The last match of the outward round is coming up. Charleroi away is on the programme. Three points for our Kemphans, means they will leapfrog the Hainaut opponent. We don’t need to explain the importance of that. Belief in own ability, seasoned with a good dose of grinta, will be the basic ingredients alongside our coach’s tactics.

KVC Westerlo

Once again, a lot of Westerlo people had drifted out over the last 10 days. International break meant for the home side two practice matches (STVV and KV Mechelen) to be dealt with and for our ten internationals the honour of representing their country. Most of the practice sessions were scheduled in the afternoon this week and our Kemphians will leave for Charleroi on seclusion the evening before the match, in order to prepare optimally.

Which 20 names will board the bus will depend on the final training session on Friday afternoon. The following 18 names were allowed on the match sheet in the draw against STVV: Bolat, Reynolds, Bayram, Haidara, Perdichizzi, Bos, Sydorchuk, Piedfort, Madsen, Yow and Daci as base players, Gillekens, Rommens, Haspolat, Van Eenoo, Matsuo, Stassin and Frigan as substitutes.

Of the last seven league games, we have lost only once: at Kuipje against Union, i.e. when it comes to points, our last away defeat dates from 2 September against Cercle Brugge.  The statistics speak for themselves: on away we get more points, we are in fourth place when it comes to goals scored away from home and even in goals against we are in the middle of the table.

Did you know?

• Between 2006 and 2016, we did not lose at the Stade du Pays for no less than ten years.
• We were 0-2 ahead after just 10 minutes last season, but ended up taking the full 3 points only in the 90th minute when substitute Kyan Vaesen managed to score his first goal in the top division.
• Our top marksman Lucas Stassin celebrates his 19th birthday next Wednesday and that he is the only player in the core who has played effectively in the previous 14 league games (8x base and 6x substitute).
• Since Jonas De Roeck has been at the helm 82% of away games, scoring at least once.
• Sinan Bolat, with his 4.2 saves per game, is second in this goalkeeper rankings.

Sporting Charleroi

Everyone knows the term Mazzu-time. And it is true too! The Zebras score a whopping 50% of their goals in the last quarter of the game. No other first division side comes close to this figure.  Captain Marco Ilaimaharitra is this team’s top shooter and also the ruler of the term. He scored three of his four goals in the closing stages of the match: once in the 88th and twice in added time. So beware!

The previous three league games were all lost: at Eupen (2-0) and Mechelen (1-0) and at home against Ghent (1-3) Nineteen different players have been allowed to start so far, the main eleven being the following: Goalkeeper Hervé Koffi, who already has 50 international matches for Burkina Faso behind his name.

Defenders Jonas Bager, ex-Union, Stelios Andreou and normally old-age blanket Damien Marcq, who however saw a direct red card appear under his nose last match day against Mechelen and consequently has to watch from the penalty bench. In midfield, we find their captain (see above), as well as Algerian international Adem Zorgane, although he had to be content with a substitution in Mechelen. The flank work is for Slovenian Zan Rogelj ( 0 goals and 1 assist) and Norwegian Vetle Dragsnes (2 goals and 3 assists). The attacking compartment is normally populated by Isaac Mbenza, Antoine Bernier and Oday Dabbagh.

Bram Van Driessche

• 38 years old
• Made his debut in the top division in 2015 with a game at the Kuipje (Westerlo vs Ostend 3-0)
• First match for our Kemphans this season
• 10 matches previously whistled
• 7x on loan (1 win, 5 draws and 1 defeat)
• Last 4 games were all draws

Text and statistics: Peter Boons