Among the players on the pitch, a duo quite naturally stands out. Julie Allemand (28 years old) and Emma Meesseman (31 years old) find themselves almost with their eyes closed on the field. And for good reason, the two senior players of our national team have almost become inseparable. While they have been alongside each other for nine years in the Belgian Cats jersey, in addition to having had a common experience in Chicago in the WNBA in 2022, the Liège leader this time joined the Ypres interior at Fenerbahçe, in Turkey, this time season.
“I feel very fulfilled since arriving at Fenerbahçe this summer, confides Julie Allemand. We haven’t lost yet but that’s also the goal when you play in such a big club. And it’s cool to have Emma by my side there. It further strengthens our relationship, on and off the field. We already knew each other very well, but this is different again. We must also be able to take advantage of this agreement with the Cats. Especially in more difficult times.”
Emma Meesseman will always have a bitter taste of the Olympics: “I stayed at home for a month, and the first two weeks, I didn’t go out”
Emma Meesseman confirms: “At Fener, they call it the ‘Belgian connection’. It’s cool but it’s not really new. We have always had a great understanding on the ground.” To the delight of our national team which has two players who are among the best in their position in Europe. When one of the two is missing, the level of the team is undeniably impacted. We are therefore delighted to find them side by side among the Cats.
gullThis summer changed me and made me stronger.
“My loss at the Olympic Games was very difficult to digestexplains Julie Allemand. But I’ve moved on and I’ve been very hungry for basketball since I started the season again. The kind of feeling that sometimes fades a little when you get used to competing in a series of competitions. This summer changed me and made me stronger. And I can’t wait now to finally be able to play an official match again with the Cats.”
A crucial week for the Cats
For whom this week promises to be crucial in their quest to qualify for Euro 2025. The defeat conceded to everyone’s surprise a year ago against Poland, at the start of their qualifying journey, reshuffled the cards and greatly reduces the possible margin of error in a format where only the first in each group and the four best second will obtain their ticket for the European Championship. In other words, victories against Lithuania this Thursday and Poland on Sunday already seem essential.
Rachid Meziane and the Cats towards new objectives: “The page of the Olympics is turned”
“Pressure? I don’t know, continues the one with the number 55. We just know what we have to do and what we must no longer do to avoid reliving the hiccup we experienced against Poland. That evening, we did not show the true face of the Belgian Cats. It’s up to us to be focused from Thursday against Lithuania because we must not believe that it will be an easy match. Let’s not forget that they beat Poland.”
For her part, Emma Meesseman is also vigilant: “We know that everyone is waiting for us now. Our status as reigning European champion does not help us (laughs). But we need a little pressure to be better. And I was able to see in training that the automatisms were quickly back within the team. The atmosphere is good and the disappointment of the Olympics is over. We look ahead.”
