YOUTH - INTERVIEWS Futures claimed a deserved victory against Francs Borains on Wednesday, largely thanks to a strong first half. The win was built on dominant midfield play, with Alexander De Ridder as one of the standout performers. The 17-year-old midfielder crowned his display with a superb strike that flew unstoppably into the top corner.
These are intense weeks for De Ridder. The young, talented midfielder from Destelbergen is currently combining his exams with a demanding match schedule for the Futures, who round things off on Saturday with an away trip to KV Kortrijk. “Especially in the run-up to Beveren it was tough,” he explains. “I played a match midweek and then had exams on Thursday and Friday. Straight from the school desks, it was off to the team bus to the Freethiel. I still have one school year to go and I want to finish secondary school while living at the boarding school at Anderlecht.”
Despite his fine goal and the praise he has received, De Ridder remains strikingly modest. “I try to keep both feet on the ground. I just really love playing football. Whatever the future brings, I'll see when it comes. Of course I dream of the first team and playing at Lotto Park, but I don't set deadlines for myself and I don't ask whether it will ever happen. As long as I can play football, I'm happy. That's what I live for.”
“My dad often tells me I should take my chances from distance more,” he continues with a shy smile. “My greatest strength is winning the ball and keeping the game simple, but I do indeed have a decent shot as well.”
Born in Kyiv
One striking detail in De Ridder's story: he was born in Kyiv. His father, David De Ridder, explains: “I separated a year and a half ago, but I still have a good relationship with Alexander's mother. She is Ukrainian and works at Ghent University Hospital. That's why Alexander was born in Kyiv.”
David De Ridder knows the football world inside out. As a former number ten, he once led FC Denderleeuw from the third to the second division. “He's certainly inherited my football genes,” he laughs, “but Alexander is actually an improved version. He's technically strong, has good ball control, and combines that with physical strength and excellent recovery ability.”
On Saturday, RSCA Futures face an away match in Kortrijk. Father David has no concerns that his son might get carried away after his fine goal. “Alexander remains himself. He always works hard for the team and puts the collective first. That's what defines him. On top of that, he has a young coach in Jelle Coen who handles this group extremely well. His task is often underestimated: he constantly has to shuffle and puzzle with a squad that is continually changing.”
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