Naïm Van Attenhove: “I continue to believe in my dream”
TUESDAY, 14 OCTOBER 2025, 10:11 - lajoya
INTERVIEWS For many young soccer players, playing for the Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht youth team is a dream. For goalkeeper Naïm Van Attenhove, that dream became a reality, and we had the opportunity to interview him. Despite his training at Neerpede, the young goalkeeper has already had to deal with many setbacks. The former youth player of the purple and white talks about his journey through Belgian and French football, the mental challenges along the way, and his unwavering ambition to make it as a professional.
“Playing for Anderlecht means a lot”
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Continue reading “Playing for Anderlecht means a lot to a player,” says Naïm. “You are part of the biggest club in the country, with the best training. I had the opportunity to go to Anderlecht when I was eight, but at the time it didn't feel like the right moment. It was only a few years later that I decided to take the plunge.”
In Neerpede, he found himself among a particularly strong group of players. “I played with guys like Jérémy Doku, Zeno Debast, and Mario Stroeykens, and I also shared the field with Joshua Zirkzee and Adrien Trebel. Many of them have gone on to achieve great things. That shows how high the level was in Anderlecht's youth academy.”
“Winning is taught from an early age”
According to Van Attenhove, Anderlecht distinguishes itself from other training programs in our country through its professional approach and constant focus on results. “At Anderlecht, enormous attention is paid to details. Winning is important, and that is taught from an early age. You learn to think professionally and perform under pressure.”
After his time at Anderlecht, the goalkeeper's path was not without obstacles. “I've had some difficult years, mainly due to a persistent muscle tear in my quadriceps. That was very tough mentally,” he says. “Still, I remained positive and kept pushing myself to achieve my goals.”
His private life also played a role. “During my time at Free Pro Players FC—an initiative for players without a club—I was going through a difficult phase. My divorce from my ex-wife and the daily commute were mentally stressful. Still, it was an educational time in which I got to know myself again.”
Despite everything, his motivation to make it in professional soccer has remained intact. “Of course, I still have the ambition to go far in soccer,” Naïm says with conviction. “We'll see what this season brings, but I give my all every day. I take it season by season, without getting too far ahead of myself.”
The goalkeeper also has international experience: he played several international matches for Niger's first team. “I definitely dream of playing more international matches for Niger,” he says. “Today I learned that my grandmother has passed away, and that only gives me more motivation to represent my country again. She would have been proud.”
“I still feel a connection with Anderlecht”
Although he now plays for Schaarbeek, his bond with the purple and white remains strong. “I still follow Anderlecht closely,” he says. “I try to go to the stadium or the training complex from time to time. I have many fond memories of my time at RSCA, and I still know some of the guys from the team, such as Killian Sardella, Marco Kana, Mario Stroeykens, and Colin Coosemans.”
Finally, the goalkeeper has a message for young players who dream of a professional career: “Always give your all, in training and in matches. Don't miss out on basic training, because it's crucial for your development. And perhaps most importantly, stay positive, even on bad days. Dare to look at yourself honestly, because that's the only way to improve.”
