11/10/2019 12:00
Greenyard MAASEIK aiming for parties in its 60th season
News from the clubs
Maaseik, Belgium, October 11, 2019. Last Wednesday some 250 people, mainly sponsors and journalists, witnessed the presentation of the new-look team of Greenyard MAASEIK, the reigning Belgian champions and one of the teams due to contest the CEV Champions League Volley 2020.
As usual, the roster of Greenyard MAASEIK underwent some major changes. From the team that conquered its 16th national league title last year, only six players returned to the cosy city on the Dutch border. Last season’s outstanding players saw their performances rewarded with a transfer to other clubs in major European leagues. Opposite Jolan Cox moved to NICE VB, setter Jay Blankenau to Arkas IZMIR and Estonian middle-blocker Timo Tammemaa to TOURS VB.
In addition to Jan Zimmermann, who already experienced the thrilling title finals as a medical joker at the end of last season, five new players chose for Maaseik’s excellent reputation; these include Yurii Semeniuk, who eliminated the Red Dragons at the EuroVolley in September with Ukraine, Norwegian Jonas Kvalen and Dane Rasmus Breuning Nielsen. Belgium’s rising talent Lou Kindt exchanged the blue colours of arch-rivals Knack ROESELARE for the red and green of Greenyard MAASEIK.
Players of Belgium champions Greenyard MAASEIK introduced to sponsors and media
No wonder Jelte Maan is captain of the team again, since the Dutchman is already starting his twelfth season in Maaseik. Joel Banks, who last week saw his contract as Finland’s national coach extended by two years, starts his third campaign as head coach.
“It will be a special season,” President Mathi Raedschelders said while opening the team presentation. “The club will be celebrating its 60th birthday on March 27, 2020, I myself will be celebrating 35 years as chairman next year and our title sponsor Noliko/Greenyard has been supporting our club for 35 years. Ten years ago, we celebrated 50/25/25 in the same way. Back then, we played our first full season in our beautiful Steengoed Arena and we crowned it with the organisation of the Final Four of the CEV Cup with Bre Banca Lannutti CUNEO of Italy as the eventual winners. I hope our players can show us high-level Volleyball again with the league title and the Belgian cup as main goals. Moreover, I am confident we will deliver another strong campaign in the CEV Champions League, in which we are present in the group stage for the 19th consecutive year.”
This Sunday, Greenyard MAASEIK and eternal rival Knack ROESELARE will battle it out for the Supercup, traditionally the first trophy of the domestic season.
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