KVC Westerlo – Zulte Waregem

Opening of ‘The West’: everyone is eager to see how our revamped atmosphere stand is going to shout our Kemphans to victory. The Kuipje must become the place again where visiting teams come to play with buckling knees, ‘De West’ is undoubtedly going to ensure that every player on the pitch will get those wings to perform just that extra % better.

KVC Westerlo

Just before the game against Anderlecht, Amando Lapage dropped out with an injury, so he had to miss out on this encounter in his long-standing home ground. The expected starting eleven started the match eagerly and kept the ball in their own ranks. At one point, the ball possession was 37-63 in favour of our Kemphians. However, a top team like Anderlecht – as communicated in the previous preview – has a double market value than our team and they can easily recover from that, especially also with the support of their 20000 supporters behind them.

Trailing 2-0 at half-time, they recovered before the hour, thanks to a clever and strong substitute from Kyan Vaesen and a fantastic typical Matija Frigan goal. At that point, our boys should have put their heads together for a moment, kept calm, let ball play around, and then play a gear faster again. However, the slick Anderlecht prodded against and before we knew it we were back 2 goals down. Lesson learned and on to the duel at home Kuip against Zulte and Mechelen.

Meanwhile, our club has not been idle and top Spanish talent Antonito Cordero was rented for one year from Newcastle United and Lucas Mbamba came over from French first division side Lille.   Coach Issame Charai can choose from a full core of 27 players for this match.

SV Zulte Waregem

Last season’s promoter was able to secure one point at home last week in the 99th minute, thanks to a penalty goal – by who else – than Jelle Vossen. 36 years old by now, he has made 618 appearances with 237 goals and is in his 19th season in top-flight football.

Of last season’s starting eleven, only the two central midfielders are gone. Pape Demba Diop made a fine transfer to Strasbourg and Nicolas Rommens will try to do with Lommel the same thing he did with Zulte.

In their place came the young Thomas Claes of KRC Genk U21 and Tochukwu Nnadi of Bulgarian Plovdiv. A new name also appeared in goal last week: Brent Gabriel, who came over from Lokeren.

The team that drew 1-1 against KV Mechelen thus consisted of: Gabriel – Nyssen – Tanghe – Lemoine – Cappelle – Claes – Nnadi – Traoré – Erenbjerg – Opoku and Vossen. Coach is Sven Vandenbroeck who in his active career played at Belgian clubs KV Mechelen, Lierse and Wezet.

Bert Verbeke

This 27-year-old referee got the opportunity a few months ago to referee 3 games in the Europe Play Offs, including Westerlo vs KV Mechelen, ended in a 2-2, this time he gets to prepare for a league game in the Jupiler Pro League for the first time.

Text and statistics: Peter Boons