Tomorrow Telstar will face the very tough task of hurting Excelsior in its own stadium. The White Lions are in a disappointing seventeenth place and are therefore hoping for a stunt against the number three in the ranking from Rotterdam. Telstar coach Andries Jonker draws confidence from previous matches this season. “We have already made it very difficult for several strong teams.”
Jonker is referring to the away games against FC Volendam, ADO Den Haag and PSV in the cup tournament, among others. “We always and everywhere play to win. We have been holding on to the fact that we play very well against the bigger clubs for half a season. Also recently in Emmen, for example, we made it very difficult for the leader again,” said Jonker about the challenge of tomorrow in Rotterdam.
“We all know that many players are now playing at Telstar, in order to take a step up next year”
Unfortunately, Telstar will again have to contend with many absentees tomorrow. “There are too many to mention. I’m not going to start on that anymore. It’s two hands full again. The advantage is that everyone who plays now also wants and can show themselves. Because we all know that many players are now at Play Telstar, to take a step up next year,” said Jonker.
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A bright spot in recent weeks on Telstar’s side has been Glynor Plet’s goal production. The striker was responsible for five of the last seven goals scored by the current number seventeen of the first division. “That’s how I got to know Plet. He can sometimes score for weeks and then be dry for a period,” says the Telstar trainer about his captain. “But luckily he is now in a good phase. That is very nice, but it is not our objective. The objective is that we win and that has been difficult in recent weeks.”
“The objective is that we win and that has been difficult in recent weeks”
There is also a striker in form at Excelsior. Thijs Dallinga is the top scorer of the first division with 31 goals. “We have to show that we have grown this season. I am curious whether my players will succeed in keeping him under control for 90 minutes. In Velsen he already shot a few in half an hour,” Jonker refers to the four hits that Dallinga made in the 2-5 home defeat.
The duel between Excelsior and Telstar can be followed live tomorrow evening via NH Sport on NH Radio. The broadcast starts at 7 p.m. The kick-off in Rotterdam is an hour later.
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