The Belgian volleyball finals between Knack Roeselare and Greenyard Maaseik are expected to deliver emotion, passion and perhaps even drama. This series also carries a special emotional weight because it marks the farewell of several West Flemish figures: Basil Dermaux, who will continue his career in Italy, and above all club icon Pieter Coolman, who is stepping away from club volleyball. One important detail, though: the 37-year-old middle blocker has accepted a call-up for the Red Dragons this summer, so his national-team story is not over yet.

The first final will be played on Friday in a hot indoor arena. This is very much a hall final, not beach volleyball. Coolman says he handles heat well, and he even recalls his late teens, when he played on the beach-volleyball circuit with Christophe Van de Plas and Ron Andelhof, often reaching semi-finals and finals before his summers became filled with national-team duties.

Even though he is still performing at a high level, Coolman has decided to stop at Knack. For him, it is not a case of quitting too early, but of leaving at the right moment. He feels his body is gradually wearing down, even if he is still playing very well. He believes he is still showing a good version of himself and hopes to end this chapter on a high note.

His career is packed with highlights: titles, cups, European campaigns and major nights with the Red Dragons. One of his personal peaks was Belgium’s win over Italy at the 2025 World Championship. On the other hand, the biggest disappointment was missing out on the 2024 Olympic Games by the narrowest of margins against Bulgaria.

Coolman will still be part of the Red Dragons squad this summer. He says he enjoyed the last campaign so much that he wanted to do it again. He will take part in the Volleyball Nations League and wants to experience the European Championship once more. In his view, Belgium currently has a very talented generation, with players such as Reggers, Dermaux, Rotty, Deroo and D’Hulst, and that group can still achieve something special.

Before that comes the Belgian final. Beating Achel in three matches is not exactly a sign of steady form, he admits, but he is not worried. Achel had some strong moments, and the home match against them was difficult. At the same time, the three matches against Achel may have helped Roeselare get back into rhythm after three weeks without a major test. If so, that could actually be useful for the title series.

Roeselare do lead the season’s head-to-head record, but Coolman points out that the matches were played some time ago and that the two teams are closely matched in quality. Maaseik have had a strong season, both clubs performed well in Europe, but Maaseik also let the Belgian Cup slip away.

For Coolman, the difference between the teams is clear: Maaseik rely more on individual talent, especially players like Meijs, while Roeselare depend more on the collective. At Knack, several players can score points. Serve and reception will be crucial again, because both teams can make the difference from the service line. In the cup final, that was where Maaseik came unstuck.

He also dismisses the rumours about a possible coaching swap between Verhanneman and Tuerlinckx. In his view, there is no truth in that at all. He says he has full confidence in Matthijs Verhanneman, who he believes is doing an excellent job and is backed by the staff, the squad and the board. He has no doubt Verhanneman will still be Roeselare’s coach next season.

Coolman also shares a long-standing friendship with Matthijs Verhanneman and Stijn D’Hulst away from the court. As friends, they sometimes talk about volleyball and club matters in greater depth, especially when problems arise or a player feels something before the staff does. But once training or a match starts, the relationship changes. “Then he is no longer ‘Matthijs’; he is ‘coach’,” he says.

He is sometimes described as a cunning player, and he does not mind that label. He likes using smart details to his team’s advantage if it helps them win. His mentality is simple: win everything, whether it is a board game or a major match. He says he carries that same mindset into supporting Club Brugge, his favourite football team, which also had a strong European campaign this season.

Still, he feels Roeselare could have gone even further in Europe. He is proud that the club managed to qualify for the next round despite a smaller budget than some rivals, and he says the European run was a great experience for everyone. At the same time, he admits there was a dip, especially in the match against Rzeszow after a very demanding spell. Played a month earlier, that match might have ended differently.

Back-to-back matches and long travel do take their toll physically. Coolman believes the three-week recovery period helped the squad reset. Roeselare used that time to rebuild momentum toward the final stage, and a couple of intense matches helped them find the right rhythm again at the right time.

His farewell will be an emotional one. After his last match for Knack, it will probably sink in more fully that a beautiful chapter of his life is coming to an end. He says he will miss the players, the dressing room, the camaraderie, the support, the fans and the whole Knack environment. But he insists this is the right decision. He plans to keep following volleyball, while focusing mainly on opening a second fitness centre.

Could he one day return to volleyball through his children? Coolman smiles and says his four-year-old son is already doing nothing but playing volleyball. Maybe, he jokes, he will one day become a youth coach himself.

Text: Marcel Coppens
Photo: Lotto Volley League

Final schedule
Friday 1 May: 20:30 Roeselare – Maaseik.

Tuesday 5 May: 20:30 Maaseik – Roeselare.

Friday 8 May: 20:30 Roeselare – Maaseik.

Possible Tuesday 12 May: 20:30 Maaseik – Roeselare.

Possible Friday 15 May: 20:30 Roeselare – Maaseik.