Sporting Lokeren-Temse has already brought in 17 new players in the past eight months. On Wednesday, chairman Hans Van Duysen’s club presented number 18. A bomb: none other than former Red Devil Radja Nainggolan must help ensure retention in the Challenger Pro League for the Waaslanders.
Nainggolan’s curriculum speaks for itself. He played no fewer than 367 times in the Italian Serie A for world-famous clubs such as AS Roma, Cagliari and Internazionale. He also played more than 40 matches for Antwerp FC and made 30 appearances for the Red Devils.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I am full of surprises and that there is always something new to be learned when I appear somewhere,” the Antwerp resident laughed as he was led into the press room of the Daknam Stadium among the battery of camera crews by club chairman Hans Van Duysen.
© James Arthur
Nainggolan, now 36, said he felt anything but ready to hang up his football boots after his last adventure in Indonesia. “My body told me it wasn’t time to stop. But finding a club nearby wasn’t that easy. I had proposals from Turkey and even from Iran and Iraq. An indoor football career in Rome was also a possibility. But I now live in Antwerp again, have a girlfriend and my family here. I don’t want to leave here anymore.”
Contact was made last week via Lokeren Jan Van Damme, physiotherapist at Antwerp. On Monday evening, Lokeren chairman Van Duysen sat with the former Red Devil for the first time in his life. They signed the contract on Tuesday evening. “A performance-based contract. But I don’t do it for the money. I want to enjoy the game again. Also teach other players something. I already tried that today during the first training and I hope I succeeded. Whether I play on Friday depends not only on the papers but also on the trainer. Just because my name is Radja Nainggolan doesn’t mean I want more privileges here. I expect the trainer to treat me like the others. I am not above the others here, but next to them. Shoulder to shoulder. Period.”
Nainggolan also wants to show many people that he can still do it. “Physically I’m fine. I haven’t been sitting still for the past five months. Trained with friends but often alone. I also played indoor football. But that wasn’t for me. I wanted to stand on the lawn for 90 minutes. I needed that feeling.”
“I realize that some people have questions, I will provide them with the answers. Preferably as soon as possible. I know where the club stands here and what their ambition is. I have already had a very open conversation with both the chairman and the trainer. I will not disappoint them.”
© BELGIUM
-Just like for the supporters, Nainggolan’s transfer was also a complete surprise for the playing group. “We were informed on Wednesday morning. But everyone was looking forward to being in the locker room and training with him. It was also a pleasure for me to be able to play next to such a player,” said Venezuelan striker Daniël Pérez, the second transfer that Lokeren completed this week. Pérez is a striker who must solve the scoring problem for the Waaslanders.
“I want to do it for bringing along such young guys. Boys who can later say that they were on the team with me and that they learned something from me. That is also my ambition.”
Nainggolan signed a contract until the end of the season but has not ruled out an extended stay. “A football career is like a fairy tale. You know where it starts but you never know how long it will last. But first things first: integrate myself into the group, convince the trainer and keep Lokeren in 1B. Judging from what I saw today during the first training, that should certainly work. There is a lot of quality in the group. And I certainly want to provide the extra grinta.”
Nainggolan admits that the Challenger Pro League is also relatively unknown to him. “I have seen some Lierse matches on TV, I also know some of the players there personally. I didn’t follow Lokeren’s matches. But I certainly don’t underestimate this level. I’m ready!”
© BELGIUM
© BELGIUM
© BELGIUM
