Under the leadership of Matthias Kohler, FC Volendam has started preparing for the new football season. The 32-year-old German is the successor to Wim Jonk, the premier league player announced in the middle of the holiday of the football players. Damon Mirani said this afternoon after the first training session that he was surprised when he heard that the assistant coach is taking over.
Damon Mirani was surprised by the change of trainers at FC Volendam – NH Sport/Edward Dekker
“Very honest? I didn’t see it coming,” says Mirani, who heard the news from keeper Barry Lauwers on that Friday evening, June 16. Jonk will not leave, but will become manager of professional football affairs. By taking more distance from the first team, Jonk gets more time and space to get involved in the development of the club in the longer term. For Kohler, the change in roles was less surprising.
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Matthias Kohler understands that some people have to get used to his new role – NH Sport/Edward Dekker
“It is normal for people to find it exciting or have doubts. That is also allowed,” said Kohler. He led the training, while Jonk was also on the training field. The former international will continue to do so with some regularity to coach players individually.
During matches Jonk takes place in the stands and not in the dugout. To complete the technical staff, Volendam is still looking for an assistant trainer.
Eiting is missing
Captain Carel Eiting was missing on the field, who will join from tomorrow, after he has been to Botswana and South Africa for SOS Children’s Villages. The mercenaries Franco Antonucci, Gaetano Oristanio and Filip Stankovic have returned to their own club. FC Volendam expects to add another keeper to the duo Barry Lauwers and Kayne van Oevelen in the very short term.
There were no new acquisitions to admire on some players of Jong FC Volendam during the training.
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Damon Mirani saw no new faces on the training field – NH Sport/Edward Dekker
Bilal Ould-Chikh also trained with the A-selection. He gets a new chance after he was removed from the selection for the third time last April for disciplinary reasons.
No interview Ould-Chikh
The club informed the media present in advance that no interviews were possible except with trainer Matthias Kohler and players Xavier Mbuyamba and Damon Mirani. When asked, Kohler did comment on Ould-Chikh’s return. “There will be a lot of eyes on him to see how he will behave. I think it’s a nice challenge for him.”
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According to Matthias Kohler, Bilal Ould-Chikh knows the eyes are on him – NH Sport/Edward Dekker
FC Volendam will play its first friendly match next Saturday. Opponent in Wierden in Overijssel is then the jubilating amateur club SVZW. The kick-off at sports park Het Lageveld is at 2.30 pm. After the weekend, the premier league player will go to a training camp in Zeeland.