Two important hurdles were taken last week, both RWDM and Dender going down at Kuipje. Good for confidence as the next two games could make a heaven of difference. First we go to Charleroi’s Stade du Pays, then the international break follows and immediately after that we get a visit from Kortrijk and will close the first round of the league.

KVC Westerlo

Coach Timmy Simons again opted for his ‘basic eleven’ for the league match against Dender. Josimar Alcocer and Thomas Van Den Keybus did not make the match core due to injuries, some other gamechangers like Rubin, Emir, Sergii and Dire took their place back on the substitutes’ bench.
This week, we had another browse through the Westel archives and came across the following know-it-alls:

• In the period between 2006-2015, we left Charleroi with at least one point in 7 matches.
• In the last 5 meetings against the Zebras we only won once and lost four times.
• Koen Van Langendonck holds the record for the number of games played in yellow-blue shirt. His tally stands at 214, but did you know that in another category he is also in first place? Of the current core, he has received the most red cards in the Kempish shirt, i.e. 2
• Top shooter of this core then again is our Croatian Matija Frigan. In 45 matches, he found his way to goal 11 times and sits at 33 goals in 107 professional matches.
• Top assist giver is American Eagle Bryan Reynolds. 10 assists in 81 games is a fine figure for the attacking right back.
• Then again, Thomas Van Den Keybus and Edi Jordanov love a yellow card the most, both having seen 19 times yellow, although Edi needed 25 fewer games for that than Thomas.
• The top three players most involved in a goal are: Matija Frigan (15x), Griffin Yow (14x) and Bryan Reynolds (13x).
• Then again, the ‘bravest’ players are Muhammed Gumuskaya and Emir Ortakaya, they have yet to face a single warning (yellow or red). Emir, of course, has only amassed 135 playing minutes, Muhammed sits at 518 playing minutes.

Sporting Charleroi

The Carolingians – led by Rik De Mil – had a fine start to the season, but in recent weeks the engine has been sputtering. The last victory already dates from about 2 months ago (Beerschot 3-0), followed by 2 fine draws against Anderlecht and Club Brugge. However, the most recent 5 games – against direct ‘rivals’ – were all lost.

A dozen players are/were always sure of their place in the starting line-up, but will not be there tomorrow due to circumstances: goalkeeper Koné (broken hand), defender Andreou, midfielder Camara (yellow suspended) and striker Guiagon (ankle). The other base players are top marksman Heymans (6 goals), captain Zorgane, flank defenders Pétris and Dragsnes and strikers Bernier and Kyei.

Most likely, the following guys will get their chance: in goal Martin Delavallée, normally number 3 in the pecking order, but backup goalkeeper Théo Defourny is also injured, in defence Keita, Ousou, Sow and Nzita and maybe a place for Dabbagh and Mbenza as well. A lot of names that don’t really sound familiar.

Bert Put

This Limburg-based referee has flown Charleroi vs Westerlo once before, back in 2021. An unplayable pitch it was then on a Wednesday in February due to persistent rain. In the end, we then lost 1-0 after a goal in the 87th minute.

Then again, another hstorical match with him was in 2022, when we won at Club Brugge (0-2). His balance to date is: 9 games, 4 wins, 2 draws and 3 defeats.

Text and stats: Peter Boons