Carom
The Turkish champion Lütfi Cenet was the first player to bring the carousel in motion. He developed himself over the past two years as a player on his way to the world top and is looking for other countries than Turkey to expand his talents. Which team in the Netherlands, France or Belgium, would not like to contract this wonderful and attractive player?
Who would'n like to build up a team around Javier Palazón, the young Spaniard, with so much success as a junior and who played in the 'big' World championship the semi-finals last year in Sluiskil, to play in one of those leagues with the strongest players in the world? What about Jérémy Bury, the Frenchman, who is already in top ten of the world, but who still's making spectacular progression? He would like to play in the Netherlands or Belgium too, to have weekly encounters with other top players. Who would'nt like to have this young French player in his team?
People who are regular visitors of Facebook, the digital meeting place for billiard players from around the world, can see them all pass by, looking for an attractive transfer. Jef Philipoom, former world champion, is still looking for a team in France. Therese Klompenhouwer, the best lady player in the world, almost heaved a cry this week: is there a team for me in Belgium? The European junior champion Glenn Hofmann would like to play in France, just like Jean van Erp.
The transfer carousel is in full swing these weeks. Meerten Dallinga, organizer of the World championship in Sluiskil last year and chairman of the two teams which are playing in the highest Dutch league this year, knows very well: ,,We can get great players as much as we want, they simply offer themselves at the market. So I can choose what I want: Kasidokostas, Bury, Palazón, Cenet? And I really would like to find a sponsor to contract one of those players.''
The Dutch league is still the most popular, because the competition was the strongest in the world over the years. The highest league has five players from the top ten ranking. That's been even better in former years, when Semih Sayginer, Dani Sánchez, Dion Nelin and Adnan Yüksel were coming to Holland every week.
The Belgian competition seems to improve the quality a bit. This year, only four players from the top twenty of the world played in the competition. Dick Jaspers will return next year: he plays for BC Deurne.
The carousel is still moving at the moment. The composition of the teams in the highest Dutch league will not change anymore, as it seems now. Three players Crystal Kelly, the team that will stop after many years on top, have found another team: Frédéric Caudron, Raimond Burgman and Frans van Kuijk. Caudron is transfered to the team of Delta Sluiskil, which can be a big competitor for Van Donge en De Roo next year.
In Belgium there are still many rumors about players who are negotiating with other teams. The main transfers so far , the transition from Eddy Merckx to BC Quality Zele, Dick Jaspers to BC Deurne, Jef Philipoom to BC De Ploeg.