1/9 The youth team of Dynamo Kiev
Despite the pouring rain, Van den Wildenberg sports park in Goirle is packed on this first day of Pentecost. They are the soaking, somewhat tired faces of a hundred European youth players, who play football for the Joris Mathijsen Cup. All under eleven. One team does not fall within the age category, but can still participate. They are the guests of honor of the tournament of football association VOAB: the boys from Dynamo Kiev.
The Joris Mathijsen Cup has been his showpiece for a number of years. De Keizer is normally very proud of it, but thanks to the Ukrainian company of this edition, he is even more so.
“I had already been in contact with the youth coach of Zaglebie Sosnowiec, that is the Polish club that we play with every year. I was curious how they were doing, now with the war in neighboring Ukraine. Then it turned out that they had just completed a number of youth players of Dynamo Kiev to a flight address, with them on the complex.”
Since the youth team was already at the Polish club at that time, De Keizer decided to invite the Ukrainians to his tournament. They are the only ones a bit older than the rest, because Dynamo Kiev doesn’t have a team under 11 years. But there are quite a few extenuating circumstances for them. The Emperor even drove to Poland for a while, to drop off things with his son and see how they are housed there.
“I just want to give them the time of their lives.”
After the first match, between the Goirlese and Ukrainian youth team, organizer Peter de Keizer walks towards the field. He’s busy arranging cool packs, blaring things through the walkie-talkie, dodging balls and taking phone calls. But most of all, he beams with pride.
“If you open the van there and see their faces become children again… Yes, then I get goosebumps. You see that now when they play football, by the way. Then they have fun. I think that’s why I like it so much wanted them to participate. I just want to give them the day of their lives. You can’t really have a preference in such a tournament, but I do hope for them that they will be in the final soon,” says De Keizer.
“‘?? ?????” she asks. “How are the kids?”
We can ask the trainer a few questions, but we have to do it quickly. Preferably on foot, between matches. “?????????”, interpreter Julia asks. “How are the children?” The answer to her question comes that can actually already be filled in beforehand. The children are happy to be here, but they think the situation in Ukraine is terrible. They miss their home and miss their fathers, who had to stay in Ukraine because of mobilization. You can only flee if you have more than three children. That is why coach Serhii was allowed to come along.
“When they are alone, they become quiet,” the trainer continues. “But when they play football, they have distraction. Then they can vent their frustration. So let’s hope we can get something good out of it and stars are born here.”