If you read this I am probably already in Switzerland. Somewhere in the mountains I will hear what the verdict will be. Or Vitesse, the Arnhem football club also survived the last storm. The new Arnhem owners, supporters and the Arnhem population have at least done everything.
Mayor Ahmed Marcouch baptized his pen in the heart of Arnhem society and wrote a beautiful open letter to the KNVB license committee. He asked the people who are about to look beyond figures, balance sheets and license conditions. I thought it was a lot for someone who built a reputation law and order.
The city of Arnhem lost its heart at the Battle of the Bridge in the Second World War, an ‘amputation’ of the soul, a much larger organ, would again hit a wound that does not quickly heal.
I spoke to the sake of many people around the club lately. As always when the boat makes water, everyone wanted to help huzen again. No words but deeds is in Arnhem: many words and actions. The mutual animosity, puts five people from Arnhem together and it is guaranteed to be uncomfortable, was put aside for a deep injustice. Of course a lot had gone wrong in the past, but should innocent supporters now, now that the case is on the ride, still have to pay the bill for?
Of course not, but in the meantime we are in the waiting room with family and relatives waiting for the result. It is hoping and praying and in the meantime keep taking care of yourself and killing the time with something useful such as the yellow-black paints of the city.
Dissonant Dissonant: Gelredome owner Michael van de Kuit who driven by Rancune de Nagel likes to ram in the coffin by calling as much disinformation as possible on his lines within football journalism. Even more disturbing: there is always one that likes to crawl under his skirt to take it out without a reply. In that niche, the word ‘investigative journalist’ is no more than a toupet to conceal a bare skull, it’s all about clickbait. Up to more, the average ‘club watcher’ is also unable. Just as easily they say in a week and a half that the deceased is so beautiful that it looks like Vitesse will get out of the coffin every moment.
Hopefully it won’t come that far. I hope with Ahmed Marcouch that it is not anonymous pen licks who decide on Vitesse, but that the KNVB is an adult organization where people also work with the feelers, who see what everyone sees: that this patient is still too viable for an syringe.
Marcel van Roosmalen Writes a column on Monday and Thursday.