For ten years, Cristina Moga was the highly regarded coach of the Antwerp Ladies, currently better known as the SAB Diving Brabo Antwerp Volleyteam.

On Wednesday evening at 8 pm, the Antwerp women will play in the Arena in the CEV Cup against the Dutch club from Sliedrecht. No longer with Cristina at the helm, because the former excellent setter from Herentals has stopped and her former assistant Bram Van Herck has taken over her role.

But Moga will definitely come to support the team, because she was at the basis of that European Cup participation. And that was eight years ago, because in her second season at Antwerp she secured a European ticket against a Finnish team, but despite a 3-2 win in the home match, her team was eliminated afterwards. “Lisa Van den Vonder was the setter then, but the current setter Sara De Donder was already in the squad too.

But she is the only player in the current team who gained European experience that way,” Cristina Moga remembers as if it were yesterday.

How did the Antwerp Ladies surprise everyone last season and earn European volleyball?

Moga: “Compared to the previous season, we had few changes in the team. Continuity in the group was therefore quickly established. We started the season excellently and around New Year we were, to everyone’s surprise, in first place. Cohesion, automatisms with a team that had already been playing together for one or two years made it an ideal season. Finished third, won the Antwerp Cup and Britt Ruysschaert also became Belgian beach champion. A beautiful farewell. For me too, even though that season I did not coach any differently from other years.”

Aren’t you afraid that the team is currently a little weaker?

“I do not think so. The players who stopped had made that decision earlier: combining it with work, studies and a sixth year of medicine was no longer possible. But the broad base of the team remained: captain Sara De Donder (girlfriend of Aalst setter Seppe Van Hoyweghen) must be about the best setter in the League, Laura Meynckens and Caitlin Van de Perre changed position but remain in the starting line-up. With Enna Eyer we have a young, tall, explosive player with a lot of insight and growth potential. Our libero also has experience and a few players from the second team came over. Bram Van Herck is the new coach with a lot of enthusiasm, who changed little in our playing system.”

Will that be enough to make things difficult for Sliedrecht?

“We are curious about that. The Dutch opponent won the Supercup this season and won their three league matches, each time 3-0. Not simple then. I have been told that they have a lot of power; exactly what Antwerp lacks. But we have to rely on smart, tactically strong volleyball. So it can go either way. Our advantage is that we have nothing to lose. We just have to make it an enjoyable match. I think it can be a beautiful match to watch.”

Does Antwerp have enough budget to reach the next round?

“I have no insight into that situation, but when we played in Europe eight years ago, the board gave us the choice: more budget for a European trip or an extra player. I chose the first, because a European match is unique for every player. Even if that trip to Finland cost quite a pretty penny!”

After about fifteen years as a coach, don’t you get homesick for coaching?

“I still go and watch quite a few matches, including at Achel, where my son Andy is in the core. They have a good team, they lost last weekend against Maaseik, but my son was ill in bed at the time. It will work out there! I also follow quite a few matches on screen and I have to admit that, on the one hand, I still get the itch to coach.

But on the other hand, I am glad that I no longer have to rush to training after work in seven directions. Moreover, I am quite perfectionist and would get very nervous if everything is not well organised.”

Text: Marcel Coppens
Photo: Lotto Volley League