U8 from KSVOudenaarde wins the East Flanders provincial cup

They had to complete a long route before the U8 of KSV Oudenaarde were allowed to play the final against FC Dender yesterday Wednesday, in the WM Youth Cup-Gold-, because that is what it is officially called.

A whole series of matches had to be completed for this.

They already played against that FC Dender, KRC Harelbeke, Eendracht Aalst, KMSK Deinze and finally the final against FC Dender and were able to beat all teams with attractive football.

The match itself went as they had dreamed. They wanted a quick lead and further expanded it, and they succeeded. Just before the last quarter it was 10 – 4 and they were able to take things a bit calmer. Wrong cat, FC Dender felt there was more to it than four goals and scored no fewer than five in a row. But KSVO recovered quickly, also thanks to the active coaching of Samir and Dimitri, and ultimately defeated a good and solid footballing FC Dender quite easily. It was 15-10. Cup inside and the happy dance could begin. Even Dimitri danced along!

Cup formats are being set up throughout Flanders for U8 to U19. The remaining teams (because there is actually already a preliminary round) then play a number of matches, the last two of which go to the final round.

A great performance by the team that has two trainers, Samir Boufnane and Dimitri Hautekeete.

Not an easy task considering both their sons also play for both U8 teams.

And so they at least hold the provincial cup of which they can rightly be proud.

And now both KSV Oudenaarde and FC Dender – because the regulations stipulate that the last two remaining teams both go to the final round – will go to Nijlen where the final matches will be played on May 5, 2024 with teams from the other 4 Flemish zones and 2 Walloon zones, with the Belgian Cup at stake.

And so we are curious what these talented boys can achieve in the final sprint and whether they can bring the Belgian Cup to Oudenaarde. For your information, KSVO’s U13 was also able to qualify for the final round.

The following players were on the (various) match sheets:

Oscar Van Hauteghem, Emile Callebaut, Yassin Ak, Gust Matton, Sebastian Saveyn, Karel Cnudde, Viktor Vande Velde, Matisse Hautekeete, Odiel Vander Meeren, Redhouane Khalfi and Naïm Boufnane.