13 september 2024, 22:20
The credo ‘people’s club’ is earned partly through the loyalty of the supporters and in Leeuwarden we have known for a long time that this is a good thing. There were again more than 13,000 present tonight at the very first evening match ever in the Kooi Stadium and that was a party to see even before kick-off. A long yellow-blue procession of supporters who found their way to Ons Nieuwe Thuis from all directions and then the stands. They were already full early and under a radiant autumn sun all the ingredients for a beautiful football evening were present.
Especially if we add to that the return, or rather: homecoming, of a born and bred Leeuwarder. After a rich career at FC Utrecht, Fortuna Sittard and Feyenoord, among others, Mark Diemers returned to his SC Cambuur on the final day of the transfer window and tonight he proudly walked onto the field of the Kooi Stadion with the captain’s armband.
Tonight’s opponent at the Stadionplein was Jong Ajax and in a duel against the young Amsterdammers you never know exactly who you are going to meet, but if the match of the flagship is also postponed due to the police strikes, the uncertainty is even greater if possible. With Ramaj, Janse and Rijkhoff in the starting line-up, the first team content was certainly present, but there was no substantially different team than usual and that is only fair.
Often matches between SC Cambuur and Jong Ajax are entertaining to very entertaining, because they are two teams that have attacking football as their house style. Tonight it was actually no different when it comes to intentions, because there was high pressure on both sides, and therefore risks were taken, and both the formation of De Jong and that of Peereboom tried to play football from the back. However, big chances failed to materialize in the first half, unless it was the wrong pass from Jansen that gave the visitors a shot chance.
SC Cambuur, especially under the leadership of Kieftenbeld and Diemers, did indeed create dangerous moments, but it was often not quite in the final phase. Michael de Leeuw did manage to score once more and the first sounds of ‘t Woanskip could even be heard, but he pushed his opponent in the back illegally before the goal.
Just before half-time, the yellow-blues came close again when Diemers brought the ball into the sixteen and Ottesen directed the ball from the volley into the far corner. Ramaj was able to make a great save and the rebound was again unlucky. The ball ended up just behind the storming Remco Balk and so the score was 0-0 on the scoreboard after 45 minutes.
After the break, a goal would soon follow and unfortunately it was for the Firda stand and not the one where the hard core of SC Cambuur can be found. The strong striker Konadu was played in the sixteen and he cleverly laid the ball back to Mokio, who saw the ball sail over the helpless Thijs Jansen via a Leeuwarden leg with some luck. 0-1 for the visitors.
The fans’ response was to sing even louder and for those who have never been to the Kooi Stadium; that sounds a lot louder than in the old Cambuur Stadium. The eleven on the field understood the message, the tempo increased and chances would soon follow. It was just one of those nights where it didn’t seem allowed.
Mark Diemers found the ball after a beautiful one-two and a rock-hard shot with his left foot, Michael de Leeuw had one-on-one access to Ramaj and shot over and whoever wanted to count the number of yellow-blue corners would not have enough with one counting frame. In the final phase even goalkeeper Jansen went forward and the ball also fell well twice, but it was again the darn Ramaj who miraculously managed to prevent a goal.
SC Cambuur may have played the best match of the young season, but once again they left empty-handed, which is particularly disappointing and certainly not fair given the balance of play.
Next Monday, that nasty aftertaste can be washed away and the Kooi Stadium will be filled again. Opponent will be Roda JC from far away Kerkrade.
SC Cambuur line-up: Jansen; Ottesen, Van Mullem, Casas (61′ Marsman), Mercera; Kieftenbeld (75′ Alhaft), Diemers (C), De Jong (75′ Souren); Balk, De Leeuw (83′ Potma) and Kooistra (61′ Rölke)
Jong Ajax line-up: Ramaj; Alders, Verschuren, Janse, Jetten (61′ Ugwu); Brandes, Mokio (61′ Chourak), Rijkhoff; Faberski (72′ Van Axel Dongen), Konadu (61′ Vink) and Banel (82′ Chahid)
Referee: Kevin Puts
Supporters present: 13.250
Scoring progression:
51′ 0-1, Mokio
Yellow cards: Kieftenbeld, Diemers, Van Mullem (SC Cambuur) Mokio, Jetten and Chahid (Jong Ajax)
Competition sponsor: Popma Brokers
Balsponsor: Frisian Oil and Paint Trade
Captain’s armband sponsor: DarkVeenstra
Photo: Dijks Media
