Yes, folks we are up and running again, over the summer recess mission control at ABSSA HQ had placed Vets1 in the big pool with the big fish. Questions will be asked, can Vets1 get at least a point on the board! Can Vets1 score goals!!, can Vets1 maintain a clean sheet !!! and can Vets1 avoid relegation!!!! All will be revealed, so stay tuned for some rollercoaster football this season as your touchline reporter was on hand to recount the early exchanges.

Kaizer Rice after a successful year in the chair, had again prepared and honed the squad in readiness for the seasons challenges that lay ahead.

A quick recap from Match day 1: Vets1 at home to EBL a mutation of our old foes Avia, with whom in past encounters we generally trudged off the field grumbling 'how did we lose that one?' However, on this occasion it was 2-1 in favour of Vets, and deservedly so. From the cultured left peg of a Levionnais corner it was to be the young gun Legere with a back post header, and boy did Legere celebrate. It was as if he had won The Voice Belgique, only to later exit the stage with a knock in order to soak up the plaudits as he sauntered off. Soon after Knight followed up with a well struck trundler from the right side of the box that found its way into the opposite corner of the net, half time 2-0. EBL eventually pulled one back in the 2nd half but Vets1 had mostly controlled the game without dominating. A fine morale boosting start and a valuable 3 points secured. Bravo les gars.

Match Day 2 squad: Sejerson, back four of Cabaret, Waite, Christensen, Giraldo; a midfield of Knight, Legere, Hoskins and Rice, with lone star striker Leempoels. Oh! and our new tricky winger Ledbury made up the starting 11. In reserve, Criado.

Our opposition was another batch of old foes in the form of Brussels LTC5, experienced campaigners and a narky bunch at that who play a neat and tidy, pas de risqué type of football to great effect. Kick off and Vets1 started extremely well with a good tempo and quick in the tackle much to the displeasure of our opponents. Vets1 were well on top and soon had Knight sending his trademark trundler + past the diving keeper and the ultimately past the post. Giraldo our latest South American import chipped in with a fine shot from outside the box, then Lempoels forgot he was a natural left footer and snuffed a close in opportunity. Still LTC 5 did not trouble our defense, they were snuffed out completely by our endeavour and energy to compete. Half Time 0-0.

Vets1's 2nd half optimism was quickly dispelled, as LTC 5 finally put in a bit of effort and in the first 15minutes they had peppered our goal with several opportunities, However, Sejerson was in siege mode and responded to the onslaught to keep our goal intact. It took some time for Vets1 to settle and play their way back into contention, when a foray upfield and eventually a free kick was awarded to Vets1 deep in LTC5 territory. The ball was floated into the box only for regulation catch to be dropped by the LTC 5 keeper, with Hoskins was on hand, he pounced with the reactions of a tortoise to shin it in from close range. Opportunity had struck and the opportunity was taken. 0-1.

It was a contest now and tempers were getting frayed with nip and tuck football throughout, until a through ball from Rice set Leempoels free. With almost half the pitch to cover he raced away with a LTC 5 defender in hot pursuit and an advancing goalkeeper; As Leempoels entered the penalty area at speed he foxed the goalkeeper only to receive a gentle push to prevent Leempoels passing it into the net, PENALTY referee. Rice duly dispatched the penalty with the poise of Hazard 0-2 and LTC were not happy ensemble, but they rarely are. Our now not so tricky winger had stepped back into midfield to lend support to the defense of our lead. LTC5 did manage to pull one back with 5 minutes remaining but Vets1 held strong with Hoskins going down in a heap again to use up some valuable time.

Sejerson rightly so took the MOM award, he kept us in the game when it was required. Special thanks to referee Salvel for stepping in and controlling the teams on a tense afternoon in La Hulpe. So now Vets1 have amassed a grand total of 6 points thus far and it is still only September.

Match day 3: We look forward in anticipation to a top of the table clash against consistent title contenders Forestois SC3. The squad will be reshuffled with a few absentees and casualties but also a few additions to keep the quality in the pot. Let’s shown them our metal, frustrate them and Tommy to get his prized cleansheet.

MoM:Sejersen