With a large turnout, FC Emmen can look back on a successful kick-off to the new season. Traditionally, the club’s youngest supporters were allowed to participate in the first warm-up of the year. “It’s really fun to be able to play football like this,” exclaims one of the children enthusiastically. Another quickly found his favorite. “My favorite player is Freddy Quispel,” he says, after having just replayed a ball with his hero.
After the pleasant joint warm-up, we quickly turn our attention to the real work. There are not only familiar faces on the training field, but also a number of newcomers. One of them is the attacker Mustafa Abdullatif, who was presented today, from Hannover 96.
“Good football player, you can already see that in his positional play,” says a satisfied Emmen coach Menno van Dam. “We were looking for that kind of player in his position. Creativity, very skilled on the ball. So that is a player that makes you happy.” However, the selection is not yet complete. “Ultimately we need another striker, preferably two: a big strong one and a runner, that would be nice. And if Tim Geypens makes his mark, then we will have the selection pretty much complete.”
Geypens is in talks with the club but has also received an offer from abroad. FC Emmen expects news about the defender at very short notice
In addition to new faces, we also see players returning after a long absence. By this we mean Emmen resident Peter Quispel. The 20-year-old midfielder once started at FC Emmen in the Under 11s, left via FC Twente to Jong PSV and now returns to the club where it all started. “After playing in Eindhoven for seven years, I am back and that is wonderful,” says Quispel.
Brother Freddy (25) also enjoys the reunion. “It’s great fun to be on the field with your brother.” The Quispel family has the football blood group. In addition to Peter and Freddy, the middle one also plays football at a high level. “I have also played here with my other brother, Jan Quispel (24), so now the circle is complete,” says Freddy.
The youngest of the three Quispels is still training separately for the time being. “I still have two months to recover from a cruciate ligament injury, but I am looking forward to being back on the field. It is great to play football with your brother at such a professional club, especially in Emmen. We are Emmen residents, so that is great.”
And who is the best Quispel? The brothers can’t figure it out. Freddy thinks Peter is the best, Peter thinks Freddy is the best.
