For Telstar, 2025 will go down in the history books. There is no need for much explanation, because the unexpected promotion is the football fairytale of the year. The architect of this success is trainer Anthony Correia, but the title of goal stealer went to Youssef El Kachati. Earlier this year, NH Sport reporter Erik-Jan Brinkman visited him at home and got to know the person behind the footballer in Noordwijk.
For a long time, Youssef El Kachati was in the shadow of that other successful Telstar striker, Zakaria Eddahchouri. In January he transferred to Spanish side Deportivo de La Coruña. This freed up a spot at the point of the attack. From that moment on, El Kachati fired lively.
Goal drive
In mid-March, El Kachati scored two goals against Roda JC (3-1 win). At that moment the counter stood at fifteen hits. His drive to score seemed like a good reason to paint a portrait of him Suárez van Velsen-Zuid to make.
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At Telstar, the trainer and players are ‘touchable’. You can easily have a chat at the edge of the training field. El Kachati is such a player. Not only with me as a journalist, but also with the supporters, he makes time. Especially when the quick attacker scores one goal after another, almost every fan wants something from him. With a broad smile, the protagonist seems to enjoy it most of all and he doesn’t feel too big for anything.
While this season you have to submit all media requests to the Telstar press officer, last season I called Anthony Correia directly. The cheerful trainer thought a portrait of his star striker was a nice idea and jokingly told me not to praise him too much. El Kachati received many compliments at that time and he did not want to be outdone.
Appointment
Correia gives me his number and a little later I speak to Telstar’s crowd favorite himself on the phone. We make an appointment that I will visit him two days later. He says that he still lives with his parents in Noordwijk.
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On Thursday, March 20, I drive to the seaside resort early in the afternoon. El Kachati cheerfully opens the door when I have just parked the car. I take off my shoes at the front door and a little later the hospitable mother of the Telstar striker pours me Moroccan tea. There are sweet treats on a saucer on the table with the necessary photo albums next to them. All memories from the time of little Youssef. In the meantime, we have a nice chat about anything and everything.
Football field
It’s time to start running the item. I often have a general idea of what I want to film, but I also think it is important that the interviewee has a good feeling about it. Together we make a plan and we decide to start at the square where El Kachati spent many hours with the ball.
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We walk through the neighborhood with his father Mohamed and his nephew. What is striking is that almost everyone knows El Kachati. Cars, scooters and other passers-by stop for a chat with the successful Telstar football player.
After the square we visit the local snack bar. According to El Kachati, owner Willem makes the best fries in Noordwijk. Similar compliments soon follow the opposite path: “Youssef is the best footballer in Noordwijk.”
Playoffs
The praise only seems to give El Kachati wings. When the play-offs start in mid-May, the Noordwijker will be in the best shape of his life. He scores five times in six matches and with his self-confidence he ensures that Telstar rises above itself.
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On Sunday, June 1, after winning the final against Willem II, promotion is a fact and Telstar returns to the highest level after 47 years. That makes for a great party. First in Tilburg and later on return to Velsen-Zuid. I’m not completely surprised, but it soon becomes clear to me that El Kachati is not averse to a party. He also bounces from left to right in the crazy crowd.
Promotion party
A day later the ceremony will take place at Plein 1945. With NH Nieuws we will make a live broadcast and show everything that happens that day in the center of IJmuiden. I present the show myself and experience everything up close. What stays with me most of all is the disbelief. This was a scenario that no one took into account and that makes the joy even greater.
When the speaker announces ‘Youssef, Youssef’ a little later, the audience knows enough. The top scorer enters the stage. El Kachatti steps onto the stage with his hands up, sunglasses on and a big smile. I find it special to see what he has achieved in a short time.
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The funny thing is that after moments like that you start to sympathize with someone. As a journalist you try to look at everything as objectively as possible. Yet I cannot deny that I enjoyed his successes and that I followed his developments with extra interest. What would El Kachati’s new club be?
Contract in Nijmegen
For a long time his future seemed to lie in Germany. Hannover 96 had the best credentials, but NEC eventually signed him on June 11. In Nijmegen he signed a contract for three seasons.
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This week I texted him saying that I am working on a retrospective of his wonderful year. Three seconds later he calls me. “Hey Erik-Jan, how are you?” We chat on the phone for a while. He tells me about his wrist injury and that he still needs a few weeks of rehabilitation. Big downer, but he convincingly shows that he is in the right place in Nijmegen and that he has to be patient. “I learned that from my period at Telstar. This is only my first season in the Premier League and we are doing great.”
Even though he has been in prison for a while now, his enthusiasm remains as great as ever. I’m happy with that and let’s hope that they will soon be chanting ‘Youssef, Youssef’ in the stands in Nijmegen too.
Erik-Jan Brinkman