The takeover troubles at NAC last year were divisive. Every fan, every fan club or every sponsor had their own thoughts about it. Now that the bullet is through the church, the noses have to go in the same direction again. The NOAD Cup, the largest supporters tournament in the Benelux, lends a helping hand.
Between the smell of beer and chips, Pierre van Hooijdonk takes his place behind the ball. His team, former NAC, has just been awarded a penalty on the grounds of the Breda amateur club JEKA. But to the great hilarity of the bystanders, the former pro hits the bar.
“Last minute, bottom of the bar”, says Pierre laughing about the missed knock. “The VAR was just getting beer, so then you are at the mercy of the referee. But it went too fast for that.”
“A little bit of connection is important, we are going to build something together again.”
Van Hooijdonk’s answer is typical of the atmosphere at the supporters tournament. Socializing is paramount and drinking beer is more important than playing football. In addition to the former NAC, all supporters’ sections also participate in this second edition of the NOAD Cup. Fifty teams in all.
“I think this is the biggest tournament in the Benelux”, says Ben Oosterbosch of the B-side Rats who organize the event together with the Breda Loco’s. “At Ajax, the supporters’ association has a tournament, but I can never find how many people participate in it. However, I do not believe that six hundred people are playing football there.”
“We hope this tournament contributes to unity among supporters.”
It doesn’t really matter. More importantly, the NOAD Cup connects. Because that was desperately needed. Last year, the fuss over the takeover of the club’s shares sometimes divided NAC supporters to the bone. “We hope that this tournament also contributes to unity,” says Thijs Kroezen, chairman of the B-side Rats. “In any case, everyone is there, from the office staff to the hard core. Especially if you look at what happened at NAC, a bit of connection is important. We are going to build something together again.”
A little further on, former NAC player Brian Piris is still laughing at Pierre van Hooijdonk’s missed penalty. “I actually wanted to take it,” he chuckles. “But the tall one took it anyway. Well, nice then. We think we can still play football. But we can’t anymore!”
“I didn’t want to take the penalty at first, but then Brian raised his finger,” counters Van Hooijdonk. “But it always misses. So then I thought: then I might as well miss myself.”
Again a lot of hilarity and then the real beer has to drink and the bbq has yet to start. And who will ultimately win the NOAD Cup will probably no longer be known tomorrow. But it was fun.
