Zebras amongst the Pigeons: Charleroi are the surprise package in the Belgian Pro League so far this season

Zebras amongst the Pigeons: Charleroi are the surprise package in the Belgian Pro League so far this season Charleroi have had a fantastic start to the Belgian Pro League season. The Zebras sit fourth going into the first international break, with just one defeat from seven games. The side, under an inexperienced head coach in Mario Kohnen, were not expected to start the season so well, especially considering they lost two of their key players this summer in Parfait Guiagon and Yacine Titraoi. However, Charleroi have rallied, and some players have really stepped up in their place, while others have picked up where they left of last season. Kevin Van Den Kerkhof has been one of these. The Algerian full-back is incredibly unlucky not to have earned a call up to the national team for the international break after providing Charleroi with two goals and two assists to start the season. The former Metz man joined Charleroi for free this summer after spending last season on loan. He had shown his talent at points last season with three goals and four assists in 34 games, but so far this season he has emerged as one of the more underrated players in the Belgian Pro League. Another player who has performed well in his second season with Charleroi is Jakob Napoleon Romsaas. The 22-year-old from Norway had a decent first season for Charleroi with two goals and three assists. So far this season, he has improved his chance creation and already has three assists and one goal in seven games. The attacking midfielder looks to be a real talent and is emerging as a key player for the club. In place of Guiagon, Charleroi turned to Freddy Mbemba following his loan spell in Ligue 2 with Guingamp. The 23-year-old French winger has started well, with three goals in seven games so far. Mbemba being able to provide goals is exactly what Charleroi needed with Guiagon having left, as he was a major weapon going forward for the side in terms of goals from out wide. One player who probably doesn’t get many plaudits but is equally as important to the success of Charleroi is central defender Cheick Keita. The 23-year-old from Mali is a real threat from set pieces while also developing a solid partnership with Syrian defender Aiham Ousou at the back. That the side have only conceded seven goals, three of which came against league leaders Union St Gilloise , is a testament to how well they have defended. That the sides only defeat came against Union is also a positive sign, as even then they only lost 3-2. What Charleroi have done well so far this season is beating the sides that one would expect to be in and around them. Union remain the only real top team that Charleroi have faced so far, but in past seasons they have not been able to beat those outside of the top four consistently. Following the international break, Charleroi will play a number of games against teams not considered to be the best in Belgium. So far this season, Gent, Club Brugge and Union look to be the best three sides, while Anderlecht are also starting to put a decent run together after a slow start domestically. Charleroi don’t play Anderlecht until the 13th of December, and if they can keep up this sort of form, they could be battling those sides for a top four finish at the end of the season and a European ticket. GBeNeFN  |  Ben Jackson