New national coach Valéry Demory has announced a fifteen-man selection for the first two international matches in the qualifying campaign for the European Championship basket of 2023. Kim Mestdagh is not there. She previously indicated that she would take a break from the national team.
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Next Ann Wauters (discontinued) on Marjorie Carpréaux (Namur Capitale), who said goodbye to the national team, also Kim Mestdagh (Schio) and Heleen Nauwelaers (Granada) no longer with the Belgian Cats. That means that four Cats that were active at the Olympic Games in Tokyo are no longer there. Kim Mestdagh takes a break with the national team and Heleen Nauwelaers (Granada) was not called up. National coach Valery Démory called up three young talents in his fifteen-strong core with Maxuella Lisowa, Ine Joris and Nastja Claessens.
Mestdagh: ‘Years with the Cats took their toll, as an athlete and person’
Kim Mestdagh, who made the choice to put an international career on hold before her father was pushed aside as national coach, responded extensively on Instagram on Monday evening. “I find that a lot of questions and assumptions are made very quickly, so let me clarify a few things. I have represented the national team since I was sixteen and I have invested more than 10 years in the project of the Belgian Cats.’
‘I have always done it with love and passion because I believe that the Belgian shirt deserves nothing less than 100 percent effort. That took a lot of energy and sacrifices that I was only too willing to give. However, it also took its toll, as an athlete and person. I have come to a point where I have chosen to take a step back. This is a decision that I did not take lightly, nor was it made yesterday. It took almost a year to come to this decision. The previous technical staff was already reminded of this last year, just like the association immediately after the Olympic Games. I also had a conversation with coach Démory and as an ex-international himself he fully understands the point in my career and life I have reached and my decision to take a step back.’
“I would like to thank everyone who has supported me along the way. For those who don’t understand my decision (I know there are such people): you probably don’t know me at all and haven’t seen me play much. Anyway, I believe this team is in very good hands and you better be ready to see more history being made. I’m ready for it.’
Route to the EC
The Belgian Cats open the European Championship qualifying round on November 11 in Sarajevo against Bosnia-Herzegovina. On November 14, the Cats will receive Germany at Sportcampus Lange Munte in Kortrijk. North Macedonia is the third opponent in group A.
Of the ten groups, the ten group winners and the four best runners-up have qualified for the European Championship in 2023, which will take place in Israel and Slovenia. The two host countries have been placed directly. After 2017, 2019 and 2021, the Belgian Cats are looking for a fourth European Championship participation in a row. In 2017 and 2021, the Belgian women’s basketball won the bronze medal.
Selection of Belgian Cats: Julie Allemand, Julie Vanloo, Elise Ramette, Antonia Delaere, Hanne Mestdagh, Maxuella Lisowa-Mbaka, Nastja Claessens, Laure Resimont, Becky Massey, Ine Joris, Emma Meesseman, Jana Raman, Kyara Linskens, Serena-Lynn Geldof, Billie Massey
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