If your club is the best at the Protos Weering indoor football tournament, you gain prestige and prestige. The men from Hoogeveen succeeded, they beat tournament debutant LTC in a nice final battle 4-2.
Joy among the Hoogeven residents, pride and satisfaction at the Asser LTC. Tournament chairman Jasper Stroeve was also proud, who spoke about an almost flawless performance of the classic among indoor tournaments around Christmas and New Year.
The 47th episode of the indoor tournament for amateur clubs ended as usual in the packed Angelslo sports hall in Emmen with a final round. Six remaining clubs had to qualify for the big apotheosis in front of 1,800 enthusiastic spectators: the final. These became Hoogeveen and LTC. Everything has been new for the people of Assen recently, because it was their first participation.
‘We became too playful’
Trainer Germain Beck enjoyed it. He filmed with his phone the large crowd of fans in the overflowing stands, both his own LTC in green and the blue sea of Hoogeveen. “Beautiful, this is enjoyable. We performed well, regardless of how this final turns out.” LTC had previously defeated Gramsbergen 4-3 after a 4-0 lead and with goalkeeper Wikus van der Heide and the flamboyant attacker Marc Heerings as standouts. ..It almost went wrong towards the end, we became too playful”, said Beck.
The other finalist, Hoogeveen, had to pull out all the stops to beat fellow countryman Noordscheschut. That team felt disadvantaged by the arbitration, especially when it had to accept a red card. Experienced expert Wubbo Warrink, who is still active in the hall as a referee, knew it. “On such a last day where decisions are made, it often becomes a cocktail of disappointment and fatigue, which quickly leads to emotions. It’s not necessary, but it is understandable.
Power football
The final was a clash between two styles of playing indoor football. Where LTC, as before, gambled on a quick counter-punch with a few creative players, Hoogeveen looked for pressure and more power football. The first half of 20 minutes of playing time provided little clarity and not too many chances. Goalkeeper Van der Heide distinguished himself once again in goal at LTC. After 0-0, the match broke loose in the second part. Within a few minutes, Noah Schuurman and Justin Benjamins took Hoogeveen to a 2-0 lead. But LTC didn’t break. It was Ali Asla who scored 2-1. That promised a thrilling final phase. Schuurman scored his second from a free kick, Asli brought LTC closer again and it was Jim Veltmaat who brought the final score to 4-2 with a flashy punt. The blue sea cheered, the floor was stormed.
Noah Schuurman beamed. “This is really beautiful. Things are going quite difficult for us on the field this season, maybe this is a boost. No, I sometimes hear that winning Protos Weering is more important than becoming champion on the field, but that doesn’t apply to me. It’s nice to win here, but I prefer to win on the field in the competition. By the way, this is the second time for me to win the Protos Weering, previously I did so with MSC.”
‘LTC has shown itself positively in this tournament’
Goalkeeper Wikus van der Heide was given a choice: disappointed or satisfied. “Of course I prefer to win. But I am also satisfied and proud. I think that LTC has shown itself positively in this tournament. We played good matches and I felt good about myself. The final against a strong Hoogeveen was just a bit too much for us, but second is also nice. We made it to the final.” Van der Heide had a good point, 98 other teams did not make it to the final, although Gramsbergen (3), Noordscheschut (4), FC Meppel (5) and HZVV (6) at least played on the final day
The last word goes to Jasper Stroeve. The tournament director looked back with satisfaction. “It went well, also in terms of organization. It was fuller everywhere than a year ago and the security people didn’t have too much work. Also thanks to the excellent arbitration, the referees had everything under control. It is a big job every year with a hundred participants. And we also have quite a few clubs on the waiting list. The Protos Weering Tournament is still alive after 47 episodes.