For four seasons, from 1996 to 2000, Brazilian-Belgian Claudio Gewehr (58) reached the highest (inter)national peaks with the then Noliko Maaseik, led by guru Anders Kristiansson and assistants Mathieu Bollen and Claes Haldorsson. Seasoned with three titles, three cups, and double silver and bronze in the Champions League, he made his mark. After many travels, Claudio was called upon by VC Greenyard Maaseik at the end of December 2024 to pull the struggling team out of a slump following the departure of Dutch coach Guido Görtzen. And look: Gewehr agreed until the end of the season and kicked off 2025 with two tasty three-pointers: at home against Waremme (3-0) and away at Caruur Gent (0-3). Result: the doom of a missed ticket for the BeNe Conference seems averted.

"We are neatly among the top four, who will be in the BNC, against the top four in the Netherlands. At this moment, not definitively, they are Lycurgus Groningen, Orion Stars Doetinchem, VC Huizen, and Dynamo Apeldoorn."

With a broad smile, Claudio Gewehr speaks to us at the Steengoed Arena in Maaseik. From the Brazilian region of Santo Angelo (club VC Sadia), he ventured as a descendant of migrants (who left Germany around 1840) to France (VC Orléans). In 1988, he chose Belgium. "I was already a pro at 17 in Brazil. A status that did not exist in Belgium. So, I easily found a home in Ternat (clubs Cera and Kruikenburg), where I wrote a well-received Belgian and Dutch chapter from my nest in Groot-Bijgaarden."

You have been living in an apartment in Maaseik for a short time. That was a quarter of a century ago.
"Yes, I quickly reached an agreement. My surroundings told me: 'Claudio, Maaseik is your thing.' My Belgian wife found it okay. She stayed home. I see her and our son Luca (31, he plays at Caruur Gent B) on free days and Sundays. Refusing was not an issue. I had stopped as an assistant and advisor to T1 Ugo Blairon at the women's top-tier Tchalou. The position of technical director at the Walloon federation had also disappeared. I was home for a while. And I am not the type to sit idle. I still have that youthful 'drive' and my fiery South American temperament. To keep my nerves in check, I drink less coffee. I know Waremme and Gent are not real benchmarks. But the switch has been flipped in a favorable direction. However, the most difficult regular matches are still in the drawer. At home against Antwerp and Haasrode-Leuven. With two 'trips'!! to Roeselare and Aalst as a gripping end. I managed to immediately infuse the team with a dose of energy and confidence. Just before the final phase of the regular and CL competition. With the beautiful European clashes at home against PGE Projekt Warszawa (Pol) and Volley Ljubljana (Slo) ahead. I am curious to see how we will react in the difficult moments that lie ahead in the short term. But so far, so good."

Did you make any changes upon your arrival two weeks ago?
"Yes, slight adjustments. I spent a lot of time in conversations. Furthermore, I organized customized training sessions with each player. I can draw ideas from the approach of Go Pass Zellik, Haasrode, and Go Pass/Pepe Jeans Lennik players in my career. At Puurs, I had inspiration from players like Jasper Diefenbach, Dennis Deroey, Wannes Rosiers, and Ugo Blairon. Only Narbonne (Fra) with Guillermo Falasca and the Slovenian Dejan Vincic was a disappointment. Nothing was in order. I terminated my coaching contract after four months. The main thing in volleyball is: how can I work result-oriented according to the method of Kristiansson and Heynen. Those two are unmatched in our country. With their burning passion to win every match. We scored with a series of cunning stars: Heynen, Greves, Roex, Barthels, Urnaut, Schuil, Lebl, Wijsmans, Klok, Reymen, and Steve Smith. The trees reached the sky. We were glued like superglue. What you rarely see in today's selfish society."

These are ideas and visions you developed during four seasons at the Dutch Talentteam (comparable to the Vilvoorde volleyball school) at Papendal, near Arnhem?
"Yes, I experienced unforgettable brilliant times. I built a network as a technical director. I combined the Talentteam during the school year with the assistantship of the 'Oranje Lange Mannen' national team coach in the summer, under the direction of T1 Guido Vermeulen, now active in Sweden. Unfortunately, the Dutch love to rotate with the functions. I found it a shame that it ended for me. Before that, I was the Belgian national coach from 2005 to 2012, including Appie Krijnsen."

Back to the present: what do you specifically want to achieve with Maaseik?
 "I am trying to implement a stronger group structure. With clear rules for everyone. Only in this way can something be achieved. The coach alone is not responsible for success or failure. No, it's a responsibility for every cog in and around the team. Individualism is so despicable. The mix of older and younger must find its way. I notice that more and more islands are emerging in volleyball. Many players live purely in their own world, barely knowing their teammates. It used to be different. Perhaps that's why team sports are struggling."

Isn't it all too serious, too commercialized? Partying hardly happens anymore.
"Maybe you're right. It's justified to laugh more at the right time. Pleasure is good for group confidence, the perfect valve when performance pressure and stress are too high. Moreover, it's good to clear your mind for a while. I sometimes choose to replace a volleyball training session with an indoor football match. It relieves the high mental pressure. Because you can't keep brooding for weeks. It's pointless. You need to give a 'boost' to the mood. With all eyes facing forward."

In the regular competition, you will know on Saturday 8 February if you reach the top four. The ticket for the BeNe Conference is at stake.
"That's right, 'noblesse oblige,' Maaseik is obliged by its status to qualify among the country's best. That's the first challenge. Roeselare (32 points), Menen, and Achel (29 points each) are already ahead of us (26 points). We need to be careful because Lindemans Aalst and VHL Haasrode Leuven (25 points) are right behind us. For us, it is not yet certain for the top four. I have only been at Maaseik for ten days, but I hope to cross this hurdle. I definitely don't want to miss the confrontations with the Netherlands."

You play two home matches in the Champions League group stage this month. What's the goal there?
"Next Wednesday, 15/01, we fight against the Poles of Warszawa, the group leaders. I hope for a positive 'mentality.' That we come out of it in the best possible way. Winning against the Poles will be tough. But a win is necessary in our last CL match against Ach Volley Ljubljana. A loss against the Slovenians would be the end, a win would mean qualifying for the CEV Cup quarterfinals. I continue to insist that we must do a great job training every day to accomplish this mission."

How will the title fight evolve and the future of Belgian volleyball in general?
"Knack Roeselare is still 'solid.' That could change with the inevitable transition ahead. At a general club level, innovation is urgent. And cooking costs money. This can only happen through revenue generation ... via transfers. Very urgent in professional volleyball!! In football, enormous amounts of money are flowing. Currently, our volleyball is really not progressing. Recruiting 'world players,' oops, that's history. Consequence: too few attractions for the public. I hope for increased subsidies from various governments, following the French model, where clubs draw 85% of their budget from public money from cities and large regions. No money, unfortunately, no stars. How can this change (transfer fees!), it's a question for our Ministry of Sports."

Champions League Calendar (8:30 pm)
Wed 15/1 VC Greenyard Maaseik - PGE Projekt Warszawa (Pol)
Wed 29/2 VC Greenyard Maaseik - Ach Volley Ljubljana (Slo)

Regular calendar (8:30 pm)
Sat 18/1 VC Greenyard Maaseik - Thuismakers Brabo Antwerp
Sat 25/1 VC Greenyard Maaseik - Volley Haasrode Leuven
Sat 01/2 Knack Roeselare - VC Greenyard Maaseik
Sat 08/2 Lindemans Aalst - VC Greenyard Maaseik Text: Leo Peeters