Beerschot can look back on a hard and satisfying training camp in Garderen in Holland where coach Andreas Wieland and his staff worked tirelessly on the high pressure system, the tactical varieties, set pieces and team bonding. The squad could work in perfect circumstances and under a wide range of weather types as hot sunny spells and torrential rain kept eachother in balance. On Saturday and Sunday the week was rounded off in style with friendlies against top Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam and - on their way home - Belgian provincial team Heist Sport.
Captain Ryan Sanusi and his team mates outplayed Sparta in a hard fought battle with (too many) high tackles and a lot of commitment, in which Eleke had to be taken off with an ankle injury and Koshi needed treatment after a hard knock. The Beerschot defense stood firm and Mike Vanhamel saved two scoring opportunities. Our Mannekes created a handful of chances from which Ramiro Vaca put one in the net in the final quarter of the game for a well deserved 1-0 victory.
Beerschot played with Vanhamel, Weymans, Van den Bergh, Matthys, Konstantopoulos, Quirynen, Koshi, Rigo, Sanusi, Vaca, Eleke, Okyere, La Morte, Meisl and Nzita.
On Sunday - for the game against Heist Sport - Andreas Wieland fielded a very young team that had worked their socks off in Garderen. Despite signs of fatigue the promising youngsters performed well and in the end drew 1-1. In the first half Okyere and N'Tumba came close but it was the home team that scored first after an efficient breakaway. Beerschot bounced back after that with Van Steenwinckel and Okyeren starring roles. Okyere scored the equaliser in the dying seconds of an entertaining game of football.
Beerschot's team: Lathouwers, Frans, Van Steenwinckel, Meisl, Nzita, Muyldermans, Kaissi, Alhassan, Okyere, N'Tumba, Van Himbeeck, Rocha Torres and Bourabain.
