27/06/2024

"Last year was a disgrace" - Vincent van der Voort thinks Belgians should behave at World Cup of Darts

Eyes will mainly be on the conduct of the Belgian duo Dimitri van den Bergh on Thursday night at the start of the World Cup of Darts. After a much discussed performance last year and several incidents since, they are once again a team at the nations tournament.

The Belgians opened last year's tournament with a 4-0 victory over Finland, but that victory was hardly talked about afterwards. The attitude of both Belgians was the topic of conversation. The two players completely ignored each other and there was nothing of any team spirit. ''That was a farce,'' Vincent van der Voort assessed a year later in conversation with AD.nl.

"I've got no interest in having a sit down with him" - Dimitri Van den Bergh past talking to Kim Huybrechts but will act professionally on World Cup stage

''That was a disgrace for the country and a disgrace for themselves,'' continued the Dutchman, who himself was allowed to compete at the World Cup of Darts with Raymond van Barneveld in 2012. ''But then they picked up the thread during that tournament and I think they should agree on that now. That they go for it on stage and leave each other alone off stage. That's the only way to get far.''

Things have also happened since the last World Cup of Darts. Footage appeared of an altercation between Huybrechts and compatriot Mike de Decker, during which 'The Hurricane' made a threat to Decker. The DRA disciplinary committee also took up this case, after Van den Bergh had previously filed a complaint against Huybrechts for a threat. It earned Huybrechts a 1,500-pound fine and an official warning. Then in early May, Huybrechts was involved in a brawl after the Belgian Cup final between Union Sint-Gillis and his favorite club Royal Antwerp. Huybrechts broke his shoulder in two places in the process. It remained to be seen whether Huybrechts would be fit in time for the World Cup of Darts, but so it turned out.

"They're both professional, there will be no issues" - Van den Bergh & Huybrechts ready to put differences aside insists manager Mac Elkin

''Kim of course - after everything that has happened - is not going to say to Mike: you go. That's beyond his honor. Even though Kim should have thrown lefty, he has indicated so many times that this is the best tournament of the year for him. So I do understand that he wants to play'', Van der Voort said.

The 48-year-old Dutchman believes Huybrechts and Van den Bergh should do everything they can to avoid such a fiasco. ''If you are going to play, you have to behave yourself. You're not only playing for yourself, also for your country. If they can do both, Belgium is just another dangerous team."