GVAV youth can compete with the best in the Netherlands. ‘At least four players would not be out of place at a professional club’

The JO19-1 of GVAV-Rapiditas was promoted to division 1, the highest level in the Netherlands, in the first half of the season. Many players hope to get on the radar of professional clubs at that level, so that they can realize their professional dream.

The JO19-1 of GVAV-Rapiditas was initially going to enter division 3 this season, but after a lobby with the KNVB, it was decided last summer to move the Groningen youth team to a higher level. A wise decision, because GVAV-Rapiditas finished second in the autumn competition in division 2 and was therefore promoted to the highest national level. The first game in division 1, a home game against HHC Hardenberg, is scheduled for Saturday.

Tension during promotion match

GVAV-Rapiditas secured second place on the penultimate match day by beating their peers from Amsterdam’s WV-HEDW. The Groningen team was in full tension during that match. Within no time, GVAV-Rapiditas found itself trailing 2-0 on its own field, after which the young talents threw away all hesitation and turned the deficit into a resounding 9-2 victory.

Proud coach

The proud trainer of the JO19-1 of GVAV-Rapiditas is Steven Komproe. “The promotion to the highest level is a great achievement,” says the coach. “Especially when you know that the group of sixteen boys consists mainly of first-years. That offers a lot of perspective for next year. Although I think we will soon also be competing for the title in Division 1.”

Although GVAV-Rapiditas will play at a higher level, the travel distances will be considerably shorter. Although the people of Groningen had to travel to The Hague, Amsterdam, Gouda and Hengelo for the winter, the Komproe team will find their opponents closer to home in the coming months. GVAV-Rapiditas is classified with Drachtster Boys, HHC Hardenberg and FC Meppel/Alcides, among others.

Championship ambitions

Komproe thinks that his men can also go for the title at the highest level. If GVAV-Rapiditas wins the title, it will join the youth teams of professional football clubs next season. “The layout is being overhauled again,” Komproe explains. “After a few years of experiment, the youth teams of professional clubs are returning to the divisions. They will be given privileges, so only professional clubs will play in the first three divisions next season. In division 4, where we enter if we become champions, youth teams from amateur and professional clubs play.

Professional dream

The players of GVAV-Rapiditas are committed to competing at that level next season. Although a number of them played in the youth of FC Groningen and SC Cambuur in the past, but had to leave again, the majority of the players have not yet put a professional dream out of their minds.

Komproe finds it incomprehensible that the professional clubs have little interest in the JO19-1 players of GVAV-Rapiditas. “It seems as if they are only interested in the youngest youth, while at that age it is difficult to predict how good they will become. Look at a player like Denzel Dumfries. He was only scouted when he was 19 and look how he is doing now. We have been promoted to the highest level in the Netherlands. Then there must be something walking around with us, right? There are at least four players in my selection who would not be out of place at a professional club. WVV has just been promoted to division 2. There is also someone who I find incomprehensible that has not yet been picked up by a professional club.”

On the radar of professional clubs

Komproe’s players often nag the coach to arrange practice matches against youth teams of professional clubs. “That is a moment for them to show themselves again. We can compete well in those duels. A while ago we played against FC Emmen JO18-1. Due to bad weather, that match was stopped at 1-1. I thought we were the superior team in that match.”

If GVAV-Rapiditas can crown itself champion in division 1, it will play more often against professional clubs in the coming season and the players will have more opportunities to show themselves to the scouts of the professional clubs and their professional dream will come a little closer.

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