ACV from Assen is champion, with Ruud Jalving as superstitious top trainer. ‘We have written history’

Trainer Ruud Jalving spoke of a collective championship. ,,Absolute. For the full hundred percent.” Soaking wet from the beer that had poured over him, but with a grin across his face that probably didn’t go off for the rest of the day, the trainer looked from a distance approvingly to his celebrating players.

Jalving was very proud of his frenzied howling and singing pupils. In the way his team has manifested itself this season. “We have made history. Have become champions with a series of 24 games in a row in which we remained undefeated. We will never experience that again. It’s bizarre.”

The team’s run, which became unapproachable as the season progressed, started on October 8 in Assen with a 2-1 win over GVVV, four days after ACV lost 1-0 to Staphorst, in a game in which the team of Jalving was so much better than the opponent that a final score of 6-1 or even higher would have been quite normal. But ACV missed one great opportunity after another that Tuesday evening.

Jalving: ,,Even though it was difficult in the beginning, we played well at times. So I saw no reason to make any changes.” Then, with twinkling eyes: ,,Between that match against Staphorst and the one against GVVV, my daughter made me a blue/black (the colors of ACV) wristband. After that we never lost. Am I superstitious? On this level, yes. I always wear that belt.”

That the championship of ACV was the championship of the collective is certain. But there were also a number of players who made their mark emphatically. Luka Priljic, the captain of his team, was one of them. He was the rock in the surf and with Yassine Abouzraa, his buddy in the heart of the defense, goalkeeper Enver Spijodic and the backs Tapmahoe Sopacua, also a star this season, Jaap van Dijken and in a later phase Karim Bannani ensured that ACV has the least passed defense in the Third Division.

Who also showed himself emphatically was Giovanni Zwikstra, who, just like ACV, started with difficulty, but then started to score, also scored two goals against VVOG and now stands at a total of 13 goals. Justin Mulder was the big man in midfield in the first half of the season. An injury then set him back somewhat.

Without wanting to shortchange anyone, but the most important person this season was the trainer. In his first season at ACV, Ruud Jalving has given the team a pleasant looking face. He has modeled a modern and dynamic football team, with steaming backs, light-footed moving midfielders with depth and with Zwikstra and Niels Grevink attackers who go for all the balls, are not too bad for anything and are a nuisance for defenders.

,,We have been used to Fred de Boer as a trainer for years”, said Gijs Jasper. ,,Under him we finished sixth last season. We considered that to be a good achievement. Nothing against Fred de Boer, but Ruud Jalving has increased the intensity of the training sessions. We are all extremely fit and have become very close over the course of the season. We have a common passion and mutual acceptance is great.”

Jalving declined to comment on his own input. Others should do that. He said he had not yet thought about ACV’s chances in the Second Division. “That is not relevant at the moment. In any case, it will be a great challenge.” Jasper indicated that his team can also play a good role at the highest amateur level. ,,Why not? We have been so convincing this season that we should also be able to handle the Second Division.”