Few big names, but a lot of talent and experience. KVC Westerlo secured the title in 1B yesterday. Who are the players who once again guided the tradition club to the first division? A show.
LUKAS OF AOO (Midfielder, Belgian, 31 years, 26 matches, 4 goals)
Captain and indispensable pawn. Played in all 26 league games. Just like with Cercle Brugge, he has been wearing Westerlo’s shirt for more than 100 matches. Also drives a lot of kilometers with his car, because he is a regular West Fleming.
KYAN VAESEN (Attacker, Belgian, 20 years, 24 matches, 4 goals)
Son of ex-pro Nico Vaesen. That’s why he was born in England, because Dad defended Huddersfield’s goal. A real Western youth product.
THOMAS VAN DEN KEYBUS (Midfielder, Belgian, 20 years, 25 matches, 1 goal)
Club Brugge mercenary and benjamin of the team. The central midfielder made his debut in the Champions League against Zenit Saint Petersburg at the age of 19.
TURE DIERCKX (Middenfielder, Belgian, 26 years, 7 matches, 3 goals)
A well-known name given his past at Club Brugge and Antwerp, among others. Started the season at Westerlo with 3 goals and as many assists in 7 matches. Then disaster struck: Dierckx tore his cruciate ligaments.
PIETRO PERDICHIZZI (Defender, Belgian, 29 years, 21 matches, 1 goal)
The curse has finally been broken. Left Antwerp in 2016 and saw the club promote the following season. At Union – where he played 6 seasons – exactly the same happened. Westerlo has now hit the mark.
MAXIMUM OF CUYPER (Defender, Belgian, 21 years, 23 matches, 4 goals)
Is rented from Club Brugge. Started this season as a winger but progressed to the left back position. Made his professional debut against Manchester United in the Europa League.
RUBIN SEIGERS (Defender, Belgian, 24 years, 24 matches, 0 goals)
Belonged to the “Bronzen Lichting” that finished 3rd at the World Cup under 17. The Genk youth product made its debut under Clement as a duplicate of Maehle.
EDISSON JORDANOV (Defender, Bulgarian, 28 years, 20 matches, 1 goal)
As a great talent once picked up by Dortmund. However, he never played for the first team, except for two practice matches under Jürgen Klopp. Played 67 times for the second team. Born in Germany but selected for the Bulgarian national team. Three times national champion in Luxembourg with F91 Dudelange.
DAVID JENSEN (Doelman, Deen, 30, 25 matchen, 10 clean sheets)
From New York to the Campine. It is the step the Danish goalkeeper made last summer. Is rented from the American NY Red Bull. That club found out after a successful period at Utrecht, where he was a crowd favorite. Complete goalkeeper.
LYLE FOSTER (Forward, South African, 21 years, 22 matches, 4 goals)
The South African international already has a history in Belgian football. Played a season for Cercle Brugge in 1A in 2019-2020. The striker was loaned this season by the Portuguese Vitoria Guimaraes.
ERDON DACI (Attack, North Macedonian, 23 years, 23 matches, 9 goals)
He is the team’s top scorer with 9 goals. Was already called up for the national team, but still waiting for minutes to play.
JAN BERNAT (Midfielder, Slovakia, 21 years, 25 matches, 8 goals)
A great talent. Combines creativity with scoring ability. Led his youth club MSK Zilina first two preliminary rounds of the Conference League before moving to Westerlo. Also Slovenian youth international.
NOEL SOUMAH (Defender, Senegalese, 27, 12 matches, 1 goal)
Decorated a dream transfer from WS Brussels to KAA Gent in 2016. But that quickly turned into a nightmare after a heart defect was diagnosed. For a while, a professional career seemed a thing of the past. But after treatment, the defender at Westerlo breathed new life into his career.
IGOR VETOKELE (Attack, Angolan, 30, 15 matches, 1 goal)
Charlton once paid 3 million for him to the Danish top club Copenhagen. Had a chaotic period in England with a relegation. Afterwards ended up on a loan basis at Zulte Waregem and STVV. Was a great talent who went through all the national youth series, but already played six international matches for Angola. Schipperde at Westerlo between the bench and the base.
