After a short stint at KRC Genk, 20-year-old Lyndsey Van Belle returned home to Club YLA during the winter break. A twist of fate means that the opponent in the quarter-finals of the Belgian Cup is also the ex-team of the Flemish Brabant.
A lot of ink has already been spilled about the financial troubles and the departure of a number of key players at the Genk Ladies. Lyndsey Van Belle returns to it one last time. “I prefer to leave talking about the financial aspect to other people, but in order to further develop as a football player it was opportune to look for other places. I want to compete with the top players in this competition at every training and in every match, and I also want to become a permanent fixture at the Red Flames. There was contact with a number of teams, but the conversations with the staff of Club YLA and coach Heleen Jaques meant that I didn’t hesitate for long. An extra step forward has been taken here within all levels of the club and I feel that this is the environment I need. I have been welcomed with open arms and I want to grow into an absolute stronghold here again.”
“I have been welcomed again with open arms”
Lyndsey VanBelle
In the quarter-finals of the Belgian Cup, blue and black receives… KRC Genk. Clearly an extra motivation for Lyndsey Van Belle. “The ideal moment to show my former team what I have to offer. Apart from my personal ambitions, we are also facing the team that kept us out of the cup final last year. It is clear that we will be playing football with a knife between our teeth from kick-off. Do I already have an idea of which ex-teammate will be my direct opponent? Not really. Coach Heleen Jaques knows that she can play me in different positions. It doesn’t really matter to me, only qualifying for the semi-finals counts.”
Failed dress rehearsal
The dress rehearsal for Club YLA turned out to be a disaster with a 4-0 defeat on the field of title favorite OH Leuven. “We tried to set OHL high, but that was not easy,” admits Lyndsey Van Belle. “We lacked some calmness with the ball, which meant that hasty decisions were made too often. There is no shame in losing against a team with so many qualities, but let it be clear that we want to erase that defeat on Saturday.”