Football fathers Gerard Bayings and Meindert Dijkstra are eagerly awaiting the first match of the Orange Lionesses at the Women’s World Cup. Both hope that their daughters Jill and Caitlin will play against Portugal on Sunday morning. Now they are still at home on the couch, but they are ready to travel to New Zealand and Australia.
Gerard Bayings from Terheijden can hardly wait for the World Cup to start. He is very proud of his daughter Jill, who is in the selection of the Dutch national team. “The World Cup fever is fully present here at home. Our Jill cannot get any higher than this world championship. And not further away either, haha.”
“Contact with Caitlin is sometimes a bit difficult due to the time difference,” says father Meindert Dijkstra from Breda. “We have contact every day, but only when the girls are free there. That’s agreed, because they shouldn’t be too busy with other things.”
“I am first and foremost a father and supporter, but I also sometimes give advice.”
The focus is on performance and the fathers who both have a football background understand that. Gerard played for years in the big league at Baronie and Meindert was active with the professionals of NAC and Willem II. “I am first and foremost a father and supporter,” says Dijkstra. “But of course we also talk substantively about football and then I sometimes give advice. About not turning away from a head duel or about whether or not to join. But Caitlin already knows a lot.”
To their regret, both fathers have to watch the first group match against Portugal, Sunday morning at half past nine Dutch time, from the couch at home. Following the World Cup on the other side of the world costs a lot of money and time.
“I leave on Monday and it takes almost two days,” says Gerard Bayings. “Everyone tries to travel very quickly, but not me. Switching a lot makes it much cheaper. I’ve always been everywhere, so of course I can’t miss this World Cup.”
“Because it is expensive and far away, many parents do not go to the World Cup.”
“I sleep like a backpacker in small hotels and hostels,” he says. “It’s not going to be a sun holiday either, because it’s cold, windy and wet in New Zealand. I’ve doubted for a long time, but my winter coat and orange hat are ready.”
Dijkstra is on the ticking rope. “It is no problem for me to set the alarm at home at three in the morning, but it is to go to the games. Because it is expensive and far away, many parents do not go. But if they hopefully have to go to Australia later, I will go.”
Hopefully both West Brabant football fathers will see their daughter actually play football there. Both are not basic players, but with their nice transfers just before the World Cup, that can quickly change. For example, Caitlin Dijkstra now plays for Leverkusen and Jill Bayings for Bayern Munich. That means a step higher on the hierarchical ladder for Orange. “I do think it increases their chance of playing time, says Gerard. “That helps.”
The Orange will not have it easy in the group stage with Vietnam and the heavy competitors Portugal and the United States. “They will get through the group stage,” Meindert thinks. “And make it to the final? We have to be lucky.”