Another weekend packed with voetball. Sunday is the day that most of the professional league matches are being played. This past weekend was even more important then most, as it was the last game for most teams. It was this weekend that the league champion would be announced and what team would be relegated or in a playoff to stay in the Premier Division. Excelsior was in tough, they needed the last place team to lose or they needed a big victory against Heerenveen, a very tough opponent, the story goes a little like this….

Marco picked me up at 10:45am, we drove to the stadium to meet 2 full bus loads of fans. The majority of fans seemed to be middle class weekend warriors, probably worked 8-5, monday to friday, in which following their local team was the main past time on the weekend. Loyalty, was the first thought that came to mind, the stadium was 3 hours away, most fans had some sort of Excelsior clothing on, for most, it was the scarf, not just to keep you warm but a symbol that can be stretched from arm to arm showing to the rest of the world who you support. 

The bus ride there was full of optimism, laughing and singing, playing cards, watching movies, eating and drinking.  3 hours seemed like an hour. What was most interesting, a police officer escorted us on and off the highway to ensure our safety. When we arrived to the stadium we did not even have to stay in a traffic jam, the motorbike police officer stopped and moved traffic clearnig the way to the visitor entrance of the stadium.

Visiting fans have there own entrance, when we got off the bus, I noticed two undercover police officers, standing, pretending to chit chat, but really were looking for any danger that we may cause or dangers against us, all protocol. We entered the gate, I felt like I was going to jail, I was patted down from head to toe, as was the rest.  I then climbed the stairs to a fully caged tunnel.  

As I walked closer to the light at the end of the tunnel, I felt like I was Maximus from the movie “Gladiator” just before a fight, the drums thumbing, and the mob chanting, ready for the battle to begin.

Ok, so the battle was not as fierce as the lead up, Heerenveen scored in the first 10 minutes on a goal in which the defenders were sleeping, they took most of the play; however, it was still 1-0, until the last minute of the first half, Heerenveen scored again. 

Our chanting became a dull roar, swearing in dutch was evident based on the amount of saliva that was protruding out many of the disgusted Excelsior fans. Nerves were high, I counted that one man rolled over 6 cigarettes and smoked them all in a 90 minute span. 

The second half started to in misery as Excelsior scored on their own net, at the same time the score board showed the last place team Venlo was ahead 2-0, which if they won would seal Excelsiors fate… relegation.

As the 80^th minute came, Excelsior’s destiny was to be relegated, with the lowest payroll in the league and two of their top players with season ending injuries, it was not meant to be. I sat in my seat as did Marco, pouting and pissed; I hate losing no matter what it is.

 But then all of a sudden, 

Quietly the chant “oh laa o laa” (followed by a pause except for one or two people echoing oh la oh la)  “Oh laa Oh laa”. “Oh Laa Oh La”….. “Ex-cel-sior Rot-ter-dam, Ex-cel-sior Rot-ter-dam, Ex-cel-sior Rot-ter-dam”, it started with a few, then turned to a group, it then got louder and louder, everyone in our section was standing and singing as loud as they could.

It was like the Dr Seuss movie “The Grinch that stole Christmas” when it was Christmas morning and the Grinch had stolen everything and the little Who people started singing together.

Usually a chant only lasts a minute or so, not this one, it only grew stronger, my hair went on edge, just as it is again now, re-living the moment as I type. The chant lasted for over 10 minutes, the raw emotion was in the air, to the point, the Heereveen fans were not going to interject and over power this chant…Unbelievable!

Pride, Loyalty, Integrity! Truly a moment I will never forget!

              EX-CEL-SIOR  ROT-TER-DAM  EX-CEL-SIOR  ROT-TER-DAM EX-CEL-SIOR  ROT-TER-DAM

 ”The time is like a an eagle flying in the sky… it goes by quickly.”

Personal Thoughts: 

 It is already April 18, days are turning into weeks and soon I will be leaving on a jet plane back to the land called home before I know it.

Today, friday I have been able to reflect.  I have been very lucky for the people who have helped me on my trip.

Marieke, (family, where I am staying) has been very accomdating, letting me into her world, stay at her place, she is a great person to talk to and bounce off ideas. We are off to Paris next week to be tourists and take a weekend off from the pitch.

Marco, has been unbelievable, he is taking good care of me on all angles. At times I feel bad for the how well he is treating me, I am taking it all in and looking forward to taking care of him in the future. I am looking forward to bring him and his family to Canada for soccer but more importantly to show how thankful I am for what he done for me in Holland.  He does not know but he is changing my life. I think we can all learn for this….we make a bigger impact on people then we may think, imagine if we all helped someone to this extent, it not only comes back, but spreads like wildfire, inspiring.

Soccer News 

Yesturday, we watched the U15 Dutch National team play the U15 National Swiss team. Overall it was very interesting as this is the same age I had been coaching for the last 6 months. Being able to compare the top players in this age group will help my analysis back home. I am starting to get a great idea of what the top players know and at what age, knowing what professional clubs are teaching their youth gives myself a great standard that must be followed in Canada if we want to improve.

If we can teach Canadian player’s the exact same as what professional clubs are teaching their youth, don’t you think we could compete with the top soccer nations of the world?

Will it be harder? Yes! Do we have less? Yes! Do we have Canadian heart? Yes!

Lets do this!

Done.

Hello,

This weekend was another great weekend packed with voetball. 

On sunday I went to Rotterdam’s Sparta’s Stadium to watch them play 5th place Heerenveen. Heerenveen came out strong in the first half by scoring 2 goals. The second half was great, Sparta scored 4 unanswered goals, the crowd was going wild as Sparta is not having the best season, placing 13th thus far.

However, one has to take into account, voetball here is like baseball in America in regards to payroll. Sparta’s payroll apprx. 11 million while Herenveen is appr 23 million. Excelsiors has the lowest at 4 million. Ajax is apprx 60 million. One can realize why certain teams are always on the top of the table. Is this fair? It is open for  good debate. Hense the reason the NHL went to such a long lock out and now they have a salary cap, which this year really shows when the teams are on the same financial level, there is better competition!

Rotterdam Excelsior tied, they have one game left against Heerenveen, hense the reason why we went to the the Heerenveen game. Voetball is hard to analysis on tv as you do not get to see the whole field. Marco Van Lochem(Excelsior Technical Youth Director) was taking notes throughout the whole game to hopefully give Excelsior an edge for next weeks games. Can Excelsior stay in the Premier division? It is going to be interesting!!

Interesting Article:

Dutch Voetball Hooligan’s were at there best over the weekend at a game in Groningen, Ajax vs FC Groningen.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/soccer/04/13/bc.soc.amsterdam.fires.ap/index.html

Talk soon and stay tuned!

Allo,

 Week 2 has been everything that I wanted it to be. I have a established a routine, everyday I bike to the club, train personally, work on my coaching book, learn dutch, and watch Excelsior practices.

        Yesterday I met with Arend Regeer, Regional Coach of District A. He had a nice power point presentation on how KNVB works. KNVB is the governing body of all the amatuer clubs. This is like the Canadian National Assoc. overlooking all the provincial assoc. It was interesting to note, that all areas of The Netherlands are getting the same information, in regards, to what needs to be taught ie. formation, skills etc, so when the play on a regional team or National team, all the players are on the same page.

KNVB does not govern the professioal team, so there is always debate between the two; however, they are becoming more parallel in their idealogies. I am in a great position because I am able to get the view of the Technical Director of a Professional Club (Marco van Lochem, Rotterdam Excelsior), the view of a KNVB representative Arend Regeer, and next week I am meeting with my second uncle who is the president of an Amateur Club,I will keep you posted.

On a lighter note,

I watched a U9 game, Excelsior vs Feyenoord. There is a huge rival in the youth age groups because they are both from Rotterdam, more importanly, Excelsior is never suppose to win as Feyenoord is a much bigger club with much deeper pockets.

The game was very intense, I was in awe, 9 years olds looking and playing soccer like adults. It was amazing to watch, better voetball then I see most adults in Canada play. The game it self was interesting to watch, Feyenoord played a mostly passing game while Excelsior played a more individual game. Excelsior won the game 2-1, on a great deke and blistering shot into the top corner, Unreal! Did I mention 9 year olds!?!? It was rewarding to know what I am teaching back home is correct, technique, technique, technique. Also, all the players played in position, they understand the game and how it should be played. When the game was over, Excelior players were chanting for 10 minutes!!

On an even lighter note, 

I was also in awe of the mullets in Holland, OMG, I have a picture I will try and post asap.

Talk soon,

Today, my cousin and I biked to Feyenoord Stadium, to watch Feyenoord play against FC Utrecht. What an amazing atmosphere! When the the teams came out of the dressing room, 50 000 fans rose to their feet and started chanting who knows what.  The game was good, Canadian born Jonathan De Guzman played every well. Guzman just received his dutch passport on Wednesday and intends to play for The Netherlands over Canada. One report was quoted “this sort of thing will continue to happen until there is environment in Canada that can develop and retain talent.”

Comments like these is just one of many reason why I am in The Netherslands, we cannot let this happen in the future. We must create soccer culture in Canada!!

Article:

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/postedsports/archive/2008/02/06/soccer-de-guzman-chooses-holland-over-canada.aspx

I have now been in Rotterdam for one week.  My first day consisted of sleeping and lots of it. My second day I met up with Marco Van Lochem, youth director of Rotterdam Excelsior, we then drove to Eidhoven home of PSV, we were driving a U15 National player who plays within the Excelsior system. I received a full tour of the PSV stadium.

After our first tour we went to the PSV Youth Academy training grounds, Wow. The most exciting part was I was able to sit down with 2 of the PSV coaches and talk soccer, I watched video on what they believe should be taught at all ages. I can’t wait to bring it back to Canada.

The next day, I went to the club Excelsior, it is only a 10 min bike ride away from where I am staying. I was able to watch all age groups from U6 to U19. It was amazing to see the skill and intensity in every player. Not just in drills, but more importantly in scrimmages.