A blow to everyone who cares about the team. The women of KV Mechelen will play their last matches in the Lotto Super League this season, because the club has decided not to continue with the project. After Woluwe, the second team at the highest level is disappearing. Does Belgian women’s football suffer from a structural problem? Sporza Daily will find out.
KV Mechelen disappears from the highest stage in women’s football.
The club’s main board does not want to submit the license for next season. “However, our file is ready,” shares Marie-Paule De Bell, team manager of the women. “But the financial picture was wrong.”
More costs than revenues and not much progress in terms of sport – KVM is in the basement of the Women Super League with 6 points.
“Yet we are deeply affected, because the news came unexpectedly. My phone doesn’t stop ringing either. A WhatsApp group has even been set up with some self-employed people to look for funds to continue to exist.”
But whether that will be enough to meet the new conditions of the Pro League seems very unlikely.
Ambitious plans
“No, it is indeed not nice news,” admits Lorin Parys, CEO of the Pro League. “On the other hand, it is not completely unexpected.”
Before the curtain fell at KV Mechelen, there was also the end of White Star Woluwe in the Super League. And there are also signals from Charleroi and Genk that the situation is not very rosy.
Things cannot continue like this, the Pro League also realizes. And so on March 29, it will come up with a brand new, ambitious plan to take Belgian women’s football to a higher level.
This does involve stricter entry conditions: “But what they entail will only then be discussed. What I can already say is that we are going for quality. Competitiveness must increase.”
More visibility, more growth, young talents and financial strength: these will most likely be the requirements that destroyed smaller clubs such as Woluwe and KVM.
It also says a lot about what the men at the top of the club think about women’s football.
Dominique Reyns, KAA Gent Ladies
Yet it is an event that is regretted even by the competition.
“I was shocked by it,” says Dominique Reyns, chairwoman of the KAA Gent Ladies. “Especially because it was less than two years ago that I convinced Mechelen to take his car.”
Although she does not want to point out that the Pro League is to blame.
“It also says a lot about how the men at the top at the club think about women’s football. I don’t think the budget that the Mechelen team takes will make the difference.”
Reyns believes that the men’s teams must do their part in the growth process: “Only if everyone continues to believe in women’s football, I am convinced that it will yield something in the future.”
A perspective that is not shared in Mechelen and Woluwe.
Dominique Reyns regrets the farewell to KV Mechelen.
The road to self-sufficiency
So the most important question in the matter arises: can Belgian women’s football grow if it is not self-sustaining?
“It should be on the rise, especially if you look at the Flames,” says our expert Hermien Vanbeveren. “But if 2 or 3 clubs disappear now, it will take two steps back in its evolution.”
The biggest problem for the clubs remains the lack of attention – and sponsors who follow in the wake of the viewers.
“For example, I was at Anderlecht-Standard last weekend. An absolute top match, but there were only a few hundred fans. While in the Premier League a TV contract of 20 million pounds per year is on the table.”
“It is high time that Belgium joins the bandwagon, or the gap with abroad will become too big and good Belgian players will be forced to leave. We must absolutely avoid that,” Vanbeveren concludes.
Naturally, the majority of the investments for the time being come from the first team, but you have to look for a different formula.
Guilian Preud’homme
Although there are also examples of teams that do believe in the growth potential of women’s football.
“At Club Brugge, both NXT and YLA (the promising and women’s team, ed.) try to be as self-sufficient as possible,” manager Guilian Preud’homme shares.
“Each team has its own sales manager who looks for income. Naturally, the majority of the investments for the time being come from the first team, but you have to look for a different formula.”
Preud’homme believes that the future lies in being completely self-sufficient. Not an easy task in another sport that follows different laws.
“Because if you are held responsible, you will be sharper and look for the right investment or perfect transfer. That will pay off in the long run.”
Guilian Preud’homme – son of Michel – sees future prospects at Bruges.
Yet it seems that only the top clubs that can put aside some money for the women’s team will remain above water in the coming years.
“I especially hope that something will be done about it for the small clubs,” Reyns adds. “Because this trend will not benefit women’s football.”
And so on March 29, the proposal will be viewed with suspicion by both large and small.
Imke Courtois provides additional explanation in Laat:
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2024-03-05 07:15:00
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