The new pitches were created thanks to the support of Umicore Hoboken. It allows the club to guarantee its members the practice of their favorite hobby. Considerable investments were made in, among other things, drainage systems and water drainage, installed by professionals. This was necessary, because in previous seasons the club was forced to cancel more than 40% of the youth matches due to flooding.
"This collaboration marks an important step in our commitment to the local community and the support of personal and sporting development of the youth in Hoboken and beyond," says Ine De Raedt, who as a member of the management team of Umicore Hoboken kicked off prior to the home game of the first team of SKB against Vosberg Sport.
Rudi Vercauteren, responsible for communications at SKB and driving force behind the collaboration: "At SK Berkenrode, we strive to be a vibrant and inclusive football club that plays a central role in the local community of Hoboken. Our vision is based on fostering sportsmanship, team spirit and personal development, providing our players with the best football experience, both on and off the pitch. At SK Berkenrode, we believe in the potential of every player. We strive to create an environment where players can grow and reach their full potential. We try to keep the membership fees low as much as possible to give everyone the opportunity to join a football club."
It is these pillars that formed the basis for the collaboration between Umicore Hoboken and SK Berkenrode. Accessibility is certainly a key word here. SK Berkenrode is a club that is open to everyone, regardless of gender, age, background or skill level. It stands for an inclusive environment, where all members feel welcome and can enjoy football, wants to celebrate diversity and promote a culture where everyone has equal opportunities to participate and contribute to the club. All this is carried by a team of volunteers who spend their precious free time as trainers, supervisors or helping hands and as one big family give the best of themselves every day for this great family club.
"The limited financial strength of the club and the lack of available outdoor sports infrastructure in Hoboken almost meant the end of the club. Fortunately, a long-term agreement was negotiated with the owner of the sites and Umicore Hoboken was convinced of our project. We are therefore very grateful to all parties involved and volunteers of SKB for their efforts. We therefore hope to continue to work with our neighbours to further improve our sports infrastructure, possibly with the help of the nearby schools that offer the dual and labour market-oriented directions in day or evening education. We want to fully utilize, reach and involve the potential of the local community."
Witness to the good work: the intense rain of Saturday night could not prevent the fields from being perfectly playable. That was unthinkable a few months ago. The match between SKB and Vosberg Sport ended 2-2. The field was still fantastic after an intense battle.
