We have barely finished celebrating and the new season is already upon us. As is our annual tradition, we will start with the medical and physical tests. Today and tomorrow the players are expected in groups in the hospital and in Basecamp to give the best of themselves.
Blauw-Zwart starts the preparation with 28 players.
15 players from the A core started today: Ruud Vormer, Clinton Mata, Federico Ricca, Stanley Nsoki, Antonio Nusa, Ferran Jutgla, Bjorn Meijer, Lynnt Audoor, Ibe Hautekiet, Senne Lammens, Noah Mbamba, Owen Otasowie, Cisse Sandra, Nick Shinton, Abakar Sylla. Mats Rits is working an individual program.
During the preparation, the core is supplemented by 11 "trainees" from Club NXT: Sem Audoor, Denzel De Roeve, Arne Engels, Henri Maton, Lukas Mondele, Kyriani Sabbe, Mathis Servais, Jorne Spileers, Chemsdine Talbi, Romeo Vermant & Kiany Vroman.
Next Monday will then see the first training session led by the new coaching staff. June 25 will see the first practice game against Thes Sport. The full schedule of the preparation can be found here. Although all matches in Basecamp will be played behind closed doors, you can follow the confrontations with Lierse, Beerschot and Utrecht live via YouTube or Facebook.
Our 13 internationals join us on July 4 at the start of the internship in Wageningen: Tajon Buchanan, Charles De Ketelaere, Jack Hendry, Noa Lang, Brandon Mechele, Simon Mignolet, Denis Odoi, Loïs Openda, Daniel Pérez, Andreas Skov Olsen, Eduard Sobol, Eder Balanta & Hans Vanaken. Kamal Sowah will also join later.
From July 4 to 9, there is the annual practice tour in Wageningen, Netherlands, with the practice match against FC Copenhagen on the final day. That match is also behind closed doors, but will be broadcast live with expert commentary.
On July 17 we meet again for the first time at Jan Breydel Stadium at 18:00 for the Super Cup against KAA Gent.
