Wadi Degla FC has bought the rights to the Youth Center of Ebshway, a team from Faroum, some 125km from Cairo. The team plays in one of the three Egyptian Second Division leagues, the Second Division Group 1.

Wadi Degla Fc themselves finished in 2nd place in National 3rd Division, but submitted a complaint to the Egyptian FA against the Champions, in light of bribery. The decision is expected at the end of July. If the decision is found in favour of Wadi Degla FC, they will play in the National 2nd Division next season, but in a different league than the Youth Center, in Second Division Group 3.

Third Division Turnhout trained on Wednesday for the first time. Lierse players Kane Develer, Omar Rabie and Glenn Smet were loaned to Turnhout, and are part of the First team this season under the leadership of trainer René Desaeyere.
Other newcomers at Turnhout are Alexandri Rinaldi, Nicholas Tamsin (who trained last week with Lierse) and Hennie Noyen.

Maged Samy, Neel De Ceulaer and Donato Lallo were also present at the first training session at Leemshoeve, the training complex (7 well maintained pitches) of Turnhout. Samy spoke to the Turnhout squad before the training, and provided information about the collaboration between Lierse and Turnhout. He also spoke about the sporting ambitions of both clubs.

Turnhout play their first pre-season friendly on Sunday, against first division side Dender.

On Wednesday the Lierse players trained twice. In the morning an intensive session on the De Mol track. Physio Peter Vervoort was delighted afterwards, as the improvement from the first weeks’ training was noticeable.

In the afternoon a quieter, more technically aimed training was given in Bevel.

Nedzipi, Samir and Wahed, who trained more lightly on Monday and Tuesday due to slight injuries, rejoined the group today and trained fully. Timothy Dreesen did take a prescribed rest, due to a niggle on a knee tendon.

Schedule for coming days:
Thursday 10.00: Fitness, with emphasis on upper body muscles (60′)
Thursday 14.30: Pitch training in Bevel (90′)
Friday 10.00: Cross country run (60′)
Friday 14.30: Pitch training in Bevel (+ specific strikers training) (60-90′)
Saturday 10.00: Intensive pitch training in Bevel (120′)

For Monday mornings training, the Lierse players did fitness training. They were
split into 3 groups of 8, and combined stamina tests with strength tests.
Emphasis was on the lower body muscles. After a 1.5 hour session, there was a
local run.

In the afternoon the pitch training started with a technique warm-up. Afterwards there was a match of 2 x 30 mins, with 2 big goals, and 2 goals per team to defend.

Wahed, Samir and Ventose trained individually. Nedzipi had to stop training just before the end. He suffered a niggle on the knee after a tackle

Schedule for the coming days:

Tuesday 10.00: Kruikesberg (65′)
Tuesday 14.30: Pitch training in Bevel (90′)
Wednesday 10.00: Training De Mol (60′)
Wednesday 14.30: Pitch training in Bevel (90′)

On Saturday our lads only trained once, but it was a long session of 2.5 hours. After a long warm up and some pass and shoot sequences, the players were divided into 3 groups of 8. These three teams played matches amongst themselves, in which commitment was high, and nobody shrank from tackles and interceptions. The team not playing ran around the outside of the pitch whilst the other two teams played, followed by stretching.
The five newcomers all showed themselves to be reinforcements. The defenders had their hands full with Nikolic, a robust attacker, who played with a great deal of commitment, and knew how to find his way to goal. Nedzipi appeared to still have to adapt, but showed his ability on several occasions, and frequently indulged in horseplay with his direct opponent.
The Macedonian left footer scored a number of times, but also showed himself to possess a good right foot, with which he beat Vanderjeugt once. De Graef and Tshiala showed themselves to be reliable defenders, with the necessary constructive qualities. Dreesen held his own in the centre of defence.

New strikers’ trainer Nico Jansen was present for the first time, and regularly gave directions to the strikers.

There were four absentees from training: Wahed (thigh), Ventose and Samir (knee) were both suffering slight bother with their injuries. Peeters (achilles) can start rehabilitation on Monday.

The schedule for the next few days:
Monday 10.00: Strength and running training (60′)
Monday 14.30: Training in Bevel (90′)
Tuesday 10.00: Running training (65′)
Tuesday 14.30: Training in Bevel (90′)
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: Training twice per day
Saturday: 1 x training
Monday: First pre-season match at Pulle

Via THIS LINK you can view an extensive photo report of the training
 

Lierses keeper trainer Werner De Cnaep is following a keepers training course in London this Saturday, and on the next two Saturdays.
The course is run by the prestigious English FA, and is run at Merton College. Lierses young goalkeeper, Nathan Goris, is joining De Cnaep on the three-part course, which includes a number of practice sessions.

The sale of season tickets continues to go well. As of Friday 2,400 had been sold, that’s as many season tickets sold as by the first home match of last season.
As earlier announced the ticket office is open 7/7 from 10.00 to 21.00, with the below exceptions:

21 July : 10.00 – 15.00
23 July : 10.00 – 18.00
26 July : 10.00 – 18.00
30 July : 10.00 – 18.00
3 August : 10.00 – 16.00
5 August : 10.00 – 18.00
7 August : 10.00 – 20.00
13 August : 10.00 – 17.00
17 August : 10.00 – 13.00
23 August : 10.00 – 20.00
27 August : 10.00 – 12.00

Lierse trainer Herman Helleputte said it during his welcome speech to the players on Wednesday, and repeated it later in the day at the first pitch training. Lierse has just one aim this season, to get back to the top flight, and preferably as champions. Helleputte: “We absolutely want to return to the first division at the end of this season, that’s the ambition of everybody within the club. The ambition can also be seen in the investments made: our infrastructure has been substantially improved with an artificial training pitch, and investment in the pitch and stadium. Additionally the medical staff (Vervoort) and coaching staff (Jansen) have been expanded.”

Compared to last season Lierse can begin the season in total serenity, as confirmed by the Lierse trainer Helleputte:
“It’s the difference between day and night. Last year we were dead, now we’re alive and kicking. I’ve said that this morning to the players, they can now train and play in ideal circumstances, without non-sporting concerns, Maged Samy
has taken care of that.”

Meanwhile five of the seven acquisitions took part in training, and although it’s early days, Helleputte is optimistic: “Even at the first training you can already see that our acquisitions will be reinforcements, the level is substantially higher than last year. Competition is strong, with two players for every position everybody will have to be on their toes to be able to get a place in the team.”

The full video interview, including Helleputte’s opinion on the subjects of Utaka and Dissa, can be seen on Lierse TV.
On the same channel, you can see a behind-the-scenes view of the players get together, and the trainer’s speech.

Lierse trained twice on Thursday. In the morning the froup had a running session in Kessel, and were treated to a number of heavy rain showers. Christopher Meyers was absent through illness. Abdel Wahed also had to miss training, due to a slight thigh injury. A newcomer at the training was Jitram Eraly, a 17-yera old goalkeeper who came from NVLH Keerbergen, and who will be part of the reserve squad this season.
The schedule for the coming days:
Friday 10.00: Running in Kruikesberg
Friday 14.30: Pitch training in Bevel
Saturday 10.00: Pitch training in Bevel

Below you can view 2 photo series from 1st training day:
Photo report of the welcoming and running session
Photo report of first pitch training

On Wednesday at 09.00 the Lierse players gathered for the first time in the training centre in Kessel. After a welcoming speech from trainer Helleputte, the first two training sessions began.

In the morning the group went to Kruikesberg for a 45-minute run. The players were divided into 3 groups, based on the results of their physical tests.

In the afternoon, the first pitch training took place. Despite the inclement weather about 250 supporters went to Bevel. They watched the group with the various newcomers at work.

For the first training there were 25 players present: Vanderjeugt, Goris, Bojovic, De Corte, De Graef, Dreesen, Frans, Tshiala, Weuts, Omar, Buyens, De Witte, Sherif, Janssens, Mertens, Meyer, Nedzipi, Rimkus, Samir, Wahed, Cavens, Develer, Nikolic and Ventose.  Also Nicholas Tamsin took part in the training. The U-21 international is playing for
Turnhout this season, but is training with Lierse up to next Tuesday, as the training at Turnhout only starts the following day.

Sven Vanderjeugt has been suffering with a minor injury for the past few days, but trained with the keepers trainer in the afternoon, and afterwards with the group. Bob Peeters had an injection for his achilees injury, and has to rest until Monday.
The Ghanaian newcomer Wisdom, and the triallists Barakat and Otorogu, have still not arrived.

Today (Thursday) there are also two training sessions.