Royal Antwerp was crowned national champion of Belgium for the first time in 66 years after an insane apotheosis on Sunday. Toby Alderweireld shot the ball deep into injury time at KRC Genk in the intersection: 2-2. The draw was for the GreatOld enough to grab the championship. The selection of Antwerp arrived at De Bosuil late on Sunday evening, after which the cup fell within fifteen minutes in the festivities.
The Antwerp players received a warm welcome upon arrival at their own stadium. The cup was shown to the public in turn. Alderweireld was the first to raise the cup on the Tawny Owl, but less than fifteen minutes later there was not much left of the trophy. There was so much partying that the top part of the cup broke off. It could not harm defender Gaston Avila. The Argentinian used the part that came off as a hat, while the rest of the selection posed with the other part of the cup.
The trophy, here still in its entirety.
Other images of celebrating Antwerp players also circulated on social media. The Royal Antwerp players’ bus is extremely grateful to Noa Lang. Lang played an important role, as he scored the 1-2 on behalf of Club Brugge, denying the title chances of virtual leader and opponent Union Sint-Gillis. Lang celebrated his goal by taking off his shirt and showing it to Union fans as a provocation. The Antwerp players chanted the name of the eccentric attacker in the bus: “thank you Noah Long!” The celebration is special, as Toby Alderweireld recently got into a fight with Lang.
Van Bommel mentioned winning the league title with Belgium opposite Ziggo Sport not his breakthrough as a trainer. “A breakthrough doesn’t have to mean winning prizes, but you will be judged on that. It also has to do with the players. How do they treat you and how do you work. The trainer is just as good as the players and I have a good group,” said Van Bommel, who also briefly addressed the home front. “I have to say something to my wife, my eldest son and my daughter. They are at home at the moment, they have not come to the stadium. Come to Antwerp very quickly.”