Under special circumstances, JOS Watergraafsmeer completed the make-up game against Gemert. The amateur club from Amsterdam played simultaneously with Ajax, which took on Feyenoord four kilometers away. “We think the game should be played at a different time,” says JOS coach Cor ten Bosch, who received considerably less support from the home crowd.
JOS Watergraafsmeer kicked off against Gemert at home at 2 p.m. The game was canceled a few weeks ago due to an unplayable field. Half an hour later, Ajax and Feyenoord would kick off for The Classic in the Johan Cruijff Arena. “Many of our volunteers are in the stadium. And many spectators also prefer Ajax to JOS today,” says Rinus, who has been behind the bar at JOS for years.
Chairman Ron Meijer also notices that the Classic has a lot of influence on JOS Watergraafsmeer. “As an amateur club you want to make a turnover to survive. Then I would have preferred to see it differently.” Head coach Ten Bosch supports those words. “As amateur clubs we are being destroyed a bit, like that. The fun is being removed more and more. This is not fun for amateur sport. Normally we have a full canteen and everyone leaves late. It is now completely empty. I have this in five years rarely seen.”
JOS Watergraafsmeer lost the home game against Gemert 3-5 on Sunday. As a result, the team is now fourteenth in the third division on Sunday. Ajax had to lose out against Feyenoord in the Classic: 2-3. The team from Amsterdam must therefore take a moment to pause in the title race.