Telstar hosts Ajax on Sunday in a North Holland Eredivisie derby, a match eagerly anticipated by former players with shared histories. Hennie Meijer and Jan Olde Riekerink, who both played for both clubs, looked ahead in a report by NH Nieuws.
The Velsen-Zuid based club currently sits 13th in the Eredivisie with three points from two games. They have scored three goals and conceded four. On Sunday at 16:45, they face sixth-placed Ajax in a key match for the standings.
What does former player Hennie Meijer say?
Hennie Meijer made his professional debut for Telstar in the 1983/84 season, scoring twenty goals. He later played for Ajax, netting eleven times in the 1987/88 season. The 64-year-old former striker has lived in the IJmond region for about twenty years and supports Telstar for this match. He could not get a ticket. "Telstar no longer has tickets for former players now they are in the Eredivisie," Meijer said. He believes Ajax handles that much better.
Meijer expects a fun and open match. He hopes for a 1-0 win for Telstar but would also applaud a 3-0 victory for Ajax. He advises Ajax coach Michel Sánchez to start with Tolu instead of Leonardo. "Tolu is a good striker, from what I have seen," said Meijer, though he added he does not know how fit the Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee is.
How does Jan Olde Riekerink view it?
Jan Olde Riekerink, aged 63, played two years for Telstar under coach Niels Overweg. His teammates included Sander Oostrom, Ronald Hoop, and Arjan de Zeeuw. He spent a total of eleven years at Ajax in various roles, from youth coach to head of youth development. He experienced the club's move from De Meer to the ArenA.
Olde Riekerink supports Ajax and predicts a win for the Amsterdam side. He says Ajax has taken off a jacket with the departure of Godts. "Ajax has a few players who can decide the match, like Tolu," he states. Still, he thinks Telstar can make it difficult. According to him, Telstar has carried over last season's playing style. "They can set up their organization well and play on the counter. That's how they will gather most of their points," analyzes Olde Riekerink.
Why is this derby significant?
This derby is not just another match. Telstar is six points behind leaders AZ Alkmaar and wants to take points against a top club. A good result could provide a boost for the rest of the season. Fans can follow the match live on NH Radio from 16:30 or via the liveblog in the NH app and on their website.
Marco Robijn, another former player, said about the match: "It would be nice if there's a stunt on Sunday." Robijn is also known for another quote: "wie ben jij nou eigenlijk tuinkabouter? Jij moet lekker Madurodam gaan trainen."
What does this mean for the coming weeks?
After the Ajax match, the league campaign continues. Telstar must keep collecting points in the coming weeks to stay away from the bottom of the table. The current standings and statistics can be followed on our standings and stats pages. The squad for the rest of the season is available on the squad page. The organization and counter-attacking play Olde Riekerink mentioned will be important again in the upcoming fixtures.
