VV Annen offers a great match against FC Emmen with a world goal, which puts things in order after the break

Of course, it is still early in the preparation. The condition is far from being up to scratch, there is a new trainer for the group with a vision that still needs to be honed in and the selection is not yet up to scratch. But not getting past an amateur club, even if it is only the second exhibition game, is and remains a blemish on the preparation of a professional football club. And so also for FC Emmen.

For a long time it looked like on Tuesday evening at Sportpark De Hofakkers in Annen that Fred Grim’s formation would lose face against a solidly playing VV Annen. Thanks to a wonderful goal from Pepijn Knol, the Drenthe second division team had taken the lead. With a watched lob, the attacker surprised FC Emmen goalie Eric Oelschlägel, after an attack that had been watched for a while.

Lookalike Virgil van Dijk

A stunt seemed to be in the making, just under a week after VV Annen had offered that other professional club, FC Groningen, a good opponent and had only conceded two hits (0-2). But what was already announced before that beautiful goal, due to countless opportunities for FC Emmen, became reality just before half-time: Ben Scholte tied the score, with a hard, dry bang in the far corner: 1-1.

VV Annen sputtered in the second half, but despite the usual exchange party on the Emmen side, the score was 1-5 after 90 minutes. Kyron van der Kaap, the tall lookalike of Virgil van Dijk and also younger brother of Kellian van der Kaap (former FC Groningen and SC Cambuur), made two. The other goals were scored by Joey Roufs and Dennis Vos.

Maikel Kieftenbeld’s return

The result would not affect the spectators along the side. Under the sultry summer evening sun, they had had a great football evening. And they witnessed the long-awaited return of Maikel Kieftenbeld. The midfielder, who was presented as a top purchase last season and tore his cruciate ligament during the first league match, played half an hour in Annen.

Jeff Hardeveld also made his comeback. The left back also tore his cruciate ligament last season and is now officially unemployed, but may try to enforce a new contract with FC Emmen in preparation. Other potential basic forces such as Lorenzo Burnet, Rui Mendes, Ahmed El Messaoudi and goalkeeper Jan Hoekstra, who was officially presented earlier in the day, missed this match.

VFL Osnabrück, serious test

We are now waiting for the official presentation of Piotr Parzyszek. The 29-year-old Polish striker has to score goals in Emmen, something he proved to be able to do in the service of De Graafschap. For the time being, he is on the sidelines until his former club, the Spanish second division club CD Leganés, officially releases him. Until then, Grim fills the striker position with Scholte and Van der Kaap.

On Friday afternoon FC Emmen awaits a test against VFL Osnabrück, played on neutral ground at SV Quit in Ankum. A serious test, that is: both teams practice against each other twice for 60 minutes and unlike that of FC Emmen, the preparation of the Germans is already underway. Jan Hoekstra is expected to make his first appearance in the shirt of FC Emmen.