Red Flames

T’was a rumor at the VYSA Headquarters that the Girl’s Program would include a trip to the Belgium National Team’s Training Centre to play a couple of matches. That whisper became a scream and a memory that will be echoed about by players, coaches, our physio, Sport Psychologist and families making the trip.

The day started with another quality breakfast by Chef Anton, ok…. same as every other day (coaches need café). Both teams had a recovery stretching session in the morning and after some quiet time, made our way to another fantastic lunch. On to play the "Red Flames." 

FIFA flags and a guard greeted our bus, we proceeded into the state of the art home of Belgium futbol. Which included a 4 star hotel for guests of the FA and the countries’ stars. The likes of Hazard, Lukaku, Vertongen, Kompany etc… will be training here in prep for the 2014 World Cup.

In the middle of all this is the Training Centre building, with locker rooms and reception area. The hospitality was top notch with stewards opening doors for the players as the “Sound of Cleats” reminded all that there was still a game to be played.

In front of a couple of hundred fans (not ours), the 2000s kicked off and looked a wee bit rattled at the environment. We slowly find our legs and creep back into the match and some good possession creates a couple of chances. Into stoppage time of the first half and we are loose in possession, then punished with a clinical finish by a striker on form. Our young side in a big game, shows short-term memory, forgets about the goal and continues on creating chances in the 2^nd half. Deserves the equalizer and feels in the end we could have won it.

Our 1998s start their game on the back foot as the Belgium fans will the home team on to an early goal. The team character on the ’98s is quality and watching them sort out the moving pieces of the home side was inevitable. We equalize minutes before half-time on a set piece cross-curled to the back post and tapped in. The second half is played at a very high tempo with both teams creating chances, neither converts and both teams leave the field with a pleased crowd applauding.

WOW! What do we do now? Playing a National Team-check, at their facility-check, how about going to watch a pro-game, in their home stadium, in a must win game, sold out fans singing. CHECK! All four teams attended the RSC Anderlecht home match and were part of the almost 30,000 singing fans treated to a nil all draw.

Time to recover and off to Holland the next day.