A merger or an acquisition or whatever, for Dirk Van Son it makes little difference. “For me, Soba will disappear definitively next Sunday after the last game of the season.” — © GOYVAERTS
Soba is dead, long live Soba! After it was announced a few weeks ago that the tradition club would cease to exist at the end of this season, there is now a kind of restart. The solution: Mercurius, that other Antwerp tradition club, is taking over Soba. The first team will play at the Kiel in the second nationwide, probably under the name Soba-Mercurius. The second team continues to work in Berchem in the first provincial.
Ludo Hendrickx
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“Let’s be clear: for me, Soba will disappear for good after the last match of the season,” says ‘mister Soba’ Dirk Van Son. “Officially we are merging, but in fact Mercurius is just taking over Soba. No one from the current Soba board is making the switch. They simply receive our hours in the sports hall, the concession of our canteen, the entire household effects (including a fully equipped kitchen) and our registration number. The latter is very important, because our youth fund depends on it. These are fees for educating young people. Players from the first and second division, such as a Vincent Kesteloot or a Vincent Vanden Berghe, bring in a good amount of money every year. Our canteen also generates an annual income of more than 10,000 euros. With enough volunteers, you can even keep it open at indoor football, badminton or athletics events.”
© fasseur foto mw
five-year plan
Mercury chair Erika Mackelberghe is already delighted with the deal. “The first year it actually remains two clubs, with a clear link to Mercury. We have very clear sporting ambitions, detailed in a five-year plan that can be found on our website. The core of our operation will of course remain in Berchem, but we now have many more options, including that canteen under our own management. There are many opportunities for us in that area. With the many volunteers we have, it should all be possible. This gives us a profit of several years. Our first team will therefore play in Hoboken, the second team will continue to work in our own hall in Berchem. With our many youth teams and with our women’s department, we have to work out the arrangement even further.”
The sporting leadership will be in the hands of Carl Dhaenens, Matt Mignolet – who will be the trainer of the first team – and new coach Frank De Beuckelaer, who will lead the second team.
Mackelberghe: “They now have the task of putting together two cores in a short time.”
“The boys from the first team are all moving on to national,” says Carl Dhaenens. “There are few problems for the second team. That will be a kind of training team. Although we are still looking for a few guys.”
Frank De Beuckelaer adds: “We have a very strong U18 class. In addition, some boys from the U21 are also ready for the better work. I like working with young guys and will go all out next season. This merger puts us several years ahead of schedule. Also, don’t forget our women. They have been Mercury’s strength in recent years. In addition, they may also be able to rise to national levels.”
