After the disappointed reaction from Chris Janssens after the defeat at Deinze, Lierse’s captain looks forward to the upcoming matches full of confidence.

Chris Janssens: “I was very disappointed after the match on Saturday, and although I’m an eternal optimist, I thought it was over for us. I thought after such a performance, it was difficult to think otherwise.
But we’ve put our heads together, and are going full throttle into the next 3 matches. If you look at the results of rivals Antwerp and KVSK United, we have to conclude that nothing has really changed, other than we have one less match to close the gap. It’s simple really, we first have to look at ourselves and win the next 3 matches, and then hope that Antwerp, only win maximum 2 of their next 3, which are all away from home.
Than you get the match to decide 5th place on the last day of the season at the Bosuil (home of Antwerp), and then we have to do it there. Let’s begin by winning our match tomorrow, and hope that Antwerp don’t win theirs. They’re playing at Waasland, who still need a few points to be safe, and at home they don’t give many goals away. Our other rival, United, could also slip up, because they still have to play Tubize twice. So it doesn’t look as bad as last weekend.”

But if Lierse wants to win their own matches, they’ll have to play a lot better than last Saturday?
Janssens: “That’s right, and we know that too. Many lads played under par at Deinze, and realise that only too well. Everyone is well aware that we have to pull ourselves together, and respond with a resounding performance, for ourselves, the club, and especially for the fans, who were so present in numbers at Deinze. Tomorrow we have to fight for every square centimetre of ground, it’s all or nothing. In any case we can put out our best
side, as Jarju is back, who is so important for our team.”

To still have a chance to make the play-offs, you have indeed to win the next 3 matches, but previously this season Lierse has been unable to put together 3 successive victories?
Janssens: “That indeed appears to have been our biggest problem in recent weeks. We have to believe that it’s possible, we realise that everything is still possible, provided that we give 100% effort, starting tomorrow, our first victim has to be Union.”

For the home match on Wednesday against Union, the technical staff can count again on Thomas De Corte, who returns from suspension, and Mustapha Jarju (eye injury). The Gambian topscorer went to the doctor this afternoon, and got the all clear.
The following players are still out injured; Jarju (eye), Mertens (adductor), Peeters (achilees) and Ventose (stomach muscle).
Ernandes and Vleminckx drop out of the squad selection, Meyers and Weuts play with the reserves tonight.

The 16-man squad:
Petar Bojovic, Yoni Buyens, Jurgen Cavens, Thomas De Corte, Seth De Witte, Kane Develer, Frederik Frans, Nathan Goris, Chris Janssens, Charlie Miller, Mohammed Omar, Lorenzo Rimkus, Achmed Samir, Sven Van der Jeugt, Jerome Van der Zijl and Mohammed Wahed

K.Lierse S.K and Wadi Degla are supporting two social projects in Lier, De Stappaert and Ons Gedacht, so the club confirmed today at a press conference at the Lier Town hall.

For every goal that the first team scores, each of these projects will receive 500 Euro. The initiative has been taken to give something back to the town of Lier, and then preferably to those people who need it most.

De Stappaert
VZW De Stappaert has offered shelter and counselling for ten years for youngsters with problems in Lier and the surrounding area. ” We strive for social and society reintegration of problem youngsters. In the system we coach young people to be able to live alone and support themselves. Furthermore we offer residential shelter in two houses for five girls and six boys from the ages of 17-25,” says Herman Hauquier. “The work of our leaders centres around teaching of financial and administrative management,
employment or studying, behaviour and household tasks. The target public include, amongst others, victims of incest, young delinquents, youngsters with educational problems and the homeless. Annually we coach forty-odd youngsters towards an indedpendent life,” added Herman.

Ons Gedacht
Ons Gedacht is the ‘Lierse Association where the poor have their say”. Every Tuesday between 11.00 - 13.00, you are welome in our talkshop for a cup of coffee, a listening ear or a cosy chat. Every two months we come together in the Kluis. Then we talk about what we want to see change with the poor in Lier. We start the evenng with a nice bread meal.

Both projects were chosen in consultation with mayoress Marleen Vanderpoorten.

Chairman Leo Theyskens: ” We, Maged Samy and myself, and the people on the Lierse Board, have alraedy toyed with the idea for a while of giving something back to the town. Lier and its inhabitants have always stayed supporting us, also when we had difficult times. Therefore we wanted, now it’s going better for our club, to support these projects. Because the idea developed just before our match against Tienen, the counter starts from there. That’s to say that we have alraedy scored six goals. One against Tienen, four against Beveren, and one against Eupen. Therefore both De Stappaert and Ons Gedacht are assured of 3000 Euro. And of course the season isn’t over yet.”

A deposit of the total balance was handed over today during the press conference to the representatives of De Stappaert and Ons Gedacht.