It has been fourteen years since Maaseik last lifted the Belgian Cup — a surprising drought for a club traditionally seen, alongside Roeselare, as one of the two powerhouses of Belgian volleyball. To understand why, we spoke with press officer Frank Van Roost, long‑time chronicler of the club.

Why has Maaseik not won the Cup since 2012?
Frank Van Roost: “There are many reasons: tough draws, key injuries, Roeselare’s dominance, transfers that didn’t work out, financial limits preventing us from signing Europe’s top young players… and at times, losing our own identity.”

You witnessed the golden era. What made that period so successful?
Van Roost: “Between 1997 and 2012, under Kristiansson and Heynen, we won twelve Cups. The club excelled at spotting talent early — players like Lebl and Platenik became European stars. But later, the best players left for Italy, France or Poland, and we couldn’t compete financially.”

Why did Roeselare manage better?
Van Roost: “They had continuity and strong ties with the Topsportschool. They kept their young talents and added quality foreigners. We had good coaches, but less stability.”

What can Maaseik still be proud of?
Van Roost: “Since 1976, the club has never left the top division and has never had financial issues. Our arena is one of the best in Belgium and fully owned by the club. Despite the distance, our fans remain loyal — six buses will travel to the final, plus two from Waremme.”

Has something changed in recent years?
Van Roost: “We’re investing again in young Belgian players: Perin, Fafchamps, Wolters, Bus… and we discovered big talents like Bogaerts. The goal is to rebuild a strong identity with discipline and mentality.”

But you also lose players like Meijs…
Van Roost: “True, he returns to Modena. But our scouting is excellent: Finoli is a brilliant setter, Freimanis the best middle blocker in the league. And we’re watching the Netherlands closely — we found 17‑year‑old prodigy Jordi van Laar there.”

Are you favourites in the Cup final against Menen?
Van Roost: “Not necessarily. Menen are in their fourth consecutive final and know exactly how to handle these matches. Our players have never played in this arena. I’d say 51 % for us, 49 % for them. But we’ve regained our soul: fight, cohesion, identity.”

Isn’t the team exhausted after the heavy European schedule?
Van Roost: “The travel was brutal, but the team grew through it. We’ve won many matches after losing the first set, even after 0–2. That shows resilience.”

What is the ultimate goal this season?
Van Roost: “Simple: win a trophy. After years of being a stepping‑stone club, we want to bring silverware home again.”

Text: MC
Image : Jürgen Sabarz