Goalkeeper Tome Pachovski finds himself in a difficult situation with Mechelen as he began the season as the #2 keeper behind Olivier Renard.

Tome Pachovski left Beerschot to join Mechelen earlier in the summer fully expecting to the #1 keeper this season.  Tome was quoted in Belgian newspapers as saying that he moved to Mechelen in order to receive regular playing time that will also help him regain the starting keeper job for the Macedonian national team as well.  Soon thereafter, however, the coach that brought Tome to Mechelen was sacked and Olivier Renard’s expected transfer to Standard Liège fell through over a transfer fee disagreement.  Renard, the starter last season, was then linked with Anorthosis from Cyprus but that transfer also failed to transpire. 

Mechelen soon named a new manager in Harm van Veldhoven who decided to keep Renard on the roster.  The manager started Renard during the highest profile friendlies in the summer so it was no surprise that Renard began the new Belgian season as the #1 keeper for Mechelen.  Renard and Mechelen opened the new 2012/13 season with a 4:2 home win over Charleroi.

Pachovski finds himself in the same exact  position with Mechelen as he was with Beerschot.  At both teams, he is the second option behind a veteran Belgian keeper, Stijn Stijnen being that player at Beerschot with Renard at Mechelen.  Pachovski expressed frustration at that predicament with Beerschot, and certainly will not be happy to serve in the same role with Mechelen as well.  The fact that he is currently the #2 keeper for Mechelen could also hurt his chances of regaining the starting keeper post for the senior national team of Macedonia.

Meanwhile, another Macedonian international based in Belgium, Ivan Trichkovski, missed Club Brugge’s opener today with an injury.  Ivan has a muscle pull injury but he is expected to return to action in the near future.  Club Brugge opened the season with a 3:1 win over newly promoted side Waasland-Beveren.