KAA Gent aimed to capture the title of “De Wijste Gentenaar 2026” for club president and owner Sam Baro by encouraging supporters to vote in the annual local awards. Instead, the campaign resulted in an unexpected loss when Anderlecht owner Marc Coucke secured the entrepreneur category prize on Wednesday evening, defeating Baro in what local media characterized as a bitter outcome for the Buffalo’s leadership.
The Campaign for Sam Baro and the Gala Results
Weeks ahead of the awards ceremony, KAA Gent launched a public outreach campaign across social media and press releases urging supporters to back club leadership and players. The club shared announcements stating that president and owner Sam Baro was nominated in the entrepreneur category for the 2026 awards. Despite the mobilization of the fan base, Baro lost the category to Marc Coucke, the primary shareholder of rival club Anderlecht, who was born in Ghent.
According to comments reported by The Latest News, Coucke reacted to the win with humor regarding the local rivalry. But I would have granted it to the younger generation too,” Coucke said at the event, adding that he expected Baro to win since the Gent executive was playing a home match.
Other Sporting and Cultural Winners
While the top entrepreneur honor went to Coucke, KAA Gent experienced mixed results across other categories during the gala. In the sports category, cyclist Florian Vermeersch defeated KAA Gent Ladies athletes Matties Volckaert and Riet Maes to take home the prize. Vermeersch expressed pride in his victory, calling the period a year of confirmation and noting his connection to the Ghent region within the professional cycling peloton.
Other regional figures claimed awards during the ceremony, including Tiesj Benoot in the personality category, musician Isolde Lasoen for culture, chef Marcelo Ballardin in the culinary field, and the Ghent Wintercircus project. Although KAA Gent Ladies representatives Matties Volckaert and Riet Maes were nominated in the sports category alongside Vermeersch, the club’s broader ambitions for individual honors fell short of securing a win for Baro.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the “De Wijste Gentenaar” award? It is an annual civic recognition event in Ghent honoring local personalities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and cultural figures for their contributions.
- Who competed in the entrepreneur category? KAA Gent owner Sam Baro and Anderlecht owner Marc Coucke were among the figures featured in the entrepreneur category, which Coucke ultimately won.
- Which KAA Gent athletes were nominated? Matties Volckaert and Riet Maes of the KAA Gent Ladies received nominations in the sports category, which was won by cyclist Florian Vermeersch.
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