Ghent is the new hockey capital of Belgium. For the first time since 2007, the men’s and women’s national champions come from the same club. What is the secret behind the success? A look at the three crucial pillars: “Antwerp residents used to not go to Ghent, now they defy the Kennedy tunnel every day.”
Patron Pascal Kina
The outlines of the sporting plan go back to 2016. Seven years ago they drew up the “Project 2020” in Ghent.
The great inspirer?
Pascal Kina, father of Red Lion Antoine Kina and also coach and technical director at Gantoise. Together with his assistant Kevan Demartinis, also head coach of the women, they successfully pulled the sporting cart.
Pascal Kina already became champion five times in the past as a coach, twice with the women’s team of Gantoise and three times with the men’s team of the Waterloo Ducks.
“His share is very large”, says hockey commentator Floris Geerts. “Kina is one of the best coaches in our country, but as technical director also simply the architect of this Gantoise.”
“He set up a project and structure, attracted the right people and started building the team. Without losing sight of the youth academy.”
Pascal Kina is a key figure in the advance of the Ghent club.
Accommodation: from Ottenstadion to water sports course
Anyone who recently passed along the Ghent Watersportbaan couldn’t possibly miss it.
The impressive sports complex of Gantoise arose on the banks of the iconic location. What a difference with the charming but outdated facilities in Gentbrugge, where the club – with football club KAA Gent as a good neighbor – was active for more than a century.
It did Gantoise no harm at all. After the move in 2017, large companies also found their way to the club more easily, as a result of which sponsorship income multiplied ten times.
Six entrepreneurial houses also play a crucial role in the background. Among them also the discreet Saverys shipping company family – for many KAA Gent fans the dream local and wealthy buyer.
The entrepreneurs in question reinvested the proceeds from the sold sites in Gentbrugge, which means that Gantoise has even had a second location along the Watersportbaan since last year.
It has, among other things, a hockey arena with a seating capacity of 2,400 places and a modern club building.
“They have gone from a bruise with the men to a real top club”, Geerts saw.
The new complex of Gantoise.
Local monopoly
Ghent the hockey capital of Flanders?
The distribution of our first division teams on the map – see below – only makes it more striking. Gantoise is the only top club west of Brussels and Antwerp.
The location of the Ion Hockey League clubs
That “loneliness” can also be seen as one of the great strengths of the national champion. While clubs from Antwerp and Brussels constantly have to compete for local talent, Gantoise is the only one fishing in a large pond.
Even players from West Flanders and Northern France end up at Gantoise on their way to hockey success. And top performers see much less of the added value of moving to Antwerp or Brussels.
On the contrary. Nowadays, players are increasingly making the reverse move. “Antwerp residents did not go to Ghent in the past”, says Geerts. “Now Roman Duvekot defies the Kennedy tunnel every day.”
As a result, Gantoise has been allowed to call itself the largest hockey club in Belgium since 2021.
“Seven years ago we started with 450 members. Now we already have 2,000 and we keep growing”, says Kina proudly.
Where will that end?
2023-05-23 10:02:45
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