KSK Heist will host Royal Antwerp FC in the round of 16 of the Belgian Cup on Saturday 17 October. The match at the municipal sports stadium in Heist-op-den-Berg kicks off at 5:30 PM.
Heist had little say in the scheduling of this tie. The Pro League and rights holder Play Sports set the date and time, with local police also consulted. "Heist has mainly had to undergo the decision," says general director Dennis Henderickx. The idea of moving the match to Antwerp's Bosuil stadium was eventually abandoned.
Organisational challenge
The club expects around three thousand supporters and hopes for a sold-out stadium to create a special atmosphere. "It will certainly be a heavy organisational burden for us, but we are looking forward to it," the club said. They are mobilising many volunteers for what is both a sporting and organisational highlight of their season.
Some Heist players would have preferred to play at Antwerp's ground, while others believe they have a better chance of an upset at home. Midfielder Jasper Goossens combines his role at Heist with scouting youth players for Antwerp U10, meaning he regularly attends matches of Lierse, Westerlo, KV Mechelen and Beerschot.
For Antwerp, this cup tie comes after a difficult spell in the league. The team currently sits 13th in the Jupiler Pro League with seven points from seven games. Their last five league matches yielded one draw and four defeats. The full standings show Antwerp trailing leaders Union St. Gilloise by twelve points.
The original report is at voetbalprimeur.be
