Latest news with #Dender
Yahoo
09-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sint Truiden's Japanese star Ryotaro Ito on fire to start the Pro League season
Sint Truiden continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 victory over Dender on Friday evening. Man of the match for the side was their 27-year-old Japanese star Ryotaro Ito. The midfielder is great on the eye, and so far this season, has been on fire in front of goal. The former Urawa Red Diamonds midfielder grabbed his third goal in three games to surpass last seasons total of just two goals in 36 games. Ito is in his third season at the club, having joined in 2023 from Albirex Niigata. In his first year with the club he scores seven goals and grabbed four assists in 37 games. He looks set to repeat this feat, and it is clearly down to having another attack minded coach in the dugout. Last season, Ito struggled under three different head coaches, with the player being dropped to the bench at times as the side looked to contain the opposition. Wouter Vrancken clearly see's that the side plays better with Ito in the midfield, creating chances and moving the ball. Ito is a joy to watch. He moves around the pitch looking to get involved in everything the side looks to create, which was a real hallmark of the sides success under Thorsen Fink two seasons ago. If Vrancken can continue to get the best out of Ito, the side could repeat that success and steer themselves clear of any relegation fears they suffered last season. He has the players around him as well who benefit from his style of play. It seems unlikely, but if Ito can have a real standout campaign he may be an outside shout for a spot in Japan's side for the World Cup next year. GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dender Belgian Pro League 2025/2026 Preview
Overview: Dender enter the 2025/26 Belgian Pro League campaign with some high hopes after consolidating their top-flight status last season with a 12th-placed finish. Although they'll likely be wary that last term's relegation play-offs were avoided purely due to goal difference, they'll no doubt be expecting their forward players to, again, do a lot of heavy lifting. Between them, forwards Bruny Nsimba, Aurélien Scheidler, and Mohamed Berte scored 27 (nine each) of their side's 33 Pro League goals. Transfers In: Aurélien Scheidler (Bari), Luc Marijnissen (Lierse SK), Roman Kvet (Victoria Plzen), Krzysztof Koton (Polonia Warsaw), Nail Moutha-Sebtaoui (RSCA Futures). Transfers Out: Gilles Ruyssen (KV Kortrijk), Karol Fila (Wieczysta), Lennard Hens (KV Kortrijk), Kenneth Houdret (Union Rochefort), Ridwane M'Barki (Patro Eisden), Abdoulaye Yahaya (Leixões), Jasper Van Oudenhove (Without Club), Michael Lallemand (Without Club), Danny Fofana (Without Club). Key Player: Bruny Nsimba Although one of the trio that equalled each other's nine goals last season in the Pro League, Bruny Nsimba looks to be Dender's key man this campaign. The former Antwerp and Beveren man scored nine and assisted four last season, adding excellent top-tier output to his promotion-grabbing exploits from the Challenger Pro League the season prior. There, he scored 14 in 30 games, and now at 25 years old, he looks to have steadily grown into the Pro League striker mould. He should be quietly confident in 2025/26, especially if the two other striking assets, Berte and (the now-permanently transferred) Scheidler, are hitting fine form of their own and pushing each other on. Plus, if Dender can keep the supply from the wings intact through David Hrncar (six assists) and Fabio Ferraro (five assists), there's no reason why goals can't be in the equation once more. Young player to watch: Luc Marijnissen A bone of contention for Dender last season was the somewhat leaky backline. One signing so far that may help this is Luc Marijnissen from Lierse SK. The 22-year-old Dutchman was a key component of the Yellow-Black side that finished eighth and seven points off the promotion play-off picture. In that season, Marijnissen earned a move with fine defensive displays, while also scoring two goals to help the cause. In his spell at the Herman Vanderpoortenstadion, Marijnissen helped register nine clean sheets in 29 league games. A step up in his career and development since his early days at NAC Breda, this young player will likely be chomping at the bit to get started. Transfer window needs: With numerous exits this summer, predominantly on free transfers, Dender's squad size has been reduced to just 23 at the time of writing. If they are to spend a second successive season in the Belgian top flight, they'll need to bolster their ranks, ideally adding a bit more depth and dynamism to help their typical 3-4-3 formation. Further strength must be added to a backline that conceded 55 goals last term – the fourth-worst in the division. GBeNeFN | Max Bradfield
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Strasbourg striker set for Dender transfer
Sacha Tavolieri is reporting that Dender are closing in on the signing of Moïse Sahi Dion from Ligue 1 side Strasbourg. Sahi Dion is set to sign a two-year deal with the Belgian side, although Strasbourg have ensured that a significant bonus structure and sell on free percentage has been included in the deal. Dender defied the odds by avoiding relegation from the Pro League last season but did struggle up front, so will be hoping that the Ivorian striker can provide the goods. The 23-year-old made his debut during the 2020/2021 campaign as a teenager, scoring one goal in six games. After only a handful of appearances for the first team he moved to Annecy on loan for the 2022/2023 campaign. The striker had a strong season in Ligue 2, scoring 15 goals in 36 games. He also managed five goals in six Coupe de France games. Last season he returned to Strasbourg but was unable to translate his second tier form to the first tier. In 20 games for the side he scored five goals and provided one assist. GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bayer Leverkusen youngster set to remain on loan with Dender for next season
Bayer Leverkusen youngster set to remain on loan with Dender for next season Dender have announced that on loan Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Noah Mbamba will remain with the side for another year. The 20-year-old came through the Club Brugge academy before moving to join Bundesliga side Leverkusen in the winter of the 2022/2023 season. He only made seven appearances for the side before being sent on loan for the current campaign, joining Fortuna Düsseldorf in the German second tier. However, Mbamba struggled for game time, making just seven appearances for the side. In February he joined Dender on loan until the end of the season. Advertisement Mbamba has made eight appearances for the side since joining on loan, with four of these being starts. In many ways a return to Belgium football should be the best thing for the young midfielder, who was clearly talented when coming through with Club Brugge. The familiarity of the league should help him develop and he will likely get an extended run of games for Dender to end the season, as well as during the 2025/2026 campaign. GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson
