After the match at Excelsior Virton (1-4 victory), Anderlecht coach John van den Brom and his staff have announced the names of the 26 players who will leave for the 7-day stage in the Austrian Saalfelden on Monday 2nd July 2012.

Because of Sporting’s large squad, a number of players - in addition to the injured players Bouhna, Juhasz, Lukaku, Seck, Sterckx and Vargas - are not part of the selection. They will train in Neerpede this week. The Purple & White coach emphasizes that they will get their chance later on. “We are not forgetting about the lads who will stay at home, but there is no use in going on a stage with 42 players”, he stated. “That is why we have selected no more than 26 players. The others will train and/or receive medical care in Neerpede.”

Like the past years, several youngsters are part of the group during the stage. This time the youngsters present are Massimo Bruno, Bruno Godeau, Mehdi Tarfi, Davy Roef, Bryan Verboom and Jonathan Vervoort. Dennis Praet, who has already played for the first team, is also part of the group.

Internationals Denis Odoi and Guillaume Gillet will join the group on Monday to leave for Austria, as will Dieumerci Mbokani. Euro 2012 players Behrang Safari and Marcin Wasilewski only have to be back in Neerpede on Monday 9th July 2012.

The Austrian Saalfelden is still virgin territory for Sporting’s Dutch coach. “I have never been on a stage in Austria up until now”, he said. “But I have been told that we are staying at a very good hotel, that we have a perfect training pitch at our disposal and we will play a match against a serious opponent, so we have everything we need for a successful practice week.”

Selection : Bedi Mbenza, Bruno, Biglia, Canesin Matos, Deschacht, De Sutter, Gillet, Godeau, Hawsawi, Iakovenko, Jovanovic, Kaminski, Kanu, Kljestan, Kouyate, Marecek, Mbokani, Molins, Odoi, Praet, Proto, Reynaldo, Roef, Tarfi M., Verboom, Vervoort