Formally you have your first working day today. Nervous?
No, I am not nervous about that. I have regularly been to the club in recent days. I officially start today, but before that I was already working on.
Have you been talking to FC Volendam for a long time?
Not that long. That was something of recently. We had a few conversations and were in line. It went faster than expected.
What do you want to bring?
FC Volendam is a club with its own character and a lot of sympathy from almost the whole of the Netherlands. I want to make that club even better, so that we will become a stable club in the long term. With hopefully more back and forth.
What is needed to become stable?
We have to build the healthy basis that is now there. We must keep what is good and what is less, we must make better. That is cliché of course. And then we must eventually join the Eredivisie.
The previous director left after one year due to a difference of opinion. Did that make you think and have you discussed this with the Supervisory Board?
No, I did not talk to the Supervisory Board about the previous director. That is not up to me either. We have discussed how we see things and we have no difference of opinion about that.
What kind of director are you?
A kind of cooperating foreman who is a lot in the workplace. I am involved and not too bad to make my hands dirty. I did that in China when I founded a club there. I also want the employees to develop and have responsibility. I try to help and inspire people so that we build something beautiful together.
What is the objective?
We always want to participate in the top of the first division. When we play in the Eredivisie, we want to stay there for as long as possible.
Where are the challenges in Volendam for you?
I have to get to know all the ins and outs of the club. I also have to master the current files. If I have done that, you have to ask me this question again.
Do you still have ambitions to set up a Chinese club?
No. I have been on the other side of the world for more than ten years. I now think Fortuna Sittard is a long way. This is nice in the neighborhood for me and I am not going to do crazy things for the time being. At the moment abroad is not attracting me at all.
You also have a past at Telstar. Saturday 23 August is Telstar – Volendam. Is that a special competition for you?
Of course. With four North Holland clubs in the Eredivisie, it will be a special season anyway. I still know many people at Telstar. I know chairman Lex de Jager well, but I also experienced the current trainer Anthony Correia as a player. As an agent, I also supervised him at the time. They have achieved a great achievement there.