It’s the time of year when the battles in European competitions are in full swing. In the women’s CEV Cup, Asterix Avo face OK Trent Obrenovac and Darta Bevo Roeselare take on Dukla Liberec in their round of 1/16 finals. But on Wednesday, two Walloon women’s teams will also be in action in the Challenge Cup.

Charleroi meet Olympiada Neapolis Nicosia, the dominant Cypriot side that has claimed both the national league title and the cup three times in a row. The “Carolo” team rely on their solid core, led by experienced 35-year-old Lise De Valkeneer.

In last weekend’s Belgian Cup semifinal, things went wrong against Oudegem, who took control and the win thanks to strong serving runs. Charleroi coach Loic Van de Pontseele remains realistic yet optimistic: “We didn’t play at our level on Sunday,” he admits. “But against both Nicosia and Oudegem, opportunities exist. We have to seize them.”

Capital at Work BAO Tchalou Volley face Crvena Zvezda Belgrade on Wednesday evening. Justine D’Hondt, who joined Tchalou in 2024, knows the border club is up against a particularly tough challenge: except for the setter and the libero, all Serbian players are taller than 1.85 metres.
“Their hitting height and power are exceptional,” says the attacker after reviewing the first video analyses. “We’ll need to serve very aggressively to push the Serbians out of their comfort zone.”

“It’s unfortunate that we’re still dealing with several injuries,” Justine adds. “Our setter Lien Van Geertruyden and Léa Josevski are still unavailable. Our Italian setter Eleonora Muscetti has returned, but our outside hitter Clara Naticci is now injured. To support the team, I’m playing opposite in a Japanese system, where I also share part of the passing duties. It’s an adjustment, but not an excuse. We want to show that despite our limited roster, we can remain competitive. And the warm Walloon atmosphere will have to carry us. With the loud, passionate support of our fans, we can push further.”

Justine has experienced many colours and cultures in her career — from the fiery red of Asterix Avo to the bold pink of Oudegem — but what she feels in the south of Belgium, she calls unique.

“At Tchalou, that warm, deeply Walloon mentality is everywhere. Sport creates connection and is a strong part of the social fabric. There’s a real sense of togetherness and contagious enthusiasm. Mix that with lively local pride and you get that typical southern ‘chaleur’. The cosiness before and after matches makes Tchalou a true family club, with many volunteers working incredibly hard. Everyone is involved, and the passion is shared. That warm feeling is tangible on the court.”

More noteworthy news from Wallonia: Lien Van Geertruyden, Tea Radovic and Pauline Martin have been promised support from Francophone minister Galant for their involvement with the Yellow Tigers.

Text: WV
Photo: Rudy Pollé