There is a crisis in Breda. NAC Breda lost 0-1 to Telstar on Saturday evening and will therefore enter the winter break at the bottom. Supporters are angry and afraid that their club will play in the Kitchen Champion Division next season. Captain Boy Kemper understands the anger. “I also feel disappointment and anger, basically everything negative.”
The evening in Breda started nicely with the signing by NAC and the municipality of Breda for the leasehold construction of the Rat Verlegh Stadium. This takes an important step towards a financially healthy club. But there will be no growth in the coming years if NAC cannot maintain itself in the Eredivisie. That will be a big challenge for the people of Breda, who are currently in last place.
After the defeat against Telstar on Saturday, the players whistled en masse and ‘shame on you’ sounded throughout the stadium. Captain Boy Kemper and several teammates talked to supporters. “They support us in good and bad times. When things are not going well, we listen to them. I don’t see that as a problem.”
Sharpness is missing
NAC’s big problem is its lack of scoring ability. “We didn’t get many chances against Telstar, but in previous games we lacked the sharpness to shoot the ball between the posts. It’s time to focus our attention. But only when we no longer get in front of the goal at all should I really start to worry.”
There will be a small holiday for the players in the coming days. The captain believes that days off should be used to return to top physical and mental levels. “I hoped to go into the holidays with a good feeling, but you can’t say that now. It is difficult to let go of this, because you cannot escape it. People approach you on the street and on TV and the internet it is always about football. I am convinced that if we work hard, 2026 will still be a great year.”
“I am convinced that 2026 will still be a good year.”
None for Carl Hoefkens Home Alone on television during the Christmas holidays. The Belgian trainer will watch a lot of images of the first half of the competition during the holidays. “I’ve seen this before, but new things always emerge. I also look critically at myself. A big challenge for all of us is to remain calm and keep doing the right things.”
There is a chance that NAC will enter the transfer market in the coming days. The technical management will look for reinforcements, especially in the vanguard, as Hoefkens does not like Sydney van Hooijdonk, for example. “We’ll see what happens. As a club we look at what is best for the team and then we make a decision.”
The Belgian hohope to see the passion of the supporters again in 2026. “They were great today, from the first minute they supported us one hundred percent. When things go well they are there, but also in bad times. That passion will never change. We will do our utmost to get out of this situation.”
