Sunday’s cup final is a re-edition of the legendary edition of 1992, when Antwerp won the cup after extra time (2-2) and 22 penalties (9-8). At KV Mechelen, Cisse Severeyns came in, who would play the European Cup II final with Antwerp a year later. “The rivalry between the 2 clubs used to be much bigger,” the 55-year-old former striker recalls.
“It was very hot that day,” Severeyns opens his story from that time. “But I also remember the match well. 10 minutes before the end I came in for Frank Leen at 1-0 behind.”
“Zlatko (Arambasic) took care of extra time, in which the score went the other way. Eykelkamp made it 1-2 with a place ball, after which Czerniatynski enforced penalties with a ball that was pushed to his feet.”
The match did not take place in Brussels, by the way, but in Bruges. “Because they were renovating Heysel.”
The 2 rival groups of supporters from Antwerp therefore had a further relocation ahead of them. “They created a lot of atmosphere in the stadium, but that was not the case with fan villages like now. People then only came to the match.”
We will see much less of that rivalry now, notes Severeyns. “When Mechelen was restarted after the liquidation at the beginning of this century, supporter groups from Anwerp contributed financially. Since then, the clubs have had a very good relationship.”
“You can also see that in the stadium when Antwerp plays against KV Mechelen. And when KVM played against Beerschot in recent years, people sometimes sang for Antwerp in the stands.”
Frankly, there used to be a lot more rivalry than there is now. Supporter groups from Antwerp contributed financially to the restart of Mechelen.
Back to the game back then.
Lei Clijsters, the captain of KV Mechelen, missed the 22nd penalty, so that Antwerp won. “Lei remained quite level-headed about that”, Severeyns remembers. “I don’t like doing that and I’m not good at it either. If there’s a scapegoat, go look for it in the first 5 trappers, hey.”
Remarkable: at the end of the season Severeyns would exchange Mechelen for Antwerp. The pointed attacker came from the youth of Antwerp and had already played and scored there between 1984 and 1988, in 1988 he was Belgium’s top scorer, after which it went to Pisa.
In 1989 he started 3 years of KVM. “Antwerp had already been in touch after the 1st year, but I had to undergo knee surgery. During the cup final, there was no question of a transfer. At the end of the season, John Cordier, the strong man of KVM, wanted some getting rid of players. I was one of them.”
“Antwerp was interested and that was also my favourite, because I had already had good years there. I do remember an interview with Hans-Peter Lehnhoff from Antwerp in Gazet van Antwerpen, who said that Cisse is the piece that is still missing at Antwerp. Maybe that also played a role.”
3 finals in a row
The 1992 cup final was a highlight, but at the same time a low point in the career of the 7-time Red Devil.
“You should know: I played 3 finals in a row. In 1991 the cup final, lost against Club Brugge, in 1992 against Antwerp and in 1993 the European final with Antwerp, lost against Parma. It was a guarantee not to win, if I was there.”
“You do indeed have the “road to”, with all episodes, but a finale is 1 experience, 1 day. And that last chapter has always gone wrong. So those are highs, but also lows, because you lose.”
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Severeyns scored at Wembley in the final against Parma in 1993.
“I will give Antwerp the advantage on Sunday”
Back to the future, to today and Sunday. Severeyns still follows football very closely.
“I’m going to watch all Antwerp’s home games. As one of the “Legends” I’m still invited. As the club’s all-time post-war top scorer, I think I can be in the list of players who have meant something to Antwerp.”
Severeyns gives Antwerp the advantage on Sunday. “Look at the rankings. Antwerp is 3rd, KVM did not reach the top 8.”
“But anything can happen in 1 match. Imagine a red card after 5 minutes. You can also dominate for 90 minutes and lose 0-1. But I give Antwerp a little more chance.”
Who does he see playing a leading role on Sunday? “At Mechelen: Storm in a good day, captain Schoofs and Hairemans. The latter is the best KVM player based on this season.”
“At Antwerp it is better overall with a lot of individual capacities. Several players can score. The defense is very closed and Butez already has 19 clean sheets, 6 more than Mignolet. Antwerp is therefore more balanced.”
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Jean Butez is a rock in the surf near Antwerp.
Severeyns surprised: “I still play football in the 5th provincial”
The former goal getter is now 55 years old and has been a real estate agent for 17 years. He has no role in football anymore. “But I still play a little bit myself,” he surprised.
“At De Sjarels in what I call “5th provincial”. We don’t train, but it is a real competition that grew out of working-class football and football for friends’ clubs.” It’s about KVDV, Kempisch Football Door Friends Clubs.
And the old fox hasn’t forgotten his tricks yet: “On experience and with rest on the ball, we still make our goal. But I must honestly say that I play more tennis than football these days.”
2023-04-29 06:15:00
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