After eighteen matchdays, the regular season has come to a neat conclusion. Knack Roeselare, Decospan Menen, Greenyard Maaseik and Volley Haasrode Leuven have underlined their ambitions by securing a place in the top four. This earns them a spot in the BeNe Conference, the cross-border competition featuring four Belgian and four Dutch elite teams. In addition, the Belgian top four has secured a direct ticket to the Champion play-offs.

More major challenges lie ahead. For Maaseik, the CEV Cup is coming soon. Then follows the BeNe Conference. On Saturday 11 April, the Limburgers will play the Belgian Cup final in the AFAS Dome in Antwerp, after which the battle for the title and European tickets begins.
A heavy schedule. Yes, plenty of ripe sporting fruit is waiting to be picked. Since VC Greenyard Maaseik is ‘hot’ again in the Steengoed Arena, we gladly give the floor to its very ‘happy’ chairman, Jos Franssen.

Mr Franssen, can you sketch a self-portrait? Who are you, what drives you?
Jos Franssen (57): “Together with my wife Marian Henkens and our daughters Anoek and Axelle, who work with us, we run two ‘Maasland hotels’: De Spaenjerd in Ophoven (Kinrooi) and De Maaskant, near the centre of Maaseik. The name ‘Spaenjerd’ refers to the Spanish occupiers in Maaseik during the Eighty Years’ War (1568–1648). My story in short: I studied Latin-Greek at the Heilig Kruiscollege in Maaseik. That school happens to be the birthplace of VC Mavoc Maaseik, founded in 1960. I was a setter there until I was eighteen. After secondary school, I immediately chose a military career. For eight years, I served our country in Soest, Germany, as a non-commissioned officer with the Belgian Forces in Germany (BSD).”

After eight years, you returned to your Limburg roots. What path did you take?
“We started with the sports cafeteria in Bree-Opitter, the birthplace of Kim Clijsters. We also ran several chip shops. The turning point came when we bought the skippers’ inn ‘Het Witte Paard’ on the Maasplassen (316 hectares) in Ophoven. Gradually, we transformed it from a tavern-restaurant into a three-star hotel. First with 16 rooms, soon 25 from this summer. We capitalised on the booming cycling tourism and the water sports facilities on the lakes, where a thousand pleasure boats are moored. That ensures a constant flow of guests. Business went so well that in 2011 we took over a second establishment: hotel De Maaskant, also three stars. We will soon expand it from 20 to 28 rooms.”

Your entry into the business world led you in 2006 to an engagement with Noliko Maaseik. First as a player, then as a valued logistical host.
“Correct. We sponsored the accommodation for all European opponents visiting Maaseik. We still do. The passing of club legend Mathi Raedschelders in September 2022 was an immeasurable loss. Mathi was chairman for 35 years (1985–2020), the driving force behind the Lotto Dôme, now the Steengoed Arena, and was posthumously named honorary citizen of Maaseik. Raymond Cretskens succeeded him for a while before becoming chairman of the Board of Directors. He specifically oversees the budget, around 1.8 million euros. I myself was unanimously elected general club chairman in June 2024.”

Let’s move to this season. The bells can already ring after two strong wins: against Volley Haasrode Leuven (3-1) on matchday 17 and a brilliant Valentine’s Day performance at Lindemans Aalst (0-3) on matchday 18. The team seems to be hitting top form just in time after a shaky start.
“Such a wild end to the regular phase is wonderful. First, the Brabançons fell. Under the watchful eyes of Thierry Courtois (father of Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut), agent Wout Wijsmans, Joel Banks (former coach of RVV Berlin) and Vital Heynen, who was in Maaseik due to his father’s passing. Lindemans Aalst didn’t seem to believe in the decisive battle for the top four and were easily pushed aside. The ‘Voil Jeanetten’ couldn’t bother us. What a release for our supporters. With setter Juan Finoli as MVP.”

After that lucrative Valentine’s Day, the first challenge awaits: eliminating Karlovarsko in the CEV Cup. Do you believe in reaching the quarter-finals on Wednesday?
“Yes, provided we concede fewer points than in the first leg (3-2 loss). We must always win the home match. Preferably 3-0 or 3-1, because at 3-2 the Golden Set becomes a trap. Karlovarsko is leader of the Czech Extraliga and three-time national champion. Their star is the 23-year-old Latvian Renars-Pauls Jansons (ex-Lindemans Aalst) at opposite. With the same clean play we showed against Craiova, Tourcoing and Alanya, I see us going through.”

What do you expect from your first appearance in the BeNe Conference?
“By principle, we always play to win. The starting grid is: Orion Stars in first place (with Liam Mc Cluskey), followed by Knack Roeselare and Lycurgus Groningen. We are fourth, then Decospan Menen, Draisma Dynamo Apeldoorn, Simplex SSS Barneveld and Volley Haasrode Leuven. Each Belgian team plays eight matches (home and away) against the Dutch teams. A fascinating format — I’m eager to score high.”

On Saturday 11 April comes the serious business: the Cup final in Antwerp against Decospan Menen. Maaseik’s last Cup dates from 2012.

“I hope we can crown our positive Cup run: Zoersel (0-3), Volley Haasrode Leuven (3-1) and the two semi-final wins against Knack Roeselare (3-1 at home, 0-3 away). Beautiful results. Menen will not be a mere extra. I don’t want to boast: we’re not there yet.”

Your view on the Champion play-offs? Can Maaseik break Knack Roeselare’s streak of five consecutive titles? And which two teams will join from the Challenge play-offs?
“Frankly, we aim for the title finals (‘Best of 5’). Our last title dates from 2019. I salute the late Mathi Raedschelders, who won thirty trophies (16 titles, 14 cups) thanks to his remarkable leadership. I expect Lindemans Aalst and Brabo Antwerp, or preferably our Limburg neighbour Tectum Achel. They have just dismissed their coach Jan Vanvenckenray. Assistants Joost Weltens and Allan Van de Loo will finish the season. Waremme, Ghent and Guibertin are outsiders.”

Why do you believe Maaseik is heading for new glory days?
“Because we are finally more stable financially, operationally and sportingly. In the past, there were too many changes. A constant coming and going of players. That approach cost us points again this season: zero out of six against Menen and Aalst, one out of six against Tectum Achel. That hurts. I now prefer to anchor players long-term. Our setter Juan Finoli, middle blocker Sam Fafchamps and outside hitter Pierre Perin have already extended. No more ‘tabula rasa’. We want to build a strong team gradually.”

You want to highlight one person. Who?
“Our new head coach, Pawel Woicki — a former setter, former Polish international, a collector of trophies. As coach of China’s U21 national team, he is closely connected to Vital Heynen. I see my own winning mentality reflected in him. He signed for two years. He is highly driven and has great people skills to convey his vision to the group.”

Do you enjoy being chairman? You had to give up your role as hall speaker. What is your dream for this season?
“I feel myself growing into this role. I draw great satisfaction from the team’s resurgence. That heroic vibe of the past is returning. As chairman, I want to tick off my first Cup and first title. It would add extra shine to our golden era — from 1976 to 2026. We have competed at the highest Belgian level for fifty years without interruption. (In Limburg dialect) ‘Wei sjiek is mich da’. How beautiful I find that.”

Text: LP
Photo: Jos Franssen