After gaining the first three points of the season, we were handed an international break. All heads are now towards Molenbeek, where we will look for the next points.

KVC Westerlo

Rewarding supporters: this is what our board wanted. Despite our Kemphans being parked in the lower reaches of the standings, our supporters remained vocal. Uplifting tifos were also on display. Therefore – also thanks to some willing sponsors – the combo trip to RWDM is fully funded. Free buses and tickets, you cannot donate a better reward.

On the pitch, this should give a boost to the players. Adding another three points to the total would be fantastic. The last five games at the Edmond Machtens Stadium, all turned reasonably in Kempen’s favour. Two wins and three draws.

Both our A-team and youth internationals recorded some impressive performances during the international break. Sergii Sydorchuk won both of his matches, Erdon Daci made his debut for North Macedonia and managed to score a goal in those five minutes, and Jordan Bos lost with the Socceroos at home against England, only to then beat New Zealand. Everyone (Rommens, Stassin, Tagir, Bayram, Reynolds, Frigan, Piedfort, and Mebude) returned to Merodedreef with renewed confidence for the resumption of the league.

RWDM

A few days before the league kick-off in July, there was brief chaos in Molenbeek. The entire coaching staff was kindly asked to look elsewhere and Brazilian Claudi Caçapa took the helm. In his playing career (1996-2012), he played six years at French club Olympique Lyon and two years at Newcastle United. Some Brazilian clubs also passed the revue.

RWDM is his first assignment as T1 of a club team. Meanwhile, there are 10 games on his Belgian CV. Victories were achieved against OHL (1-2), KV Mechelen (1-0) and Cercle Brugge (2-1). Three draws too: Standard (1-1), Antwerp (0-0) and AA Gent (1-1) and defeats against Genk (0-4), Club Brugge (7-1), Union (2-3) and most recently at Charleroi in the last second of the game (2-1).

The team’s top marksman is Makhtar Gueye, who came over from Real Zaragoza, but had previously spent three seasons on the Belgian pitches with KV Oostende.In defence are two compatriots of the coach: Abner and Klaus. They are flanked by Ecuadorian Segovia and Frenchman Le Joncour. The reliable closing post is Théo Defourny, who is always a standout against Westerlo with his teams (Tubize, Eupen, Virton, Lokeren and Mouscron).  Belgians Alexis De Sart and Pierre Dwomoh are almost guaranteed a place in midfield, with Xavier Mercier wielding the baton. Returned to Belgium this summer and again already has three assists behind his name. For the last two places, it will depend on which tactics the coach wants to play, and he has the choice between Japanese Abe, Belgians Heris, Sambu, Dailly and Camara, Malian Sissako and Frenchmen Sanchez and Reine-Adélaïde.

Michiel Allaerts

• 26 years old
• Debut in the highest league
• Son of former referee Paul Allaerts
• Fled 50 matches at lower level
• Draws an average of 4.3 yellow cards per match
• Has already whistled 2 matches for RWDM: at Jong Genk (2-0) and at RSCA Futures (1-2)

o Physiotherapist as main profession

Text and statistics: Peter Boons