A hugely successful 2023 ended on a bad note for Antwerp, who lost with no escape in Genk. “We’ve been on the ball for a year and a half, so the rest has been very welcome,” said Mark van Bommel, who were the only first division team not to do an internship abroad with the RAFC.
Domestic internship
“Sometimes it rained, it was cold, but we managed to complete our program, with a few days off every now and then to find time for the family”, the Dutch coach looks back with satisfaction on the national training period. In the meantime he has seen Jacob Ondrejka and Anthony Valencia return from injuries, but also a wing attacker who was out for a long time. “It’s difficult to put an end to Balikwisha’s injury, but reaching the play-offs will be difficult. Valencia is still a doubtful case against the OHL, Ondrejka can’t start yet but he can come in”.
The Great Old Man trained in Antwerp during the winter break. — © Joris Herregods
Without Overmars
Balikwisha’s absence is a loss for the Big Old Man, especially now that he cannot call on Marc Overmars during the entire transfer period. “Marc has been suspended, but we don’t know what that means exactly. We await clarity. His entourage is trying to get it from FIFA, but we’ve been waiting for a week now. And until there is this clarity, we will not take any risks. Marc doesn’t come here (de Bosuil, ed.). Suppose he is spotted here, we want to be one step ahead.”
It’s clear: Van Bommel is bored with the situation. The man who brought him to Deurne-Noord, his sounding board, is no longer at the club. “It’s strange for a coach. Marc took all the training courses, had a good idea of the daily operations and knew the needs. He also had contacts with other players and organized incoming and outgoing transfers. Now he’s all still. Well, not quite, because Sven Jaecques is obviously still there.”
Sammy (to) the United States
No Overmars, no incoming transfers? Van Bommel didn’t want to say it. “But there must be clarity,” he concluded on this topic. There are outgoing transfers. Ortwin De Wolf has moved to Zulte Waregem and Sam Vines will not be on Antwerp’s list of players for much longer. “Sammy is in America,” Van Bommel admitted. After all, ‘Sammy USA’ is close to a return to Colorado Rapids, the club from which RAFC snatched him in 2021.
Sam Vines will return to Colorado Rapids. — © BELGIAN
No offers for Vermeeren
Who, much to Van Bommel’s pleasure, is still around the Bosuil: Arthur Vermeeren. “I’m very happy about this. And also with the fact that he would like to stay with us until the end of the year (the season, ed.). No offers have been received yet.”
The easy route
Van Bommel can therefore count on his golden crest against OH Leuven. On paper, the current cup holder is the favorite to advance to the semi-finals, where the winner of KV Oostende – RWDM awaits him. Even Van Bommel cannot deny that his club is in the “easy half of the table” of the Croky Cup. “There are four top clubs in the other half of the table (Gent, Club Brugge, Union and Anderlecht, ed.) and not from our part. But everything will depend on the shape of the day. In the competition there are surprising results almost every week, so it is also possible in the cup. Only after a defeat are you out. So should we get to the final? I tend to disagree. Just because we won the title and cup last year doesn’t mean we have to extend the double,” Van Bommel keeps the pressure on slightly.
No party after the Golden Shoe
Wednesday OHL, Sunday Charleroi. Antwerp has three full days to recover from the cup match, although it will not be an ordinary preparation for the competition match against the Carolos. There is a good chance that RAFC will win several prizes, including the top prize, at the Golden Boot awards ceremony on Thursday. But Van Bommel doesn’t find the timing annoying at all. “Winning awards is never annoying, both individually and as a team,” smiled the former midfielder who played for PSV, Milan, Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona.
“We read what’s in the newspapers, but we’re not nervous. It is quite unique that one team has the chance to take home all the awards, except for the women’s category. It means we’ve had a fantastic year. Last year we had a boost after the cup victory (Antwerp won 9 games out of 9 in the play-offs against Union, Genk and Club Brugge, ed.), but I don’t know if this is also the case for individual trophies. No matter who wins, there won’t be a big celebration. Charleroi will come to visit us on Sunday,” concluded van Bommel, whose Toby Alderweireld will obviously be able to show off the Golden Boot on Thursday. “Makes sense, right?”
Will Mark van Bommel and Toby Alderweireld be able to party again on Thursday night? — ©Isosport
2024-01-16 14:55:10
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