Anderlecht has shifted its policy regarding the RSCA Futures, deciding that top prospects will no longer be held exclusively with the first team.
The club confirmed that Noa Ojea, Joshua Nga Kana, and Noah Kalonji are now available for the reserve squad, according to Voetbalkrant.com.
The decision follows a period where the three young players spent the majority of their time training with the senior squad but rarely appeared in matches. This lack of competitive playing time hampered their development and rhythm, while the RSCA Futures struggled to find form, collecting only one point during the early stages of their campaign.
The inclusion of Ojea, Nga Kana, and Kalonji resulted in an immediate turnaround for the reserve team. Following their return to the squad, the team secured a 1-0 victory against Lierse and a 4-0 win over Club NXT, earning six points from two matches.
The performance against Club NXT highlighted the contribution of the young trio. Ojea recorded both a goal and an assist, while Nga Kana scored the fourth goal in the closing minutes of the match. Kalonji also started the fixture, improving the quality of Karim Mokeddem's side.
The change in strategy addresses concerns regarding the RSCA Futures’ standing in the league. The club aims to ensure the reserve team avoids relegation trouble after a difficult start to the season, making the availability of these players a priority for maintaining squad depth.
Anderlecht is changing how it manages players to better balance senior squad needs and youth team development. While Ojea, Nga Kana, and Kalonji will continue to participate in training sessions with the first team, they are now guaranteed the match minutes necessary for their continued progression.
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