Transfers in the Belgian league
Some big signings for both Gantoise and Braxgata
The Belgian Honour Division has become on of the top 3 domestic leagues in Europe alongside the rise of the national men’s team. So far only Waterloo Ducks, with a big thank you to their goalie Vincent Vanasch back then, were able to take the European crown in the EHL But few will dispute the quality of the Belgian league.
Ahead of the new season many will look at what Braxgata will be capable of doing because of their “mercato”. They lost a major player from their strikers with Nelson Onana. The new striker comes from Spain, from RC Polo de Barcelona: Marc Reyne. However their most important reinforcements are in defence. With Arthur Van Doren, coming over from Bloemendaal to Braxgata instead of his home club Dragons. Rumours are he might be the highest paid player in the world because of this transfer 😉 And maybe even more important the late transfer of Pirmin Blaak from Oranje-Rood in the Dutch Hoofdklasse. The world’ best (according to most) goalie currently, who just won the gold medal for the Dutch in the Paris Olympics.
The other club who went big in hiring new recruits is reigning champions Gantoise. They will lose 3 French players who following the disappointing Paris Games return to their home country. Their big signing is to finally add a strong weapon on the top of the D. Penalty corner specialist Alexander Hendrickx is moving back to Belgium from Pinoké in Amsterdam to Ghent instead of his home club Antwerp.
And they did not stop there. Adding a second strong battery on the top of the D with Maico Casella who played for several seasons in the Dutch Hoofdklasse (for HGC and Tilburg) but last year played back in his home country Argentina.
Dragons, one of the traditionnal strongholds in the Honour Division, remained very quiet on the transfer market. They’re not losing anyone and only got themselves a new coach with Jeroen Baart. Who returns to Belgium from 5 years with Oranje-Rood bringing the successor of Oranje-Zwart finally back to the top of the tables in the Hoofdklasse.
Waterloo Ducks found their two major reinforcements from inside the Belgian league. Victor Wegnez is without a doubt their biggest signing in many years. Originally from Daring he moved several years ago to Racing and now to Watducks.
The other big name is Tomas Domene, the drag flicker from Argentina who played for Orée before. Waterloo Ducks however loses their French players and from these especially Victor Charlet is a big loss. They move back to France.
Finally Léopold, still the club with the most titles in Belgium, got two important incoming transfers with strikers Nelson Onana and José Basterra from Club de Campo Madrid.
The other clubs exchanged players among themselves. And we’re seeing many Spanish players of different levels of quality join the Honour Division.
The league gets underway at September 8 and champions Gantoise has an opening game against rivals Léopold for the first top game of the season.