Mirek Waligora (54), Philip Haagdoren (53) and Daniel Scavone (51): together they played just under 800 official matches in a Lommel club shirt. The trio experienced the glory period of the ‘old’ Lommel in the nineties and were also present in the early years of KVSK United, from which the current Lommel SK emerged. Legends of the Gestelsedijk, all three of whom continued to live in Lommel. How do they experience their club’s dream of promotion?
Waligora: “I follow it closely and still regularly attend home games. It also lives in the city. The people of Lommel want to see first division football again. Matches against Genk and Anderlecht instead of matches against Jong Genk and the RSCA Futures.”
“If there was ever a time in recent years when it had to happen, it is now”
Philip Haagdoren
Ex-player Lommel SK
Haagdoren: “I have watched this season four times. If there was ever a time in recent years for this to happen, it is now. With three possible PhD candidates, the door to the first division has never been as wide open as this season. In fact, they should always have finished in the top two.”
Scavone: “I hope they get promoted. Deinze will be a key match on Sunday. If they win it, things will look good. Kortrijk is in a negative flow after having been fighting against relegation for an entire season. I have to say that I don’t follow it closely anymore. The bond with the club has disappeared a bit.”
Mirek Waligora in the Lommel shirt against Turnhout. — © rr
How did that happen?
Scavone: “That has to do with the takeover by CFG (City Football Group, ed.). We can be happy that they saved the club in 2020, but the downside is that local anchoring has been greatly reduced. Our own youth are no longer given opportunities. While that used to be one of the great charms of old Lommel.”
Haagdoren: “The team with which we were promoted to the first division in 1992 consisted almost entirely of Limburgers. In those years, 7,000 to 8,000 people came to watch our home games. I don’t see that happening any time soon. The atmosphere of the glory years will no longer return.”
“It also lives in the city. The people of Lommel want to see first division football again. Matches against Genk and Anderlecht instead of matches against Jong Genk and the RSCA Futures”
Mirek Waligora
Ex-player Lommel SK
Does the club have the potential to grow into a stable first division club?
Waligora: “Financially that should not be a problem at all. And the stadium and accommodation are also first class worthy. I rather wonder whether first division football fits within the bigger picture of CFG.”
Haagdoren: “A lot will depend on their football philosophy. Will they continue to focus on young talents and attacking football in the first division? Then I fear that they will quickly get into trouble in the Jupiler Pro League.”
Waligora: “They have taken steps in that area this season. In recent years I saw guys who could play fantastic football, but as a team it was often too chaotic. With players like Dries Wouters and Lucas Schoofs, they have now injected some more experience and tactical discipline into their team. For me that is the big difference with previous years. The only thing they are missing now is a scoring striker.”
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Lommel icon Philip Haagdoren thanks the supporters. — © Dick Demey
What would a promotion mean for the city?
Waligora: “Good advertising. It would put Lommel back on the map as a football city throughout Belgium.”
“We can be happy that CFG saved the club in 2020, but the downside is that local anchoring has been greatly reduced. Our own youth are no longer given opportunities. While that used to be one of the great charms”
Daniel Scavone
Ex-player Lommel SK
Haagdoren: “I am curious whether the average Lommel resident will find his way to the stadium more quickly. More people have been coming to watch in recent weeks, but personally I don’t have the impression that people are really busy at the moment. Although that could of course change.”
Scavone: “I can confirm that. I live five hundred meters from the stadium and you are the first to talk to me about it (laughs). But that does not alter the fact that I wish the club and all its supporters the best!”
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Daniel Scavone in the distant past against Club Brugge. — © IMAGEGLOBE
Well doubtful
Wuytens (hamstrings), De Grand (knee), Amankwah (Achilles tendon) and Vetokele (knee) are still out for the trip to Deinze. Oware (calf) is questionable. Referee Wesli De Cremer and VAR Simon Bourdeaud’hui must keep the game on track. There is a combination scheme in place for Lommel supporters, the club pays for bus transport. Lommel SK will not officially announce the selection until Saturday.
Probable selection: Ivezic, Aguilar, Wouters, Neven, Henkens, Karim, Fatah, Banguera, Tolinsson, Schoofs, Rosa, Sales, De Busser, Santos, Granell, Lalic, Vancsa, Talvitie, Oware (?) and Franssen.