Helmond Sport draws 1-1 with VV Gemert in pre‑season friendly

Helmond Sport and VV Gemert played to a 1‑1 draw in a pre‑season friendly at Sportpark Molenbroek on Tuesday, 7 July 2026. Labinot Bajrami opened the scoring for Helmond Sport, and Dylan van Diepen converted a penalty for Gemert to equalise.

A minute’s silence was observed in memory of former player René Paardekooper before kick‑off. The match served as a preparation exercise, with Helmond Sport rotating a largely new line‑up and giving many squad members valuable minutes ahead of the upcoming season. The clubs noted the tradition of the fixture, recalling previous encounters that ended in draws in 2022 and 2021, and a 1‑6 Helmond win in 2018. Earlier in the pre‑season Helmond Sport suffered heavy defeats against Panathinaikos (0‑4) and AEK Larnaca (1‑2).