corner and a spot-kick.  Our top marksman Oris has now 13 goals on his tally and his first and our third goal was a beauty in the building process courtesy of De Vriese and Peersman, the latter delivered a pinpoint cross that found Kevin who scored via the crossbar. With this win we climb to eight spot in the ranking and are in striking distance of third spot which enables us to take part in the dreaded play-offs or by winning the third period  but it has to be said that difficult away ties are coming thick and fast in the forthcoming weeks.

In a frantic tie at Den Dreef OH Leuven emerged triumphant following a 3-2 success against a fading RAEC Mons side.  Lethal striker Harbaoui broke the deadlock but Jarju brought his team on level terms just after the interval.  An impressive home team scored two more goals courtesy of a Remacle spot-kick and Weuts strike before visiting defender Timmermans put the final score in the papers by scoring in the dying seconds.

Ironically, what was billed as the tie of the weekend between the winner of the first period KV RS Waasland/SK Beveren and the winner of the second period Lommel United turned out to be a turgid affair at Gestelsedijk. Dufour broke the deadlock on 37 minutes, 4 minutes later Jacobs levelled before the inevitable Ketting scored in two times on a retaken and disputed penalty.

Next week we pay a visit to our Antwerp neighbours, K. Rupel Boom FC.  The bricklayers won on their travel to the capital vital points in their search to stave off relegation.  With a decisive brace from Ventose and goals from new acquisition De Oliveira and Van der Linden they brought doom and gloom to FC M Brussels S. who are now occupying a relegation spot.  Time for chairman Vermeersch to install a new manager at the helm of his club, ex-Red Devil Michel De Wolf has now the reins at the Edmond Machtensstadium!

PROFILE OPPONENT * K.V.K. TIENEN

    BOSUILSTADIUM       

  Saturday 5 February 2011- 8 p.m. (c.e.t.)  

Referees: Tim Pots - Manuel Sacré - Pascal Cheslet

In his sixth 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 Bosuilstadium.  The ‘Sugarboys’ and Royal Antwerp have to win this game to reach the dizzy heights of the upper echelon of the Exqi League, to keep momentum going and stay in touch with the left row of the ranking.

The back four of our opponent comprises Hias, Vandeput, De Smet and Peeters who offer all the guarantees Nassen is looking for and in goal K.V.K. has the reliable shotstopper and new man between the sticks, Ludovic Govoni.  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 (out for this particular game) support the front two. Vanherberghen replaces Da Silva in midfield. Normally exciting winger Michael Lacroix is one to watch and will buzz around in the left and central areas and in the centre new striker Nahimana links intelligently with him and scoring midfielder Belme. Further attacking options are Biatour and Grondelaers, while midfield box-to-box player, an acquisition from Jupiler League outfit STVV Siegerd Degeling is proving his doubters wrong.

Remember it was Degeling who netted the decisive goal in that dramatic encounter in 2009, which we lost 4-3 in injury time after being in the lead on 89 minutes. Can we do better this time at our own holy ground?

Founded : 1981
FA number : 132
Address : Bergévest 12 – 3300 Tienen
Stadium : Bergé (6000)
Ticket Office : 016/81 32 24
Website : www.kvktienen.be
Kit Colours : blue shirt, white short, green socks
Budget : 1,15 million euro
Chairman : Willy Schepers
Gaffer : Daniël Nassen (° 24/11/1966) – manager career : VW Oorbeek United (2004), K.V.K. Tienen (from 2005)
Assistants : Marc Lemoine, Marc Vandevelde and Nico Devos

EMMERIK DE VRIESE MUST FEAR

l e a g u e   y e l l o w (47)(name in bold, misses next game):

5+3:Marvin Peersman (06.11.2010 + 11.12.2010 + 23.01.2011)

5+2:Thomas Phibel (08.01.2011 + 15.01.2011).

4:Emmerik De Vriese (11.09.2010 + 17.10.2010 + 24.10.2010 + 29.01.2011).

3:Kerem Zevne (18.08.2010 + 26.09.2010 + 14.11.2010), Niels Martin (18.08.2010 + 04.09.2010 + 27.11.2010), Kevin Oris (26.09.2010 + 09.10.2010 + 27.11.2010), Benjamin Lambot (28.08.2010 + 15.01.2011 + 20.01.2011), Bart Van Zundert (24.10.2010 + 20.01.2011 + 23.01.2011).

2:Alex Di Gregorio (28.08.2010 + 09.10.2010), Jef Vogels (11.09.2010 + 21.11.2010), Audry Diansangu (21.11.2010 + 15.01.2011).

1:Said Abbou (06.11.2010), Thomas De Corte (11.09.2010), Ferhat Kaya (23.01.2011), Franky Pelgrims (31.10.2010), Darko Pivaljevic (25.08.2010), Yannick Put (24.10.2010), Jasper Vermeerbergen (23.01.2011), Kevin Wauthy (18.08.2010).

SUMMARY DAY TWENTY-THREE

Royal Antwerp came back from 1-0 and 2-1 down to beat rock bottom side Royal FC Tournai in an entertaining Exqi League encounter at Bosuilstadium in front of 3 500 spectators.  Four goals were scored in a frantic first half and Les Sang et Or capitalised on some poor home defending to take the lead twice courtesy of a Niçoise header (0-1) and a Seoudi strike (1-2). That said, De Roover is able to call upon some quality replacements for some of his front-line forces.  Darko Pivaljevic rolled back the years with a superb display netting a brace to bring our colours on level terms and sub Stavros Glouftsis was capped for the decisive goal with eight minutes to play.  On this occasion the Reds did settle and Tournai had Martin to thank for keeping the deficit at just three.  It has to be said once again that our inability to keep a clean sheet against lowly Tournai combined with a failure to translate a dominant first-half phase into tangible reward, suggests the red-and-white revival retains a certain fragility.  Royal Antwerp manager De Roover will not, in all probability, be losing much sleep over that, he only needs to consider Tournai’s plight to realise life could be worse.

Lommel United are holding the baton for first place but couldn’t take advantage from a home tie against KSV Roeselare.  Both teams shared the spoil at Gestelsedijk, attendances in Limbourg still only reaching the 3 000 mark for this stalemate where both defences were superior in the battle against lacklustre attacking plays from both sides.

OH Leuven keeps the pressure at the frontrunner by downing last year’s surprise package KS Wetteren at Marcel De Kerpelstadium 3-1.  Harbaoui broke the deadlock, Ruytinx doubled the advantage before De Smet reduced the deficit.  Five minutes before time sub Bloudek put the tie to bed for the visitors.

FC M Brussels S. sacked their manager Chris Van Puyvelde after another uninspiring display against CS Visé.  The visitors took a double lead courtesy of Dessart and JS Legros, just before the interval Doumbia netted a consolation goal that wasn’t enough to keep Van Puyvelde at the helm of the team from the capital.  Chairman Vermeersch will appoint a successor as soon as possible but starting with a defeat in the first game of the third period didn’t bode well at Edmond Machtensstadium!

PROFILE OPPONENT * RFC DOORNIK/TOURNAI

   BOSUILSTADIUM       

  Saturday 29 January 2011- 8 p.m. (c.e.t.)  

Referees: Yuri Cosco - Christophe Hemberg - Lieven Masil

Good organisation from the staff, preparation, a fantastic work ethic, real hunger and a no-fear attitude were the strengths of the team that reached the Qualifying Round for the play-offs in 2008 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, as a matter of fact they are the whipping boys of the second tier of Belgian football. They haven’t finished any higher than fifth in the Exqi League, and a quick glance at Tournai’s ordinary squad and Jagiello’s/Delanghe uninspiring signings suggests this is unlikely to change in the next  months.

Royal F.C. Tournai lost with stikers sensation Cardon, Breleur, Haghedooren and midfield lynchpin and set-pieces specialist Frutos some decent players but gaffers Jagiello, Asselman and Delanghe rather than be left to fine-tune their squad as they might have hoped, have instead been forced to contend with constant speculation about the future of the most important players and have to recruit always in lower divisions.  A finish above the drop zone is still the target (looks like mission impossible to us )but all depends on the new acquisitions such as Hovine and Nicoise.

Talking about picking up already a monstrous number of yellow and red cards thus far mean that our next opponent have some difficulties with their discipline.  A long, hard battle against suspensions, injuries etc. awaits the inhabitants of the Luc Varennestadium.  But to bolster their attack old boy Mouissi returned to the Varenne and together with Dorizon he can give opposite defences a decent run for their money.  Can they perform a miracle in the third period to claw itself free from relegation worries?  We think not but only for secretary Jean- Michel Caink (also Royal Antwerp through and through) we hope we are wrong this time around!

Founded : 2002
FA number : 26
Address : Rue du Follet 327 – 7540 Kain
Stadium : Luc Varenne (7 552)
Ticket Office : 069/59 07 84
Website : www.rfct.be
Main Sponsor : Dufour
Kit Colours : yellow shirt, red short, yellow socks
Budget : 600 000 €
Chairman : Philippe Rasseneur
Gaffer : Jean-Luc Delanghe

MARVIN'S FIRST OF THE YEAR

l e a g u e   y e l l o w (47)(name in bold, misses next game):

5+3:Marvin Peersman (06.11.2010 + 11.12.2010 + 23.01.2011)

5+2:Thomas Phibel (08.01.2011 + 15.01.2011).

3: Emmerik De Vriese (11.09.2010 + 17.10.2010 + 24.10.2010), Kerem Zevne (18.08.2010 + 26.09.2010 + 14.11.2010), Niels Martin (18.08.2010 + 04.09.2010 + 27.11.2010), Kevin Oris (26.09.2010 + 09.10.2010 + 27.11.2010), Benjamin Lambot (28.08.2010 + 15.01.2011 + 20.01.2011), Bart Van Zundert (24.10.2010 + 20.01.2011 + 23.01.2011).

2:Alex Di Gregorio (28.08.2010 + 09.10.2010), Jef Vogels (11.09.2010 + 21.11.2010), Audry Diansangu (21.11.2010 + 15.01.2011).

1:Said Abbou (06.11.2010), Thomas De Corte (11.09.2010), Ferhat Kaya (23.01.2011), Franky Pelgrims (31.10.2010), Darko Pivaljevic (25.08.2010), Yannick Put (24.10.2010), Jasper Vermeerbergen (23.01.2011), Kevin Wauthy (18.08.2010).

SUMMARY DAY TWENTY-TWO

Emmerik De Vriese put Royal Antwerp ahead on 87 minutes with a composed finish before Van Damme blasted in to level in the dying seconds. Royal Antwerp boss Bart De Roover will consider this two points dropped after seeing his side take the lead late on and can for sure take consolation that the defensive organisation of the team was remarkably assured. Royal Antwerp looked comfortable for large periods of the game against first period title winners against unimaginative opponents KV RS Waasland/KSK Beveren but were once again left to rue defensive frailties in the last minute when Van Damme’s shot crept in. So, neither team can lay claim to dominating this time around and this tie ended in a stalemate in front of a crowd of 6 000 spectators.

Lommel United secured the second period title after winning at bottom side RFC Tournai. Henkens, Azevedo and Ketting were on the scoresheet but gaffer Van der Elst ambitions are crystal clear; nothing less than the title will do.

OH Leuven is the only team harbouring in the neighbourhood of the frontrunner, they swept aside coastal team KV Ostend with a hat-trick from starstriker Harbaoui. Van Geneugden’s men are now trailing Lommel United by four points!

PROFILE OPPONENT KVRS WAASLAND-SK BEVEREN

  Sunday 23 January 2.30 PM (c.e.t.) 

  Stadium Freethiel 

Referees: Christophe Dezomberg - Kris Messely - Peter De Bast

Season 2009-2010 K.S.K. Beveren

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 Beveren 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! Verdict : Played 36 Won 8 Lost 16 Draws 12 Goals Made 37 Goals Conceded 55 Points 36 - Ranking 18th out of 19 teams, relegated!!!

Season 2009-2010 KV Red Star Waasland

Could this be the first season when KV Red Star Waasland go backwards under gaffer Bart De Roover?  In the 2008-2009 they finished fourth but unless there’s a flurry of transfer activity it is difficult to believe that the ex-Belgian international can manage it for a second season on the trot.  De Roover is already a good manager and isn’t far off completing a side in his own image – extremely competitive and capable of producing explosively attractive football.  KV Red Star Waasland have to deal with the departure of prolific striker Onana, Sampil and Kielo-Lezi must now score the necessary goals to give the Waaslanders an outside chance to reach the play-offs.

So, due to a worrying lack of new signings, the portents are not too promising and De Roover is aware of the shortcomings and acknowledged that he lacks leaders in his squad.  The defense were beaten too easily, too often but in contrast  a midfield comprising creative players such as Bourabia, Bou-Sfia, Neve and Paulussen can prise open most defences. The big change with the previous year is that the manager directly took control and stated his aim of reducing the average age of his squad, older players have been superseded by longer-term planning.  If the aforementioned strikers’ partnership can reach double digits an astute manager and brilliant motivator as De Roover can focus on finishing in the upper echelon of the second division in Belgium.  Verdict : Played 36 Won 13 Lost 10 Draws 13 Goals Made 46 Goals Conceded 49 Points 52 Ranking 6th out of 19 teams, just outside the play-offs!!!

Season 2010-2011 KV RS Waasland KSK Beveren

Despite lots of supporters protests a merger between the two teams comes to fruition.  The new team will play at the Freethiel using Waaslands FA number and board members.  So, the best of two worlds and another masterstoke was the appointment of new manager Dirk Geeraerd.  Between our next opponent and our beloved colours there was a flurry of transfer activity with Vermeerbergen and Peersman joining the Reds and Verbiest and Jelicic going the opposite way.  A little blow for the new formed team is the departure of Jeffrey Rentmeister but our next opponent hopes that the arrivals of goalkeeper Clepkens,defender Van Minnebruggen and Dutch targetman Gommans will make them a potent force in the Exqi League.  It looks like Waasland/Beveren are satisfied after winning the first period title which enables them to have a shot on promotion via the play-offs.  Although last week they had an superb performance when they held promotion hopefuls RAEC Mons to a 3-3 stalemate at their Tondreaustadium.  Crowds at the Freethiel are risen above the 5 000 mark and another bumper attendance is awaited for the visit of our Reds!

VAN ZUNDERT'S SECOND, LAMBOT'S THIRD

l e a g u e   y e l l o w (41)(name in bold, misses next game):

5+2:Marvin Peersman (06.11.2010 + 11.12.2010), Thomas Phibel (08.01.2011 + 15.01.2011).

3: Emmerik De Vriese (11.09.2010 + 17.10.2010 + 24.10.2010), Kerem Zevne (18.08.2010 + 26.09.2010 + 14.11.2010), Niels Martin (18.08.2010 + 04.09.2010 + 27.11.2010), Kevin Oris (26.09.2010 + 09.10.2010 + 27.11.2010), Benjamin Lambot (28.08.2010 + 15.01.2011 + 20.01.2011).

2:Alex Di Gregorio (28.08.2010 + 09.10.2010), Jef Vogels (11.09.2010 + 21.11.2010), Audry Diansangu (21.11.2010 + 15.01.2011), Bart Van Zundert (24.10.2010 + 20.01.2011).

1:Said Abbou (06.11.2010), Thomas De Corte (11.09.2010), Franky Pelgrims (31.10.2010), Darko Pivaljevic (25.08.2010), Yannick Put (24.10.2010), Kevin Wauthy (18.08.2010).

SUMMARY DAY SEVENTEEN

All Exqi League ties from Friday December 3 until Monday December 6 in the previous year were postponed due to inclement weather conditions and played on Wednesday January 19, 2011.

Frontrunner Lommel United swept aside second-placed OH Leuven at Gestelsedijk in the top of the Exqi League clash to make them the big favourite to earn a place in next year Jupiler Pro League courtesy of goals from Ketting (spot-kick), Dufour and a brace from Henkens.  Van Geneugden’s side scored via Bloudek and are now trailing their fellow title candidates by four points.

Royal Antwerp on a run of 3 consecutive home wins shared the points with upper mid-table outfit CS Visé.  The visitors broke the deadlock after only 8 minutes when Winiowski connected on a corner.  When Van Zundert won the ball from skipper Vervalle he delivered a pinpoint cross on the head of striker Oris to level the score.  Ten minutes later a free-kick from Emmerik De Vriese was diverted by a visiting leg to gave our beloved colours an advantage at the interval.  Visé continued to plough forward after the break but dubious awarded free-kicks went wide from good positions.  But unfortunately one of them did find the net after Royal Antwerp spurned several chances on the break.  Stalemate at Bosuilstadium leaving us in ninth position in the ranking.

Despite plenty of endeavour and some quality clear-cut chances were in short supply and the two sides KVRS Waasland/SK Beveren and K Rupel Boom FC, separated by 9 points in the ranking in terms of league points, ended the game with a point that would have done little to ease Rupel’s fears of being dragged into a relegation tussle. For our next opponent De Wilde was on the scoresheet at the Freethiel and for the visitors Snoeys levelled the score.

Royal Boussu Dour Borinage started the first half in threatening fashion and Lai opened the scoring after 5 minutes.  After the break Michel Wintacq’s side suddenly looked hungry for more goals and as the clock ticked past 50 minutes Delplace doubled the lead against FC M Brussels S.  Later on, the rout was completed in the last 15 minutes when Delplace and Saffer added to the away woes for the team from the capital and put the tie to bed for the hosts.

PROFILE OPPONENT CS VISE/WEZET

   BOSUILSTADIUM   

 Wednesday 19 January 2011 - 8 PM (c.e.t.) 

Referees: Gert Deckers - Olivier Hampert - Joël De Bruyn

Our next opponent was founded in 1924 as CS Visétois and received the Belgian FA number 369.  Their first spell in the national football leagues was in 1948-1949, and they remained there for two consecutive seasons.  From 1960 CS Visé played in the Belgian fourth division and this until 1996 when they were promoted to the third division.  Afterwards the club from the province of Liège played yo-yo between the second and third tier of Belgian football.  Last year followed with a star-studded team a new promotion to the second tier where they are now considered by most journos as the surprise package of the Exqi League. Les Oies (the geese) are already a tremendous success story that only can be ruined if they overreach and forget what should always be their main concern at the start of this season: to remain in the Belgian second division. 

And with a current sixth place in the ranking that’s exactly what they are doing, they even punch a little bit above their weight. Signing both Legros brothers from last year relegation fodder RFC Liègeois was a very smart bit of business by Visé. The pair will augment an already impressive midfield and strike force where Lecomte, Françoise, Dessart are other superb players attracting interest from larger clubs. The Visé defence isn’t normally good enough to force the team into the top five, but Ciza, Vervalle, Wisniowski, Schmisser and Johan Gerets (son of former Belgian footballlegend Eric) will always keep them above any relegation scraps.  Only prolific striker Harbaoui and old Antwerpveteran Verjans left the ambitious club.

Manager Riga’s ambition could perversely by the undoing of our next visitor at De Bosuil.  "I have been a manager for almost 20 years and there will come a time when moving will be the right thing." It will happen at a certain time and if it does it could be catastrophic for the habitants of Le Stade de la Cité de l’Oie. So, this year punters back the Geese for the drop but they are wrong because Wednesday’s visitors do their dough.  It ain’t clever and it’s certainly ain’t pretty but they do know how to stay up. More even they will end in upper mid-table if they watch out for that end-of-season slump were some promoted teams are known for.  If they don’t dust down their passports in March then a highest position in their history will come to fruition and punters will know for a fact that this team you do not back for the drop under any circumstances.

Founded : 1924
FA number : 369
Address : Rue de Mons 15 – 4600 Visé
Stadium : Stade de la Cité de l’Oie (5 200)
Ticket Office : 04/379 37 80
Website : www.cs-vise.be
Kit Colours : blue shirt, white short
Budget : 1,2 million euro
Chairman : Guy Thiry
Gaffer : José Riga (° 30/07/1957) – managerial career : Haccourt (1991-1996), Espagnola (1996-2000), CS Wezet (2000-2002), Sprimont (2002-2003), Standard (2003-2005, assistant), RAEC Mons (2005-01/2008), CS Visé (from 08/2008-?).
Assistants : Luc Sluysmans (T2) and Gaston Lejeune (goalkeepers)

PHIBEL'S FIRST YELLOW OF 2011

5+2:Marvin Peersman (06.11.2010 + 11.12.2010), Thomas Phibel (08.01.2011 + 15.01.2011).

3: Emmerik De Vriese (11.09.2010 + 17.10.2010 + 24.10.2010), Kerem Zevne (18.08.2010 + 26.09.2010 + 14.11.2010), Niels Martin (18.08.2010 + 04.09.2010 + 27.11.2010), Kevin Oris (26.09.2010 + 09.10.2010 + 27.11.2010).

2:Alex Di Gregorio (28.08.2010 + 09.10.2010), Jef Vogels (11.09.2010 + 21.11.2010), Audry Diansangu (21.11.2010 + 15.01.2011), Benjamin Lambot (28.08.2010 + 15.01.2011).

1:Said Abbou (06.11.2010), Thomas De Corte (11.09.2010), Franky Pelgrims (31.10.2010), Darko Pivaljevic (25.08.2010), Yannick Put (24.10.2010), Bart Van Zundert (24.10.2010), Kevin Wauthy (18.08.2010).

SUMMARY DAY TWENTY-ONE

On the day that Portsmouth handed a debut to on-loan Manchester United defender Ritchie De Laet we travelled to West Flanders to take on a team that was relegated from the Jupiler Pro League, KSV Roeselare. Unfortunately for Ritchie two late goals extended Nottingham Forest unbeaten home record since September 2009 while at Schiervelde two early goals from Zulte Waregem reject Ernemann meant Royal Antwerp’s away woes continued. The two home wins in midweek against K Rupel Boom FC and last Saturday’s tie lifts the points total of our opponent but because Royal Boussu Dour and AFC Tubize both won their respective ties, the former away to CS Visé and the latter at home against KSK Heist all bottom teams stayed on their positions.

Kevin Oris is a notable survivor of many footballwars and more than capable of tormenting defences with his size and strength but against his former teammates he was given scant opportunity by his side’s noble but ultimately flawed endeavours. Gaffer Bart De Roover can go back to his tactical drawing board because beauty though is in the eye of the beholder and the Antwerp fans would like to gain as much pleasure from their side’s mastery of the physical aspects of the game as any demonstration of their technical skill. Alan Hansen would name the two goals we conceded at Schiervelde very bad defending!

Most surprising result from this round came from Stadsparkstadium where hosts KV Turnhout gave titlechasers Lommel United a lesson in clinical finishing. Antwerp old-boy Harald Pinxten  gave the visitors a lead by heading in a corner but Traoré, Janssens and Didier gave the home fans something to cheer, even a late goal of Cerigioni couldn’t spoil the party.  The Binken (nickname) know their strengths and played to them perfectly here, out-muscling Lommel United in midfield and bullying the visitors’ back-line at every opportunity. A surprise win was the outcome and now on Wednesday at Gestelsedijk awaits the topclash against second-placed OH Leuven while Royal Antwerp entertain CS Visé at Bosuilstadium.

PROFILE OPPONENT * KSV ROESELARE

   STADIUM SCHIERVELDE 

 Saturday 15 January 2011 - 8 PM (c.e.t.) 

Referees: Karim Saadouni - Mario Scimemi - Stefan Smet

 History

At the start of last century FC Roeselare and SK Roeselare were fighting for local bragging rights.  Both clubs are coming from different political surroundings and finally in 1999 under a lot of pressure from the local press and businessmen both teams decided  to merge and KSV Roeselare was born.  In the 2003/2004 season our next opponent were pipped on the last day of the play-offs but it was a sweet revenge one year later when they gathered 16 points out of a possible 18 (whereby 6 out of 6 against the Great Old) and reached the promised land of the Belgian first division.  In the top flight of Belgian footie they were recognised for their giant-killing acts especially in home games under stewardship from gaffer Dirk Geeraerd.

 Season 2008-2009

This season a relative poor squad was assembled by Director of Football Wim de Coninck with below-par transfers such as Mulisa, Daïneche, Bétrémieux, Troch, Soares, Lutun, Tokpa, Jalliti, De Wilde and Hietanen and the manager soon paid the price for this unproven crop of players where most of them have already explored new horizons.  And although our former manager Wim de Coninck was responsible for this mess at Schiervelde, the board opted to sack Geeraerd and appointed the man who brought them in the first division a couple of years ago, his name well known in East Anglia, Dennis van Wijk.  Dennis could convince the board to spent heavily and brought in the January transfer window acquisitions such as Croatian midfielder Perisic, Dutch striker Mac Donald and a lot of utility players in Ten Heuvel, Huygebaert, Lazarevic and Benjelloun.  Top draw reinforcements and although KSV Roeselare went from strenght to strenght, five games before the end of the Jupiler Pro League season they collapsed and got 0 points out of their last five games. 
Although KSV Roeselare can field a strong team but two players are attracting the headlines for their goalscoring abilities, one is Croatian midfielder Perisic being followed by Jupiler Pro League champion-contenders Club Bruges and the other is the much matured Dutch striker Sherjill Mac Donald who already signed a lucrative 4-year deal with our local rivals, Germinal Beerschot.

 Season 2009-2010

Stats say it all, in the regular competition our next opponent played 28 matches (W4 L18 D6) with a negative goal difference (Goals made 29 Goals Conceded 58) so the dreaded play-offs with K.A.S. Eupen (winners), RAEC Mons and KVSK United Lommel were a fact.  Doom and gloom in West Flanders because after 5 years in the top flight of the Jupiler Pro League matricule number 134 are relegated to the Exqi League!

 Season 2010-2011

KSV Roeselare are still paying the debts from Director of Football Wim de Coninck crazy spending two years ago, so they won’t be able to spend their way out of the division.  With only 29 goals made last year and followed by a dreadful play-offs campaign it’s a fact that becoming one of the worst-ever teams in JPL history means the confidence of the players must be shot to pieces.  On the pitch, an over-reliance on striker Dissa from Mali to deliver goals and defensive stalwart Mirvic from Bosnia to keep them out on the other side won’t be enough to at least make the play-offs.  But good news arrived from transfer deadline day when the Black & White drafted in two midfielders with experience at the highest level in Belgian football.  From Zulte Waregem came Dane Steffen Ernemann and another transfer target was realised in the dying minutes in Jonas Buyse, another midfield enforcer.

But as long as KSV Roeselare can attract crowds of around 2,000, they will retain some hope of consolidating in the Exqi League.  Out from the shadow of Dennis Van Wijk, assistant-coach and newbie in the managers world Nico Vanderdonck will be hungry to prove he deserves his promising coaching reputation.  And although the transfer market went all the wrong way for our next opponent there are still enough talented youngsters and old hands at Schiervelde for Vanderdonck to mould into a team.  In a nutshell, relegation forced the team from West Flanders to jettison as many as 17 (!) players in the summer, including teens sensations Joeri Dequevy and Bjarni Vidarsson.  Also inspirational skipper of the last couple of seasons Stefaan Tanghe together with Eyjolfsson, Govoni, Nikolic, Huygebaert, Van Loo, Kucera and worldcup participant Nikita Rukavytsya have gone to pastures new.  Only new entries are some leftovers and fringe players from Jupiler League title contenders Club Bruges such as De Rechter, Guiro and from Armenia a certain Voskanian bloke. In the first days of the wintermercato KSV Roeselare did manage to ink starlet and Belgian youth international Igor Vetokele from Jupiler Pro League outfit AA Ghent.  Hopefully this will solve the problems up front for the habitants of the Schierveldestadium where volleyball is a more respected sport than our major sport football!!!

 To resume, the change of league will certainly help, but KSV Roeselare have to be more adventurous.  A goal a game last year was patently not good enough and with twenty goals made out of sixteen games thus far improvement must be made rather sooner than later. Yesterday, KSV Roeselare played the postponed game against K. Rupel Boom FC and won with the smallest margin, a goal from Ernemann in the 42nd minute giving the Black and White some breathing space in the relegation dogfight.  Can they make it two out of two against our beloved colours?

Founded: 1999
FA number : 134
Address: Dikmuidsesteenweg 374 – 8800 Roeselare
Ticket Office : 051/22 99 22
Stadium : Schiervelde ( 9,593)
Website : www.ksvr.be
Kit Colours : white shirt, black short, blue socks
Main Sponsor : Deceuninck (artificial silk factory)
Budget :3 million euro
Chairman : Antoine Van Eeckhout
Gaffer : Nico Vanderdonck (° 06/12/1969) – manager career : KSV Roeselare (from 2008-2010,assistant – manager), from 07/2010 - ? manager T1

PHIBEL'S FIRST YELLOW OF 2011

SUMMARY DAY TWENTY

For those managers who are in a position to strengthen their playing squad, their desire to do so will most likely be driven by the position they currently occupy. For those challenging for title and promotion, or those staring at a battle for survival, the signing of the right player may just make the difference as the Exqi League season progresses. Of course, losing players through injury can also affect a manager’s chosen transfer targets and with limited transfer funds, it could be that the clubs who avoid requiring a player through necessity are far better equipped to take a chance on a more creative player or proven goalscorer who could help them achieve their target.

One of those proven goalscorers at this level is certainly wintermercato marquee signing Jeremy Perbet who already netted his first two goals for his new employers RAEC Mons winning 2-3 at mid-table KS Wetteren for whom our former player Bas Vervaeke scored a consolation goal.

In our tie of the weekend it was Bart De Roover’s side who came out quickest, flooding forward and putting pressure on the inexperienced KV Turnhout back-line which contained two enforced changes due to suspensions.  Royal Antwerp struck first, leftwinger Emmerik De Vriese coolly driving through Goris’s hands before Kevin Oris in the dying seconds doubled the lead by smashing home a pass from substitute Darko Pivaljevic who played his 200th competitive game in a red and white shirt.  At the press conference the gaffer was delighted with the 3 points and added that the players fed off that goal in the early stages, but regretted Royal Antwerp’s constant endeavour and a series of chances on the counter-attack didn’t materialize in further goals.  A lesson learnt from this season so far is that our inconsistency has dogged our side and we showed time and time again our incredible flaky nature by losing our momentum after a good spell in games immediately.  KV Turnhout’s manager Braeckmans stated that both teams should be higher in the ranking and confirmed that his side will have easier games in which to make their mark than this one at De Bosuil onto the end of the season.

Did you know that out of 9 matches played this round four of them ended in a 2-3 win for the visitors. On Friday OH Leuven gave the example and RAEC Mons, season revelation CS Visé and even lowly AFC Tubize followed soon after a excellent threepointer at the Florent Beeckmanstadium.

Lommel United is still the leader, they brushed K Rupel Boom FC aside after the break when goalkeeper Van Impe was sent off, Ketting netting another brace, Jeroen is now all-time leading topscorer for the club who managed to get 31 out of a possible 33 points and believe it or not former Antwerpplayer Harald Pinxten scored the second goal for his team.

In the only Sunday game it’s difficult to see how our next opponent KSV Roeselare will be able to avoid more negative headlines after a disastrously below-par display that will leave the doom-mongers sharpening their knives.  A brace from Charai meant that last year Jupiler League outfit is now a serious relegation candidate.

PROFILE OPPONENT * K.V. TURNHOUT

   BOSUILSTADIUM   

 Saturday 8 January 2011 - 8 PM (c.e.t.)     

With small crowds and cramped surrounds at Stadsparkstadium, KV Turnhout will have to punch above their weight.  Some current players have already been squabbling over the terms of the new deals on offer and financial constraints have kept transfer activity to a minimum.  Turnhout fans, give thanks to Wadi Degla.  The investor group from Egypt did offer a glimmer of hope amid the doom and gloom that surrounded the Blue and White.  Wadi Degla who owns Jupiler League outfit K. Lierse S.K. gave some leftovers and fringe players ( midfielder Kevin Janssens and defender Timothy Dreesen) to their feeder club with as outcome a stabilisation of the club. K.V. Turnhout can now look forward to reach as high as possible under newbie coach Frank Braeckmans.

“KV Turnhout chase Pele,” could be the headline in a newspaper this winter...  Some say that our next opponent might need the real Brazilian legend, not to mention Diego Maradona and Johan Cruyff to stay up but most pundits think that promising young and reliable goalkeeper Goris, defenders Renson, Loyens, Vandenbergh should get enough clean sheets and a midfield containing Delanoy, Wils, Mauro, Meyers, Noyen and Da Silva must give striker Ven enough opportunities to score and in doing so forget eventual relegation worries.  So, with a small squad and even smaller budget, the camaraderie in the Turnhout dressing room must become one of the main strengths of this team; it will certainly be the major factor in the club clawing itself free from the drop zone this season! 

KV Turnhout have some disciplinary problems with already 41 yellow cards and 5 reds, the offensive set-up isn’t the best because Noyen with 5 goals is their topstriker followed by midfielders Traoré and Da Silva with 3 goals each.  With 3 clean sheets and 28 goals conceded the defense isn’t rock solid but remember that the blue and white were on a roll just before the festive period by picking up 9 out of a possible 15 points which included a giant win at the Freethiel (0-4).  This could be a much sterner test for our boys than the ranking let you believe.  A third consecutive home tie and home win for Bart De Roover?

Founded : 1912
Address : Parklaan 50 – 2300 Turnhout
Stadium : Stadspark (3000)
Ticket Office : 014/41 25 84
Website : www.kvturnhout.be
Kit Colours : blue-white shirt and short
Budget : 700 000 euro
Chairman : Marcel Hendrickx
Gaffer : Frank Braeckmans
Assistants : Luc Pelckmans (T2) and Jef Dufraing (T3-goalkeepers)
Honours : Champions Third Division last season.

ROYAL ANTWERP HALFWAY THERE, BUT STILL MORE TO PLAY FOR

When it comes to activities that are good for your health, supporting Royal Antwerp Football Club is right up there with unicycling along a tightrope stretched across the Grand Canyon while chain-smoking and doused in petrol. It’s a miracle any of us manage to get life insurance. Playing for Royal Antwerp is just as bad. Sign on the dotted line for us and you might as well own up to having a fetish for being diced by scalpel-wielding surgeons and poked in eye-wateringly sensitive places by burly physios with fingers smeared with lubricant. Its three (or more) years of your career that you’ll never get back.

Speculation surrounding the future of players, especially those who are the most talented or in rich vein of form, is omnipresent in football, but there is no doubt that the rumours and whispers grow more audible as the opening of the January transfer window.  Despite the numerous possible moves that will be touted in the coming weeks, it would be fair to assume that the current financial hardship felt by most of clubs in the second tier of Belgian football will in effect mean that there may not be significant movement. 

But for now, Nicola Frank looks at the first half of Royal Antwerp’s season from highs of the bragging rights won in preseason against local rivals KFC GbA to the lows of Kevin Baert’s injury.  From the 12 000 spectators at De Bosuil against the unwashed from the other side of the town to a wonderfull experience against Caley at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium in Inverness.

Half term report gaffers

It just shows you what a strange game football is that we are now talking about Bart De Roover’s team and not Colin Andrews’s squad. Colin did a great job there and blending some strong characters in the squad like Alexandre Di Gregorio, Darko Pivaljevic and Kevin Oris isn’t easy but Andrews seemed to get them all pulling the same way and the challenge for De Roover is to keep that going with a little more discipline, training activity and first and foremost clean sheets in games. De Roover need to carry on where Andrews left off, simple as that.  That means keeping the squad together, keeping the fans at De Bosuil on side and generally making sure the club is making headlines on the field.  A top-half finish would be OK, winning the third period title and eventually promotion would be brilliant but steadying the ship with 2 wins out of 2 home ties is already on the cards.

Half term report players

Kevin Oris impeccably uses his body to his advantage but his hold up play, his sweet right foot, his growing knack of being in the right place at the right time and his all-round on-field maturity, means that Royal Antwerp have one of the best if not the best striker in the Exqi League on their books. He left the Jupiler Pro League (Belgian first division) a boy and has become a man in the Exqi League. Kevin’s more than just an aerial threat as well, he gets goals with his left foot, right foot, inside the box and outside the box. Kevin is a mercurial striker who could play for any side in this league – even the very best.

Emmerik De Vriese has been outstanding this season when he has managed to stay cool under the intense provocation he is under every time he steps on the football field because opposite teams know we like to attack via our leftwinger.  Emmerik’s non-stop work-rate and ability to provide pinpoint crosses (bullets if you want) for Kevin Oris make him a candidate for player of the season so far.

Alex Di Gregorio has had his critics (too old, too slow anyone!) but nobody can deny his contribution in the goal stakes and leadership on and off the field, all of which make him a vital cog in the wheel and, when he has been absent, he has been missed.

Kerem Zevne has been the bargain of the season without a shadow of a doubt and many clubs will wonder how they let the Belgian youth international slip.

In Marvin Peersman, Royal Antwerp have one of the best left backs in the Exqi League but he likes to pick up a yellow card here and there so the team can be hit by suspension problems.

A lot of teams envy Royal Antwerp for their successful youth set-up in the last couple of years by bringing Jef Vogels, Niels Martin, Franky Pelgrims, Yens Peeters, Yannick Put to participate in first team football and to compete in the upper echelon of the second division against more experienced players from the opposition.

FRANK’S GUIDE TO THE EXQI LEAGUE SEASON SO FAR

As another footballing year comes to a close the Exqi League table has never been tighter.  Lommel United is the frontrunner with a meagre 4-points advantage on the chasing pack where 8 points seperate second place OH Leuven from 8th placed surprise package CS Visé, whipping boys FC Tournai need a miracle to stay up, above them there are only 3 points between KV Turnhout (17th) and FC M Brussels S. (14th), the remaining five clubs are stuck in the middle five points apart and able to go either way.

Lommel United have not played nearly as well as gaffer Van der Elst would like, but they have dug themselves out of some bad situations and never known when they’re beaten. They are keeping clean sheets as well which is a big help, because we thought they might struggle at the back at the start of the season and did wonder if Royal Antwerp old boy Harald Pinxten was coming to the end of his time. Clearly not because in a well-drilled offensive pattern of play only conceding 22 goals and scoring 45 on the other side is certainly top material. Will this be the year that the marvellous youth set-up comes to fruition and this stable club joins the elite top dogs? They are top, they usually have a great second half of the season, so they have to be my favourites to land the Exqi League crown come May. If only for the attendances at the Gestelsedijk would follow because having a bumper crowd of 3 000, and rarely play host for more than 2 000 spectators is really a poor outcome for the high ambitions of this club. If Dutch strikers partnership Oost and Ketting keep firing on all cilinders, with a little bit of help from midfielders Brouwers and Dufour, skipper Pinxten keep responding with some sensational displays then United will really be up and running and the Champions trophy is theirs to lose.

OH Leuven had an up and down start, pretty to assess really. But when ex-Antwerpplayer Ronny Van Geneugden ambitious tactics to ditch the long ball approach to burly striker Ruytinx and opt for a less industrious pattern with ball possession as the main aim the football team from the city with the famous university have been top, are right in touch with frontrunner Lommel United, so they will be in contention for a play-off berth at least. While most clubs continue to falter they will always be in with a shout and going out of the Belgian Cup in an early stage can be seen as a blessing in disguise.  Strikers Remacle and Harbaoui are revelations for the Exqi League, they become a dominant force by creating plenty and adding both a lot of big, big goals as well. They don’t need to sort out things at the back because they only condeded 19 goals thus far and maybe robust striker Ruytinx can give the team another dimension up front after the winter break and the habitants of Den Dreef can look forward to play in the Belgian first division.

FCV Dender EH has been hit with a transferembargo in the summer but when it was lifted they transferred some leftovers and fringe players from Jupiler Pro League teams to the Florent Beeckmanstadium.  With a shoestring budget gaffer Vital Borkelmans is working miracles with a squad thin on paper.  Goalkeeper Mollez is a good shotstopper, Evariste Ngolok is the best defensive lynchpin of the league and drafting in youngsters Waeghe and Meeus gave the team a boost leading to a proud third place at the moment of writing.

RAEC Mons is the team every pundit saw as table toppers at the winter break. But Geert Brouckaert saw his men stumble time after time away from home. We’ve heard so many people say those away defeats by RAEC Mons was typical…Mons, but the fact of the matter is that they squandered chances to go top but expect with the current injuries to Lepicier (best defender) and skipper Van Imschoot, chairman Leone will be obliged to splash the cash in the wintermercato by signing Perbet and others. One thing is for sure, the Dragons will be there or thereabout come May because pound-for-pound they have the best squad in the Exqi League. Gaffer Brouckaert has got it wrong on a couple of occasions, especially away, when you have so many good players, never mind the funds for more, you have to expect them to be right in the mix.

KV RS Waasland/SK Beveren won the first period title and are therefore a shot for promotion via the play-offs.  This defensive unit drilled by experienced manager Geeraerd conceded the lowest tally on goals in the league but they have gone off the boil after a hefty succesfull start of the campaign.  The goals have dried up a bit so it became a fact that the merged team was always going to level off sooner or later.  Despite a lot of protests of this merger the attendances for the home games have risen above the 5 000 mark.  Let’s hope for the yellow-blue that it may continue at the Freethiel for the upcoming encounters.

In the middle of the table there are coastal team KV Ostend, both promoted clubs out of the Belgian Third Division SK Heist and CS Visé while KS Wetteren, Royal Antwerp, K.V.K. Tienen and K. Rupel Boom FC all of them are looking for a top ten finish (for most of them a success, for Royal Antwerp let’s be honest it would be a failure…), as long as the abovementioned teams don’t get ridiculous delusions of grandeur, we are sure they can do just that.

Further looking down we have three teams with Jupiler Pro League ambitions, who have played in that league but nowadays are mediocre in the Exqi League, off course we are talking about  FC M Brussels S., KSV Roeselare and AFC Tubize. The team of the capital just sold their best player Veselinovic to heavyweights RSC Anderlecht and chairman Vermeersch still hopes his players reach the play-offs by winning the third period title while Roeselare couldn’t take profit from the parachute payments, AFC Tubize playing in a spanky, new Leburtonstadium for less than 1 000 spectators will have a long battle on their hands with fellow strugglers KV Turnhout.

With only 4 points out of a possible 51 Royal FC Tournai have tried everything to steady the ship.  Two different type of managers have already left the club, Casimir Jagiello started the campaign but could not convince the Luc Varenne faithful and even Asselman proved not the right candidate for the Walloon hotspot.  This team needs a miracle to stay up, a third manager is in line and who knows…remember K.A.S. Eupen from rock-bottom in the second division at the winter to Jupiler Pro League hopefuls to avoid the drop!

CONGRATULATIONS SIR ALEX

East Stirlingshire (17 games), St Mirren (169 games), Aberdeen (459 games), Scotland (10 games) and 1345 games in the Manchester United hotseat meant that Sir Alex Ferguson cruised past yet another milestone in his remarkable managerial career when United hosted Turkish side Bursaspor in the Champions League on 20 October 2010 : it was the gaffer’s 2000th game as a football manager. At the moment of writing Sir Alex Ferguson becomes the longest-serving manager at the Theatre of Dreams, last Sunday he did leapfrog legendary coach Sir Matt Busby and we think that is worth a pause for respectful reflection. With players seeking pay rises all the time and agents chasing their cut,  in these difficult circumstances manager Alex Ferguson stands as a monument to a united club. 

From November 1986 his monument is cast in silverware, shiny pots collected during his reign can be found displayed in the Old Trafford trophy cabinet, so there will be little indulgence on his part to the historical weight of his achievement.  Although stating in some interviews a few years ago that he was thinking to retire, Sir Alex, approaching 70 and in his 25th year as United manager, is still alive and kicking and above all still motivated by the undimming desire to win more trophies with the likes of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Vidic and Van der Sar to his disposal. Long may it continue and we will hope that Jonny Evans, John O’Shea, Darren Gibson and Ritchie De Laet (nowadays playing as a loanee at Championship club Preston) will do their utmost to deliver the Premiership title or/and Champions League to the biggest club in the world. 

Once again, on behalf of the red-white contingent of Royal Antwerp… Congratulations, Sir Alex.

K. RUPEL BOOM FC – ROYAL ANTWERP POSTPONED

The Belgian Football Association announced on Thursday December 16 in an update on the official website www.footbel.com the postponement concerning all official games and friendlies of all the national leagues bar the Jupiler Pro League (first division) from Friday December 17 until Monday December 20.

One of the games in the Exqi-league due to be played on Sunday was our away tie with K. Rupel Boom FC, this game is definitely OFF and will be played on a later date. 

BEN(JAMIN) IS BACK ON DUTY

l e a g u e   y e l l o w

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).

NOONE HAS TO FEAR YET

SUMMARY DAY SEVENTEEN

A Royal Antwerp side boasting technique and invention, having built up a head of steam with intelligent use of possession, were on several inches away from making a breakthrough before the interval.  In the second half, with Oris full of muscular running and De Vriese dropping deep to collect the ball, Royal Antwerp did possess more cutting edge going forward.  It was on the hour mark that another tasty Emmerik De Vriese delivery found mercurial striker Kevin Oris whose header left AFC Tubize’s keeper Debaty stranded.  When the away team poor efforts and late surge fell short of ideas substitutes Diasangu and King Darko combined marvellously to give our colours a double lead.  Second home win for Bart De Roover who said afterwards that the defensive organisation was spot on leading to a second successive clean sheet for his men.  We have some catching up to do but this win cemented us at a much safer tenth position in the Exqi League ranking.

Friday encounters saw FC M Brussels S surprisingly win against the hotly tipped favourites for the title RAEC Mons in the capital, Serbian striker Veselinovic scoring his 14th goal of the season.  It even looks that the striker is on his way to RSC Anderlecht for a record breaking sum of 750 000 euro.  Good,shrewd business from chairman Vermeersch who offloads his most coveted starplayer and can now spent wisely in the January transfer market.

Frontrunner is still Lommel United who defeated new boys CS Visé at the Gestelsedijk with 3-1 courtesy of Azevedo, Oost and Cerigioni strikes which enables them to take a 4 point advantage on OH Leuven losing on the road at the Florent Beeckmanstadium.  FCV Dender broke the deadlock with a spot-kick of goalkeeper Mollez, doubled the lead via Waeghe and the only thing that the visitors managed was a consolation goal made by Harbaoui.  Both top teams were victims of a red card each, influential midfielder Dufour (Lommel United) and goalscoring ace Remacle (OH Leuven) got their marching orders!

Two good away wins for lowly K Rupel Boom FC with new manager Yves Cloots at the helm at mid-table K.V.K. Tienen which could lead to a record attendance next week when they are hosts to …Royal Antwerp.  Almost unnoticed went the big away win from KV Turnhout at first period title winners RS Waasland SK Beveren courtesy of a Mauro (2’), Noyen (62’)goal and to make matters worse a brace from their former player Traore.

PROFILE OPPONENT * AFC TUBIZE

   BOSUILSTADIUM   

 Saturday 11 December 2010 - 8 PM (c.e.t.)     

Season 2008-2009

Sunday 1st June 2008, our next opponent did manage to stun a full capacity Bosuil crowd via a Stuckens goal in the first half and our promotion dream was over.  It was AFC Tubize finest hour and Lambot and his Sang et Or colleagues were having a party together with their meagre 300 travelling fans.  Although no one gave Tubize a prayer when they were promoted to the Jupiler Pro League it was gaffer Cartier who has inspired his troops to a remarkable season.  Wonders do happen sometimes but AFC Tubize were relegated last term, they were sunk under the weight of off-the-field chaos, schockingly bad buys (Quinton Fortune anyone?) and the sense that however bad things got, they were about to get worse.  In the latter stages of the season Cartier lost his managerial vim and political heavyweight and chairman Langendries made it clear that this Exqi-League season there would be a new man on the helm.  That man is their former assistant manager Felice Mazzu who appears to be safe for the moment but that does not mean he will allow his players to ease up. 

Season 2009-2010

Although Dufer, Sorokin, Pinelli and Lambot have chosen other horizons Tubize drafted in Steens, Gillis, goalkeeper Govoni and last but not least giant striker Njock returned to the club so you could say they bought cannily. Even Jérémy Perbet stayed at the Leburtonstadium and this strikers’ partnership does mean business. But at the winter mercato Le Sang et Or have been rocked by their high-profiled departures, but our next opponent still have a number of young players who’ve now been together for a fair period of time. The most important part of the team is the rearguard with butcher Neels playing a major role in Tubize not conceding a lot of goals in the current campaign.  In midfield good old Alan Haydock and youngster Villano have the most important roles.  Upfront a lot was expected from Alandson Da Silva but he took performance-enhanced drugs and the verdict is a three month ban for the striker that let bulge the opposite nets five times this season!

So, Mazzu has built a side based less on talent and more on hard graft and self-sacrifice. A lesson from this season thus far is that Tubize must take the teams at the bottom as seriously as those at the top. If you can beat K. Lierse S.K. at their own ground that’s wonderful but then losing points against relegation candidates at their half-empty spanky new Leburtonstadium made them also-rans for the play-offs tickets.

Season 2010-2011

AFC Tubize may just be the Exqi League’s most fearsome club.  A wind-swept stadium whose meagre 1,500 inhabitants defy its structure to generate the most intimidating din in the land (remember the chant Allez Tubize, vos supporters sont là – just joking), burly players who challenge and charge relentlessly (remember the play-acting butcher Neels – not joking), and a fresh new clear-headed manager in Frenchman Mwinyi Zahera (coming from Feignies) who refuses to apologise for his no-frills approach and might not be prissy enough to rule out an admonitory bout of naked headbutting if the situation demanded it.

All involved with Tubize deserve acclaim for making their club so feared after being relegated had also one negative side-effect that not only opponents fear Les Sang et Or : transfer targets seem wary, too.  It is easy to deduce that although Tubize are now an established Exqi League force, they are not viewed as a club where strikers can enhance their careers – at least not forwards of the calibre they seek (in the Perbet/Njock mould that is!). It’s easy to see why : attackers have to work extremely hard at the Leburton for relatively little reward – Tubize created probably fewer shooting opportunities than any other side, averaged a poor ball possession rate per game and completed fewer passes. 

Their strikers tend to spend a large amount of their time chasing and closing down and, as a consequence, find themselves under inordinate pressure to take any opportunities that do eventually come their way.  The best way to attract a top-notch striker may be firstly to demonstrate an intent to evolve by bringing in a couple of midfielders to free the forwards.  Now that Haydock has left the club and Baseggio is past his sell-by date it’s hard to see how our next opponent will improve their tally of a meagre 41 goals in 36 games from last season.

Similarly, a tad more creativity and penetration should be introduced to central midfield where Brazilians Montagna and Camargo helped by Kwembeke and Villano can all be relied on to do fundamentals diligently but they do not possess the ingenuity to inspire Tubize into the top half of the table.  A good cup run is also not on the cards because in the first round they were knocked out by the mighty Peruwelz.

Unless chairman Langendries and his sporting advisors can lure upgrades before the transfer window closes at the end of January there seems little hope of Tubize making a great leap forward.  Both Italian players Daddi and Cacciatore left the club by mutual consent and the Walloon team is now in negociations with FCV Dender EH topstriker and free agent Norman Sylla.  Although it has to be said that despite the above concerns we should not exclude that possibility because our next opponent is famous for landing some last-minute deals because they are proud to be a crafty operator when the market enters it’s business end. 

Nor, however, does there seem any likelihood of them significantly regressing.  Despite some debaggings in the beginning of this season and with Gilis and Neels on board, Tubize should remain a generally well-organised, highly driven defensive unit who will not concede ground lightly.  With the new gaffer Danny Ost at the helm they managed to win the vital sixpointer game at Royal FC Tournai although Brouckaert and Alex Da Silva got their marching orders and Les Sang et Or ended the game at the Varennestadium with 9 men.  Can Ost, whose main aim is to keep AFC Tubize out of the relegation battle use his Jupiler Pro League experience with K.A.S. Eupen to keep the yellow and red in the Exqi League.

 It will be a tough hard battle for the points this Saturday at De Bosuil in Bart De Roover’s second home game in charge of our colours!

Founded : 1953
FA number : 5632
Address : Allée des Sports 7 – 1480 Tubize
Stadium : Leburton (8 000)
Ticket Office : 02/355 55 04
Website : www.afctubize.be
Kit Colours : yellow-red shirt, red short, yellow socks
Main Sponsor : Duferco Clabecq
Budget : 1,5 million euro
Chairman : Raymond Langendries
Gaffer : Danny Ost (° 04/02/1960) – manager career : 1998-2000 KFC Rhode Verrewinkel, 2000-2003 ROC Charleroi, 2003-2004 KFC Strombeek, 2005-2006 Heppignies, Lambusart-Fleurus, 2006-10/08 Olympic Charleroi, 11/2008-09/2010 K.A.S. Eupen, from 10/2010 AFC Tubize
Assistants : Laurent Demol (T2) and Eric Deleu (goalkeepers)
Honours : Winner play-offs Second Division 2007/2008 with 18 points

WEEKEND ACTION SUFFERS AT THE HANDS OF THE ELEMENTS

Despite Blackpool’s attempts to protect the playing surface at Bloomfield Road, which included the hiring of covers, a hot-air blower and ground staff working overnight match referee Peter Walton decided on Friday afternoon that the pitch would not have thawed in time.  But the cold snap didn’t only continue to hit sport in Britain and Manchester United in particular, with a number of events called off this weekend.  In Belgium the FA announced already on Thursday that due to the lack of undersoil heating and therefore frozen pitches that all Exqi League ties across the land will not be able to go ahead.  Our home tie versus CS Visé will now be played on Wednesday January 19.  Heavy snow has proved to be disruptive all week and with the freezing temperatures set to continue it was no big surprise to see even Jupiler Pro League (Belgian first division) contests at Charleroi and Lier cancelled due to safety reasons for players, staff and public.  A Monday fixture at Rotterdam has already fallen foul of the weather and even as far as Wednesday’s action is being hit, with new snow to be expected with no prospect of conditions improving.  Wait and see if our next home tie on Saturday vs AFC Tubize will take place…

ROYAL ANTWERP – CS VISE/WEZET POSTPONED

The Belgian Football Association announced on Thursday December 2 in an update on the official website www.footbel.com the postponement concerning all official games and friendlies of all the national leagues bar the Jupiler Pro League (first division) from Friday December 3 until Monday December 6.

One of the games in the Exqi-league due to be played on Saturday was our home tie with CS Visé/Wezet, this game is definitely OFF and will be played on a later date.

KEVIN ORIS'S & NIELS MARTIN'STHIRD

5+1:Marvin Peersman (06.11.2010).

5:Thomas Phibel.

3: Emmerik De Vriese (11.09.2010 + 17.10.2010 + 24.10.2010), Kerem Zevne (18.08.2010 + 26.09.2010 + 14.11.2010), Niels Martin (18.08.2010 + 04.09.2010 + 27.11.2010), Kevin Oris (26.09.2010 + 09.10.2010 + 27.11.2010).

2:Alex Di Gregorio (28.08.2010 + 09.10.2010), Jef Vogels (11.09.2010 + 21.11.2010).

1:Said Abbou (06.11.2010), Thomas De Corte (11.09.2010), Audry Diansangu (21.11.2010), Benjamin Lambot (28.08.2010), Franky Pelgrims (31.10.2010), Darko Pivaljevic (25.08.2010), Yannick Put (24.10.2010), Bart Van Zundert (24.10.2010),  Kevin Wauthy (18.08.2010).

SUMMARY DAY SIXTEEN

As the whistle blew for half-time at De Bosuil on Saturday evening, those in attendance (4 500) were certainly not cursing their decision to brave the elements.  An after the interval, however, there was plenty to warm the cockles of the home support who will have wandered away afterwards immune to the Belgian chill.  Royal Antwerp entered the game with new gaffer Bart De Roover at the helm knowing three points were vital in their battle to steer clear of trouble and that is precisely what they got…eventually.  Skipper Alexandre Di Gregorio fired the hosts in front twenty minutes after the break from a spot-kick and this winner could prove pivotal in Royal Antwerps’ season.  Also a first clean sheet this season for our beloved colours courtesy of a solid defensive performance of all our lads on the teamsheet giving us much needed breathing space with the lower echelon of the second division.

In much the same way as it was impossible to overlook Jeroen Ketting, Lommel United’s showing against KS Wetteren marks them out for special recognition.  Cases can be made by KV Turnhout and CS Visé, the first for giving their survival bid a welcome shot in the arm, the latter to stay in contention for the title surprise package of the league, but even they would probably admit that Van der Elst green and white army deserve the gong.  Remarkably, some people have been quick to write off the inhabitants of the Gestelsedijk this season (after the opening day loss at newcomers CS Visé )but if their display against KS Wetteren does not silence those critics, I don’t know what will. United were at their awesome best against their bogey team and, led by the talismanic Dutch striker Ketting netting a brace and further two goals from Azevedo, they never looked like suffering the kind of wobbles which have held them back at times this season.  Fourty-two goals made already (13 from Ketting) speaks volume for the title contenders who have a mouthwatering tie against former table-toppers OH Leuven next week!

Tempers flared on more than one occasion during OHL’s meeting with K.V.K. Tienen at the Bergéstadium in front of 3 500 spectators. In this derby the visitors ended the contest with 10 men after Raeymaekers was sent off by referee Nzolo. A game that in the past on numerous occasions was good for a flurry of goals ended in a stalemate so Ronny Van Geneugden’s team will visit De Gestelsedijk in second position.

PROFILE OPPONENT * K.V. OSTEND

   BOSUILSTADION       

 Saturday 27 November 2010 - 8 p.m. (c.e.t.)

Referees: Serge Gumienny - Danny Huens - Christophe Berbiers

K.V. Ostend’s official website pictures 21 players in their first-team squad. Gaffer and ex- Royal Antwerpplayer Thierry Pister will be balancing the second division  with the demands of 36 league matches, plus domestic cup games. And in the January transfer window he may well lose highly-rated versatile defender/midfielder and skipper Wallaeys. Pister admits he would be powerless to stop the move if a Jupiler Pro League team will make a big-money approach. He also points out that last season K.V. Ostend had a relatively small, close-knit band of brothers in the dressing room and everyone knew what the starting eleven was. Everyone knew that the others, relied on them week in, week out. So, squad rotation is not in Pister’s vocabulary but it will be difficult for our next opponent to match, let alone beat, last term’s surprising seventh-place finish.

The Seasiders are currently in fifth position because the defence comprising Vandenberghe (was once a trialist at the Bosuil), Wallaeys, Lahousse, Martens and Luissint only conceded twenty-one goals thus far. In midfield Vanderbiest (still doubtful) is the lynchpin; Houri, Jordi and Ferreira-Lino (topscorer with 6 goals in the team and one red card) must deliver pinpoint crosses for the strikers Breleur or Coussement, Laleman and winger Saintini. Laurienté, another acquisition from rivals FCV Dender EH is a long-term absentee. 

Further important news is that our next opponent budget in their one-hundred-year of existence tumbled down from 1,6 million euro to 1,3 million euro so ambitions are a play-off berth at best, but a place in upper mid-table looks more realistic in a town where basketball is more popular than football!

Founded : 1981
FA number :31
Address : Leopold Van Tyghemlaan 62 – 8400 Ostend
Stadium : Albertpark ( 8 000)
Ticket Office : 059/70 36 10 and 059/34 10 71
Website : www.kvo.be
Kit Colours : green shirt, red short
Budget : 1,3 million euro
Main Sponsor : Givova
Chairman : Yves Lejaeghere
Technical Sporting Manager : Guy Ghysel
Gaffer : Thierry Pister (° 02/02/1965) – manager career : RAEC Mons (1999-01/2002), KSK Beveren (02/2002-2002), KSK Ronse (2002-2004), KV Red Star Waasland (2004-2005), AC Alliansi (Finland, 2005-2006), RFC Tournai (2007-2008), RAEC Mons (7/2008-8/2008, assistant), RAEC Mons ( 8/2008-12/2008), KV Ostend (from 03/2009).
Assistants : Geert Peene (T2) and Jean-Luc Sys (goalkeepers).

A FIRST FOR AUDRY DIANSANGU

5+1:Marvin Peersman (06.11.2010).

5:Thomas Phibel.

3: Emmerik De Vriese (11.09.2010 + 17.10.2010 + 24.10.2010), Kerem Zevne (18.08.2010 + 26.09.2010 + 14.11.2010).

2:Alex Di Gregorio (28.08.2010 + 09.10.2010), Niels Martin (18.08.2010 + 04.09.2010), Kevin Oris (26.09.2010 + 09.10.2010), Jef Vogels (11.09.2010 + 21.11.2010).

1:Said Abbou (06.11.2010), Thomas De Corte (11.09.2010), Audry Diansangu (21.11.2010), Benjamin Lambot (28.08.2010), Franky Pelgrims (31.10.2010), Darko Pivaljevic (25.08.2010), Yannick Put (24.10.2010), Bart Van Zundert (24.10.2010),  Kevin Wauthy (18.08.2010).

THANK YOU COLIN, WELCOME BART

When Ratko Svilar on Nov 24, 2009 stepped down as headcoach of Royal Antwerp Football Club because of the poor results of late, his number two Colin Andrews took over from the former Antwerp goalkeeper legend.  He steadied the ship and with limited resources to his disposal he brought the club his passion, his endeavour and work ethic.  For the young starlets coming through the ranks he became almost a second father and he nurtured the kids to footballplayers who can compete with the upper echelon in the second tier of Belgian football.

Starting this season with an unbeaten run proved his credentials but with young guns it’s like being in a rollercoaster with ups and downs and results of late (also due to injuries to key players) weren’t good.  So, today Royal Antwerp Football Club announced that they parted company with Colin Andrews thanking him for his devotion and loyalty towards our club.  Everbody connected with Royal Antwerp wish the former English football player all the best in the future.

New man at the helm of our club is former Red Devils  player Bart De Roover. With five caps for Belgium he played at the highest level in Belgian and Dutch football and even won silverware under stewardship from gaffer Eric Gerets at K. Lierse S.K. in 1997. With all of his teams he was renowned as being a winner certainly with his aerial prowess and fysical abilities as main strenghts. So, not the fastest and most technical gifted player but one you can rely on. 

As a manager with experience in the lower leagues (KFC Wuustwezel and Cappellen FC), second division football with KV RS Waasland and a very short period at first division outfit SV Zulte Waregem from the start of this campaign Royal Antwerp is the next stop for the very ambitious Bart De Roover.  On behalf of Royal Antwerp we wish Bart an enjoyable and successful stay in the traditional surroundings of Belgian FA number 1.

Football Career Bart De Roover : 1985-1988: KFC Zwarte Leeuw, 1988-1991: KSC Lokeren, 1991-1995: AA Ghent, 1995-1997: K. Lierse S.K., 1997-1999 NAC Breda (Netherlands).

Manager Career Bart De Roover : 2002-01/2003: KFC Wuustwezel, 2003-2008: R Cappellen FC, 2008-2010: KV RS Waasland 07/2010-10/2010 SV Zulte Waregem 11/2010 - ? Royal Antwerp Football Club.

SUMMARY DAY FIFTEEN

OHL rode their luck at times during what was in many ways an enthralling and interesting contest at Den Dreef in front of a bumper crowd of 5,000 where the home team undoubtedly made the most of their physical superiority. Royal Antwerp often flattered to deceive – throughout the game catching the eye with attractive phase of play but without a cutting edge in the final third.  Although OHL’s excellent defensive organisation was being stretched to the limit as Royal Antwerp piled forward, the home team responded after the interval by upping the tempo and creating some chances.  Courtesy of a wonderful strike from Harbaoui and a late tap-in from substitute Bloudek they won the game on merit.  Royal Antwerp, stunned, had no response to offer as Colin Andrews was left to sift through the wreckage of this damaging defeat.  With this win the team of manager and our former player Van Geneugden from the city of the famous university stay top in the second tier of Belgian football.

Another team in form is Lommel United, they won at coastal team KV Ostend (our next opponent) with a 2-4 scoreline. Sensation when the Seasiders broke the deadlock after only three minutes but Van der Elst was in a joyous mood when he saw his team netting four times without reply.

The chasing pack are RAEC Mons who won the derby against Royal Boussu Dour with a meagre 1-0, whereas KV Red Star Waasland/SK Beveren took no prisoners at the Leburtonstadium at lowly AFC Tubize.  Dutch striker Harrie Gommans got a hattrick in this one-sided affair.

Mid-table teams FC M Brussels S and KSK Heist scored 8 times at the Edmond Machtens Stadium in the capital, the visitors were leading 0-1,1-3 and 3-4 but a spot-kick from Grondin meant that both teams had to settle for a draw.

PROFILE OPPONENT * O.H. LEUVEN

Sunday 21 November 2010 - 3 PM (c.e.t.)

Referees: Peter Vervecken - Stijn Eben - Philippe Bourbon

Season 2009-2010

Jean-Pierre Vande Velde once boasted, “the club I couldn’t turn around has yet to be built”.  It increasingly looks like it has been built, atop an imposing hill above Leuven city centre.  After succeeding Rudi Cossey and Marc Wuyts whose rocky start last term saw them struggle for survival it was the former FCV Dender EH supremo that led our next opponent to their lowest-ever finish in the Belgian second division with only 45 points out of 36 games.  With 66 goals conceded OHL had the worst defensive record in the second tier of Belgian football.  Certainly not enough for the commercial and political bosses OHL always can rely on.  From the moment JPV was installed his target was a team that could challenge for honours, at previous clubs JPV could always make title-winners out of nothing.

O.H. Leuven has received some transfer funds by selling right-back Odoi but didn’t manage to offload Jarakovic and this gives the gaffer not enough room to manoeuvre because with this limited ressources prudence remains a watchword in the city known for his famous university and beer.  Leuven fans were not so much concerned about relegation as bored last season and the manager appears to have acknowledged the problem by promising that the team will ditch their direct style of play to robust striker Ruytinx and become a more attractive prospect.

Season 2010-2011

Last season was only one game old when JPV felt the first jabs of the pressure that would follow him throughout what turned out to be his most punishing campaign.  The post-match inquisition evidently wasn’t too interested in the details of the game and went straight to the heart of the matter: how many more seasons can you go without promotion to the Jupiler League, the highest tier of Belgian football?  How can you sell some of your best players and seriously expect to win the second division title, JPV? 

Well, the new gaffer and former Antwerpplayer Ronny Van Geneugden has made one fairly important adjustement to his strategy for 2010-2011.  He appears to have had a Eureka moment.  It didn’t come from a team who do what OHL can’t – such as the power play of some Walloon teams, the clean sheets ground out by the likes of K. Lierse S.K. and K.A.S. Eupen impeccable defensive partnership, or the dynamics of other midfield pairings in this league.  Not at all, it came from the team who do what OHL think they can do, only they do it much better: Barcelona. 

Ronny Van Geneugden has come to the conclusion that shape, and then to a lesser degree personnel, will be the key to a big improvement.  Like the Catalan giants the gaffer always rely on a 4-3-3 formation and with new strikers acquisitions Harbaoui and Remacle, substitute Bloudek if a plan B is needed and further the ever reliable Ruytinx, Kurt Weuts and Wouter Scheelen he has plenty of options to form his attacking trio.  A Barcelona-style passing game, with a bit more bite up front (33 goals made out of 14 games!) is the new formula. 

With defenders Euvrard, Hayen and Raeymaekers and ever-present left-back and captain Vastmans, midfielders Annijs and Van  Goethem offer the manager outlets that already given OHL variation from their tippy-tappy possession game, either by using a high ball to robust striker Ruytinx (route-one stuff) or one of the aforementioned defenders or midfielders cavaliers runs upfield from the back. 

Leuven fans want to see a competitive team, not a competitive balance sheet.  They do not  want to see more of the defensive vulnerability that is OHL’s undoing but they ought not hold their breath.  For the time being, our next opponent is the proud leader of the Second Division by making astute signings in the Summer transfer window.  Regulars of Den Dreef will continue to back manager Van Geneugden if he decided to let some players leave provided the money is invested back into the team pronto.  The manager can be trusted that he will use the money wisely on some Mongolian wunderkind or if he will surprise them and lay out for the finished article.  Will he buy a massive, ugly defender?  Might he bring in an experienced, midfield destroyer to dovetail with the technically gifted midfielders already on board or could he inject a little more of the calibre of Remacle (8 goals) and Harbaoui that made such a difference to the team?

Founded : 2002
FA number : 6142
Address : ‘Den Dreef’ – Kardinaal Mercierlaan 46 – 3001 Heverlee
Stadium : Den Dreef (10 000)
Ticket Office : 016/22 85 08
Website : www.ohl.be
Kit Colours : white shirt, white short, white socks
Main Sponsor : Option
Budget : 2,25 million euro
Chairman : Henri Kumps/Jan Callewaert
Gaffer : Ronny Van Geneugden (° 17/08/1968) – manager career : Excelsior Veldwezelt (2002-2003), RC Genk (2003-02/2008, youth + second team + interim headcoach), RC Genk (02/2008-03/2009, headcoach), Oud-Heverlee Leuven (from 07/2010 - ?).
Assistants : Hans Vander Elst (also technical director) and Jürgen De Braeckeleer.

THOMAS PHIBEL IS SUSPENDED

5+1:Marvin Peersman (06.11.2010)

5:Thomas Phibel (18.08.2010 + 02.10.2010 + 17.10.2010 + 24.10.2010 + 14.11.2010).

3: Emmerik De Vriese (11.09.2010 + 17.10.2010 + 24.10.2010), Kerem Zevne (18.08.2010 + 26.09.2010 + 14.11.2010).

2:Alex Di Gregorio (28.08.2010 + 09.10.2010), Niels Martin (18.08.2010 + 04.09.2010), Kevin Oris (26.09.2010 + 09.10.2010).

1:Said Abbou (06.11.2010), Thomas De Corte (11.09.2010), Benjamin Lambot (28.08.2010), Franky Pelgrims (31.10.2010), Darko Pivaljevic (25.08.2010), Yannick Put (24.10.2010), Bart Van Zundert (24.10.2010),  Jef Vogels (11.09.2010), Kevin Wauthy (18.08.2010).

SUMMARY DAY 14

It has been 42 days and 6 games since Antwerps last win, so the pressure on the players was reaching new dimensions. For the fixture against Standaard Wetteren, coach Andrews still had to miss numerous key players (like Di Gregorio, Lambot or De Corte), but could count on Oris and Put again in front. Royal Antwerp started off well, with a lot of pressure and some nice football. Put provided the assist for Oris, who easily planted the ball in the far corner after thirteen minutes. Twenty minutes later it was De Vriese who received the ball from playmaker Put, and found the back of the net.

The Great Old thought the game was all over after 45 minutes, but Standaard Wetteren fought back. Before the one hour mark, the home squad managed to equalize through an easy goal of Servaes and a cheaply given penalty kick, scored by De Langhe. The referee must have seen a horrible foul in the smallest of reactions (granted, it wasn't smart) of our Bart Van Zundert, so he decided to sent him off. Even with ten men on the pitch Royal Antwerp tried to play football, but neither teams came to real goal-scoring opportunities. This second draw in a row leaves Andrews' team at position 12 in the table, topped by 'smaller' clubs as KSK Heist, CS Wezet, RBD Borinage or this KS Wetteren.

As far as the other clubs go, leader KV Ostend suffered a home loss against Tienen, implying the loss of their first position. It has to pass the crown to OH Leuven, who won the big game against former division leader Waasland-Beveren. Dender was defeated by Borinage, while Wezet battered relegation-prone Doornik (4-0). Also in the relegation zone is Turnhout, although their 0-3 win over Rupel-Boom may mean a new beginning. Tubize-Roeselare was cancelled due to the weather conditions.

Royal Antwerp desperately needs a win next week, when the Great Old has to face leader OH Leuven. One thing is for sure: a huge red and white army will follow their team for this big game.

PROFILE OPPONENT * KS WETTEREN

Sunday 14 November 2010 - 3 PM (c.e.t.)

Referees: Jurgen Brinckman - Cedric Waroux - Patrick Plumes

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 two years agoWim 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 worst defences in the entire football leaguewith 59 goalsz conceded, but as long as they have one reliable goalscorer in Jan De Langhe the goals made won’t be a big obstacle to climb. Ewout Denijs who scored a fistful of goals last term  parted company with the team and is now playing for ambitious Third Division outfit Eendracht Aalst..  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.

KS Wetteren have a large squad comprising 24(!) 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  Van Damme, De Wilde and new acquisition Vleminckx.  The creativity in midfield comes from Claessens and our former player Bas Vervaeke 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 Maertens 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 and will the second year in the Exqi League will prove vital in their way upwards?

Founded : 1951
FA number : 5479
Address : Massemsesteenweg 56 A – 9230 Wetteren
Stadium : Marcel De Kerpel (3500)
Ticket Office : 09/369 66 23
Website : www.stw.be
Kit Colours : yellow-green shirt, green short
Budget : 450 000 €
Chairman : Karel Maudens
Gaffer : Wim De Corte (° 13/11/1971) – manager career : Standaard Wetteren (1986-11/2001, youth), KS Wetteren (from 11/2001 as headcoach).
Assistants – coaches : Peter Moreels (T2) and Chris De Smet (goalkeepers)

THOMAS PHIBEL HAS TO FEAR

l e a g u e   y e l l o w (30)(name in bold, misses next game):

5+1:Marvin Peersman (06.11.2010)

4:Thomas Phibel (18.08.2010 + 02.10.2010 + 17.10.2010 + 24.10.2010).

3: Emmerik De Vriese (11.09.2010 + 17.10.2010 + 24.10.2010).

2:Alex Di Gregorio (28.08.2010 + 09.10.2010), Niels Martin (18.08.2010 + 04.09.2010), Kevin Oris (26.09.2010 + 09.10.2010), Kerem Zevne (18.08.2010 + 26.09.2010).

1:Said Abbou (06.11.2010), Thomas De Corte (11.09.2010), Benjamin Lambot (28.08.2010), Franky Pelgrims (31.10.2010), Darko Pivaljevic (25.08.2010), Yannick Put (24.10.2010), Bart Van Zundert (24.10.2010),  Jef Vogels (11.09.2010), Kevin Wauthy (18.08.2010).

SUMMARY DAY 13

The losing streak was going on for no less than 5 games at R. Antwerp F.C., so even the biggest optimist was (slightly) fearing the arrival of F.C.M. Brussels. Although the lads from the nation's capital were three points behind the Great Old, no one expected this match to be 'a piece of cake'.
No wonder there was a great sigh of relief on the Bosuil terraces when De Vriese hit the nets after half an hour. Royal Antwerp dominated the game and finally seemed to make it to victory again, but then disaster struck. The Brussels' players fought themselves back in the game in the last twenty minutes, but couldn't really threaten goalie Ferhat Kaya. Until youngster Nicoals Maeyens felt a moment of genius brewing, and found the back of the net with a strike from 20 meters. The Great Old tried their best, but didn't manage to gain the lead again.
The disappointment was to be felt everywhere, although most supporters kept in mind the huge amount of injured players and the effort their young but talented replacements made. The league table is unforgiving, however, and reveals Antwerp at a pitiful 11th place. Hopefully, Andrews' boys will have more luck next week, when the red-and-white squad will be heading for 7th-placed Wetteren.

At the bottom of the league the relegation thriller between Tubeke and Turnhout ended up unresolved, so both teams keep struggling. It looks even worse for last-placed Doornik, that couldn't prevent OH Leuven from winning. OHL now seems to take the top of the league by storm, finding itself just one point behind leader KV Ostend. The lads from the coast played a draw at Waasland-Beveren, which enabled Lommel, Dender, Bergen and forementioned OHL to come crawling closer. With now six teams at the top, it's very sorry Antwerp couldn't narrow down the 12-point margin with the leader. Better luck, next week!

PROFILE OPPONENT * FC M BRUSSELS S.

 Saturday 6 Nov. 2010 - 8 P.M (c.e.t.) 

 Bosuil 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 an experienced manager in Chris Van Puyvelde- this time not helped by his normal supervisor Trond Sollied- 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 by winning the second or third period title.  Although Brussels aren’t overloaded with players who can get goals, crucially, they do rely on one player.  With Croat Dalibor Veselinovic already in double digits and last season’s topscorer and new acquisition Kevin De Broyer certainly gone bang them in from a certain moment Brussels aren’t exactly goal-shy. 

Van Puyvelde 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 two seasons ago, this term goalkeeper Werner and the promising Cabeke brothers and Tohoua have all chosen other football horizons which mean there are huge holes to fill.  Only one like-for-like replacement either, with experienced goalkeeper Sierens drafted in from Jupiler League outfit KSV Roeselare.  Further are the other new midfielders Vandermarliere and Van Geele nor Nollevaux 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 Van Puyvelde’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 Archambeau, Heris and Diakhaby but in midfield there ain’t one player who caught the eye in the first period.

Although there is little doubt that Brussels have the pace and power going forward to unsettle opponents particularly when Nollevaux is supplying the ammunition.  But it has to be said that one area where the Brussels’ manager  doesn’t have much options is up front.  He is expected to play two from Coppin, Nigerian striker and free agent Onyeka Onwuekelu and last season sensation De Broyer, 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. 

Founded : 1933, in 2003 a merger between RWDM and Strombeek
FA number :1936
Address : Karel Malisstraat 61 – 1080 Brussel
Stadium : Edmond Machtens (11 266)
Ticket Office : 02/411 69 86 or 02/412 71 70
Website : www.fc-brussels.be
Kit Colours : red-black shirt, black short
Main Sponsor : Vermeersch Construct
Budget : 1 million euro last term, no information available for this season
Chairman : Johan Vermeersch
Gaffer : Chris Van Puyvelde (° 05/12/1959) – manager career : Eendracht Aalst (1997-1998), Club Brugge (2000-2005, assistant of Norwegian topmanager Trond Sollied), Olympiakos (Greece, 2005/12-2006, assistant), AA Gent (2007-2008, assistant), Heerenveen (Netherlands, 2008-08/2009, assistant), Lokeren OV (01/2010-05/2010, assistant), FC M Brussels S (from 07/2010 onwards as headcoach)
Assistant-coaches : Christian Rits (T2) and Thierry Berghmans (goalkeepers).

SUMMARY DAY 12

After the nice performance of our young lads against First Division side Standard Liege in the Cofidis Cup (2-1 defeat), our high hopes plumetted again this Sunday. The Great Old missed several chances in the first half to gain the lead over Royale Boussu-Dour Borinage, but it were the Walloon amateurs who managed to score first, again on a set-piece. In the second half things went from bad to worse, with a red card for captain Oris and injuries for De Corte and De Vriese. Our young players couldn't keep up with the enthusiastic home side and conceded two more goals, adding up to a humiliating 3-0 defeat. Moreover, Antwerp misses 7 important pl