Dirk Kuijt has lost his first game as coach of Beerschot. The Belgian second division club did not get further than a 3-1 defeat in a practice match against Jupiler Pro League club Cercle Brugge. A downer for the Katwijker, who hopes to achieve promotion to the highest level next season.

Kuijt was presented last week at Beerschot, where he succeeded Andreas Wieland, who had resigned. The Austrian had his contract terminated due to, among other things, a lack of confidence in the club management.

It was not the results: Beerschot is shared first in the Challenger Pro League, the second level of Belgium. Together with Zulte Waregem, the club is at the top of the rankings with 32 points and a goal difference of +13.

The assignment is therefore clear for Kuijt: promotion to the Jupiler Pro League. In that respect, the 43-year-old coach had a bad general.

Beerschot fell behind 3-0 against Cercle Brugge, number seven in the Pro League. We went further than Jerrel Hak's 3-1 the Kiel Rats not.

Kuijt will hope that things will improve next Friday, when Beerschot resumes the competition against the Under 23 of RSC Anderlecht. That ranks ninth in the Challenger Pro League.

Beerschot is only the second coaching job for Kuijt in professional football. Last season he was fired from ADO Den Haag after just 176 days.

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