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.

Lierse has, with an eye on next season, taken on a strikers trainer, the Dutchman Nico Jansen.

Jansen (15/01/53) has had a prestigious career as a striker. He began as a professional with FC Amsterdam, where he scored 41 goals in 78 matches in three seasons. In November 1975 he completed a transfer to Feyenoord. He scored 43 goals in 68 matches for the Rotterdam team. After that he moved to Belgium with RWDM, where he scored 55 goals in five seasons. In the last days of his career, he played for KSK Londerzeel and Boom. After a short spell as trainer, he managed several café businesses, including in Berlaar and Lier.
Jansen will coach the Lierse strikers 1-2 times a week.

You can watch here a report from Dutch TV over Nico Jansen.

This morning the peak of season tickets sold in 2000 was surpassed, tonight 2,2oo season tickets had been sold.
A real success, as compared to last season, 700 more season tickets than last season have been sold in the same period.

In this total the number of free season tickets (youth players etc) are not included.

Up to and including Thursday, your place from last season is reserved, from Friday it will go on sale.

As was advised earlier,the ticket office is open 7/7, from 10.00 to 21.00, with the following exceptions:
21 July : 10 – 15u
23 July : 10 – 18u
26 July : 10 – 18u
30 July : 10 – 18u
3 August : 10 – 16u
5 August : 10 – 18u
7 August : 10 – 20u
13 August : 10 - 17u
17 August : 10 – 13u
23 August : 10 – 20u
27 August : 10 – 12u
 

On Monday and Tuesday the Lierse players underwent medical tests from sports doctor Peter Vervoort, in preparation for the new season. Vervoort has worked together with Lierse for several years on preparation for
the new season, but from this season he’ll extend his services throughout the whole season, in consultation with the
coaching staff.

Dr Vervoort elaborates: ” The direct reason for this extensive approach is the bad physical condition of the players during last season. In the second half of matches they had problems. Our no.1 priority is to get the condition of the players back to a good level. The first step that was taken was to provide the players with a running schedule for the close season. From the tests done on Monday and Tuesday, it appears that 90% of the players have followed that schedule well, from which we can already see a conditional improvement of 30% compared to last season, which is a serious step in the right direction.”

The players had their blood, fat percentage & weight measured, and had to undergo various tests.

Vervoort: “We have done 3 types of tests in the last 2 days. The first was a condition - lacto test, whereby we measure
their stamina and endurance. With these results we can divide the players into smaller groups, and then give a specific
schedule per group in order to improve their condition.

The second was a balance - stability test, and the third a strength measurement. With these results we can target our
work on different muscle groups. The most important aim here is to prevent injury, last season we had far too many
muscle injuries.”

Contrary to last season there will be two weeks’ training before the first pre-season match.

Vervoort: “In consultation with the coaching staff we decided not to play any matches in the first two weeks, but to opt for a conditional preparation, so that we are ready for the start of the League. we have to be able to play 90 minutes at top level.”

How have the players reacted to this?

Vervoort: ” From the initial reactions of the players, it seems that they are happy with these tests, they have by and large followed their schedules, and show ambition to get conditionally stronger.”

On Monday and Tuesday all First team players are undergoing medical tests by Dr Vervoort.
On Wednesday morning the results will be discussed with the players, followed by a run through the Kesselse Hei.
In the afternoon at 14.30 the first training will take place in Bevel. An outstanding opportunity to see the new team at work for the first time.

Bart’s Themacafé will be serving free De Koninck to the supporters.

The various overseas Lierse players, are arriving in the coming days in Belgium, or have already arrived in the past few days. Sherif El Bialy arrived on Wednesday. El Bialy was expected at the start of the second half of last season, but an administrative hitch (Sherif played for the national army team) kept him in Egypt.Now all his papers are ok, and Sherif can begin on the preparation for next season.
Nderim Nedzipi and Stefan Nilkolic(see left photo) arrived on Friday. See HERE some photos of Sherif, Nedzipi and Nikolic in Lier town centre.
Wahed, Omar and Samir landed this morning in Schiphol. Wisdom, the Ghanese acquisition, arrives at the end of this week. Fawaz the young Egyptian left-footer, arrives in Belgium in August, and Leesaw, the Thai newcomer, in October.
Finally there are two triallists, Barakat Mahmoud Youssef Allam, a 24-year old Egyptian right-sided midfielder, is still waiting on his visa, but should arrive in the next few days. Eze Otorogu, a Nigerian striker, arrives on 18th July.

On Monday the new season starts for the Lierse players. In 2 days all players have to undergo medical tests from sports doctor Peter Vervoort.
This is the schedule in chronological order:
Monday: Janssens, Cavens, Meyers, Weuts, Frans, Ventose, Van der Jeugt, De Corte, Bojovic, Tshiala, Nikulic, Nedzipi, Buyens en De Witte.
Tuesday: Develer, Mertens, Goris, Peeters, De Graef, Dreesen, El Baily, Rimkus, Omar, Wahed, Samir
On Wednesday is the first training session, in Bevel. Thereafter there will be 2 training twice a day until the first pre-season friendly, with the exception of Sundays,when the players have to follow a running schedule at home. For the
first two weeks the training sessions will be in Bevel:
Wednesday 9th July: 10.00 and 14.30
Thursday 10th July: 10.00 and 14.30
Friday 11th July: 10.00 and 14.30
Saturday 12th July: 10.00 and 14.30
Sunday 13th July: Running schedule (home)
Monday 14th July: 10.00 and 14.30
Tuesday 15th July: 10.00 and 14.30
Wednesday 16th July: 10.00 and 14.30
Thursday 17th July: 10.00 and 14.30
Friday 18th July: 10.00 and 14.30
Saturday 19th July: 10.00 and 14.30
Sunday 20th July: Running schedule (home)
Monday 21st July: 16.00 training + Pulle-Lierse

This season Lierse are organising on its fanday (09/08) the first Miss Lierse election. Are you a spontaneous and fun girl over 18 years old, and have a connection with Lierse? Then maybe you’re the Miss we’re looking for!
Enrolment starts today, candidates can do this via the enrolment form on the flemish website, up to and including 25th July.
After completing the form, don’t forget to mail 2 recent photos to miss@lierse.com.

The pre-selection is one week before the fanday, and the final itself on the fanday.
In the final the Miss candidates will perform a parade, with sport clothes from Jako, and with more formal wear from See.Point.
Valuable prizes await candidates and the eventual winner. Don’t hesitate, and enrol now!