The first match of 2026 is immediately a crucial one for the Mauves. On Thursday evening (8:30 PM), Besnik Hasi’s side will host KAA Gent at the Lotto Park in the quarter-finals of the Belgian Cup. On the eve of the match, the coach looked ahead to the cup encounter. “We have to show from the first minute that we are ready,” Hasi said at his press conference. Watch his full press talk now on Mauve TV.
The coach opened his first press conference of the year with positive news. “Marco Kana trained with the group all week without showing any reaction. I think he’s ready for the match.” Whether Marco can handle two games in one week remains to be seen, but with Lucas Hey suspended (for Sunday’s league match, ed.), Hasi has an extra option in central defence. “We have enough defenders in our squad to find a solution.” Ludwig Augustinsson also returns, while Ilay Camara is not yet available for the match against KAA Gent.
Last weekend, RSCA was among the winners at the Golden Shoe Gala. Colin Coosemans was named Goalkeeper of the Year, while Nathan De Cat received the award for Young Player of the Year. “That news was obviously received very positively by the other players and the staff; everyone was happy for them. We know how much work Colin has put in throughout his career. It’s great to see that effort now being rewarded with an individual prize. When his children handed him the trophy, I got a bit emotional myself. Luckily, the cameras weren’t on me at that moment,” the coach laughed. “For Nathan as well, it was a pity he didn’t go home with the Goal of the Year award. Stroeykens or Angulo could also have won it.”
The coach noted some surprising twists in Tuesday evening’s cup matches. “That’s typical of cup football: anything can happen. It’s never an easy night.” Club Brugge’s elimination away at Charleroi therefore serves as a warning for the Mauves. “We may be playing at home, but KAA Gent are a strong team. We have to bring quality from minute one and show that we are ready, so that we can get our fans on board straight away. We will really need the support of our loyal supporters.”
Do you want to cheer the Mauves on towards the semi-finals of the Belgian Cup as well? The last tickets for the match are now available at ticketing.rsca.be.