Qua talent, groot verlies?

Klaassen: 'Mooi verhaal voor mijn opa'

Davy Klaassen (1 beleefde donderdag onverwachts een onvergetelijke ochtend. De blonde middenvelder van Ajax A1 kreeg ’s ochtends bij aankomst op de Toekomst te horen dat hij met de selectie van Frank de Boer mocht meetrainen. Ook de A-junioren Sven Nieuwpoort en Stefano Denswil maakten hun trainingsdebuut bij het eerste elftal.
Aanvankelijk leek het voor Klaassen een ochtend als alle andere bij Ajax te worden. Totdat hij bij aankomst op de Toekomst het gedroomde bericht kreeg: meetrainen met Ajax 1. ,,Meneer De Boer wilde graag 11-tegen-11 trainen, dus daarom vroeg hij me om mee te trainen. Omdat Jong Ajax op trainingskamp is, kwam hij bij ons uit”, vertelt A-junior Klaassen na afloop van zijn eerste training met de A-selectie. Het kwam voor hem op de mooist denkbare ochtend, want doordat het én open training én zomervakantie was, onderging hij direct zijn vuurdoop bij de vele toegestroomde Ajax-supporters.

Zijn grootste fan was woensdag echter niet bij het voor Klaassen unieke moment aanwezig. ,,Mijn opa kon er helaas niet bij zijn omdat hij donderdagochtend altijd werkt”, vertelt Klaassen. De grootvader van de Ajax-pupil is al jaren zijn trouwe bondgenoot. Al van jongs af aan volgt Klaassen senior zijn kleinzoon op de voet. ,,Maar vanavond ga ik bij hem eten, dus dan zal ik het hem allemaal gaan vertellen. Ook zal ik mijn ouders straks even bellen. Ze zijn op vakantie, dus ze zullen wel verrast zijn als ze het horen.”

Davy Klaassen tussen een menigte vol handtekeningenjagers. Davy Klaassen tussen een menigte vol handtekeningenjagers.


Een van de dingen die Klaassen donderdagavond aan zijn opa kan vertellen zijn de ervaringen die hij tijdens het partijspel opdeed. De Hilversummer, onlangs uitgeroepen tot Talent van de Toekomst, stond uitgerekend tegenover zijn oude trainer Frank de Boer in het veld. ,,Maar we hebben niet echt veel duels uitgevochten.” Ook de lunch met de selectie zal ongetwijfeld ter sprake komen. Het echte ‘bewijs’ zal Klaassen via zijn laptop tevoorschijn toveren. ,,Ik ga samen met mijn opa de beelden van Ajax TV bekijken. Jammer dat hij er niet bij kon zijn, maar hierdoor kan hij het toch nog een beetje meemaken.”

Ook Sven Nieuwpoort en Stefano Denswil belandden voor even in een andere wereld. ,,In de duels met Sigthórsson kon ik echt merken dat hij een heel slimme en sterke spits is”, vertelt Nieuwpoort (1 na afloop vol bewondering. In tegenstelling tot Klaassen hoorde Nieuwpoort het nieuws pas toen hij al met de A1 aan het trainen was. ,,Meneer Wormhoudt (conditietrainer) kwam naar me toe en zei ‘rustig blijven ademen, maar je mag nu gelijk met het eerste meetrainen’.” De late mededeling had te maken met het uitvallen van Gregory van der Wiel. De rechtsback verliet de training uit voorzorg. Ook Jan Vertonghen liet de training - eveneens uit voorzorg - aan zich voorbij gaan.

Of er voor het drietal binnenkort een vervolg in zit, zal moeten blijken. Als Jong Ajax volgende week weer terugkeert van het trainingskamp in Zeeland wordt de concurrentie voor een plaats op het trainingsveld uiteraard weer een stuk groter. De eerste stap is in ieder geval gezet

Na Denswil en Klaassen is De Sa het grootste talent van de A-junioren. Continue dreiging, kan binnendoor en buitenom passeren en is vliegensvlug. Ik ben ontzettend onder de indruk van Lesley.

In navolging van Jaap Stam gaat Marc Overmars aan de slag bij Ajax. De voormalig linksbuiten gaat een dag per week individuele trainingen geven bij de beloftenploeg en de A1.

'Met Dennis en Wim (Bergkamp en Jonk, verantwoordelijk voor het technische beleid bij Ajax, red.) heb ik de afspraak gemaakt dat ik iets voor de club ga doen', vertelt Overmars aan Voetbal International. 'Per wanneer en op welke dag is nog niet helemaal duidelijk. Het plan is wel dat ik specifiek met de buitenspelers van Ajax aan de slag ga.'

Overmars maakte onlangs nog een verbazend fitte indruk in het afscheidsduel van Edwin van der Sar. De oud-international lijkt zodoende prima in staat de oefenstof zelf voor te doen. 'Ik hoef inderdaad niet bang te zijn dat ze me eruit lopen.' (Tom Wildvank)

Bron: Voetbal International

The Tournament
The NextGen Series is an international football tournament like no other. It heralds an exciting new era in competitive football that features the next generation of world-class players.

Players who have been trained and nurtured by some of the greatest clubs in Europe.

The NextGen Series gives these players and their clubs the chance to showcase their skills in a challenging 6-month international competition, culminating in a final to win the coveted NextGen Series Trophy. For football fans an opportunity to experience the new talent of the future.

The 16 international clubs are divided into four groups of four, where each club will contest a home and an away fixture against each group member. The top two winning clubs in each group progress to the knockout stage, concluding with the final in January 2012.

The NextGen Series kicks off in August 2011 and includes clubs such as Barcelona, Manchester City, Inter Milan, Sporting Lisbon and Liverpool.

The tables below show the fixtures that are confirmed so far. Keep coming back to this site to see updated fixtures and venues as they are confirmed.

[size=150">Teams:[/size">
Ajax

Ajax's famous youth academy’s goal is to transform talented youngsters into some of the world’s top football players. Having attached great importance to their renowned youth development programme, only the very best will graduate to the first team. Johann Cruyff, Dennis Bergkamp and Rafael van der Vaart are just a few examples of such talents.

Currently the Ajax 1 team features many players from the youth academy including: Gregory Van der Wiel, Vurnon Anita Aras Özbiliz, Lorenzo Ebecilio, Siem de Jong, Jan Vertonghen, Daley Blind and Toby Alderweireld.

'De Toekomst', meaning 'The Future' is Ajax's heart and soul. Here players and coaches from 12 youth teams and Young Ajax (second team) work using the "TIPS" system. Technique, Insight, Personality and Speed are the essential focus.

The youth team is trained in the same way as the first team, so players who make it are already accustomed to Ajax’s style of play, training, behaviour and house rules. They strive to play the attractive, offensive-minded, creative, fast and fair football that Ajax are recognised for.

The Amsterdam club has a complete school program at its disposal. An academic coordinator and several teachers are all available for the players during their studies. Everything, both on and off the field, must be perfectly organised, not only at Ajax 1, but also at 'De Toekomst'. Only then can top performances be delivered, both now, and in the future.

Aston Villa FC

A quick browse around the Barclays Premier League and you will see the English top flight is littered with players nurtured at Aston Villa's renowned academy.

Gabby Agbonlahor, Gareth Barry, Craig Gardner and Gary Cahill are among the household names to have graduated through the club's highly-acclaimed youth system at Bodymoor Heath.

The 2010-11 campaign was another landmark season for Villa with 11 academy graduates appearing for the first team. The likes of Albrighton, Ciaran Clark and Barry Bannan made big breakthroughs to senior stardom.

In terms of the new breed, England U19 midfielder Gary Gardner is verging on the senior squad. While the likes of Republic of Ireland U19 defender Derrick Williams and skilful attacker Samir Carruthers played pivotal roles last term in helping the youth team win their section of the Barclays Premier Academy League and reach the FA Youth Cup semi-finals.

There is also great excitement about the next group of scholars to ply their trade in the academy. England U16 forwards Jordan Graham and Callum Robinson showed glimpses of their potential last term. While the likes of Irish strikers Graham Burke and Michael Drennan, Birmingham-born defender Richard Bryan and Spanish midfielder Juan Serrano are looking to make further strides after sparkling debut seasons. What better place for them to hone their skills than against Europe's elite in The NextGen Series?

Villa lifted the prestigious FA Youth Cup in 2002 and reached the final in 2004 and 2010. Add to this a Barclays Premier Academy League national title in 2007-08 and a hat-trick of Reserve League South championships in 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10, and there is no disputing the club's record.

Villa will prepare for group stage games against Ajax, Fenerbahce and Rosenborg with the ultimate goal of replicating their domestic success on the continent.

PSV Eindhoven
PSV Eindhoven is one of the biggest clubs in Holland and Europe, having won the Dutch national championships in seven of the last nine seasons, whilst repeatedly making it to the final stages of The Champions League and UEFA Cup.

Acknowledged worldwide for producing world-class home grown talent: Gullit, Van Nistelrooy and Robben all rose up through their ranks; it is of no surprise that their academy is a primary focus for the club. Currently six of the first team squad are graduates from the academy.

Here the focus is on three main objectives: to develop elite players for the first team, to promote an attacking, attractive style of play, and to concentrate not just on the team but also the player: “You have to play as a team to win, but to develop individual talent we also focus on the personal needs: technical, physical and psychological” explained Jelle Goes, Head of Youth Academy.

Excited to be drawn in one of the toughest international groups of The NextGen Series with Spurs, Inter Milan and FC Basel, PSV are confident. Viewing the young age of their team as potentially their biggest challenge, Goes points out that this is simply is due to the high quality of the players and their rapid progression through the youth teams. Though winning is always important, it is in fact the process and style of play that the team now view as paramount.

Celtic FC

With 42 Scottish Premier League titles, 35 Scottish and a UEFA Cup under their belt, Celtic FC are seasoned pros in European competition with an estimated fan base of 9 million worldwide.

To continue such success they apply a huge focus to youth development. Their objective is to create a World Class Academy, nurturing young players to fulfill their potential, based on excellence in Coaching, Facilities, Sports Science, Scouting, Education and Welfare.

Head of the Youth Academy, Chris McCart, looks forward to their involvement in The NextGen Series, 'It will give our young players a fantastic experience playing against some of the best youth teams in Europe. We are very excited to be drawn in the same group as Barcelona, Man City and Marseille.'

Acknowledging that the technical and tactical aspects of The NextGen Series will be of the highest standards, McCart views the group as 'very tough.' His team will be playing between the lines of possession with short passing and quick movement. Off the ball they will press as a team and win the ball back as early as possible. This style of play is developed through all ages, providing continuity throughout the academy.

'The education of travelling to different countries, learning about their cultures and preparing for a game in a totally different way to our domestic league games will greatly help our players' development,' mentioned the Youth Academy manager, who applies a philosophy referred to as the "Celtic way". This is an holistic approach that develops the person and not just the player.

He concluded by thanking The NextGen Series for Celtic FC's invitation to the series, reiterating their excitement to be involved.

It is not just the international aspect of The NextGen Series that excites Goes, but the fact his young team will now gain the experience of a double programme (often playing two matches a week) as the first team do. "This will support their development, helping them progress in that last step to the first team" continued Jelle Goes.

Likely to make a huge impact in the tournament, PSV face their first game against FC Basel on the 31st August at The Rankhof Stadium.

FC Basel

Founded in 1893 by the members of a rowing club, FC Basel has been the most popular football club in Switzerland since 1967.

Between 1967 and 1980, the club won an unprecedented 12 Swiss National Championships and two Swiss Cups under Head Coach Helmut Benthaus. However, it was the achievements of Christian Gross (Head Coach 1999-2009) that caused excitement previously unknown to Swiss football.

With over 3,500 members FC Basel are consistently high achievers in the top tier of Swiss football, The Axpo Super League. The club encourages and promotes its youth; there are ten full-time coaches looking after the U21, U18, U17, U16, U15 and U14 teams, which all play in the top Swiss league of their age group. Known throughout Switzerland as having the best youth system, FC Basel's academy is often compared to the youth systems of Ajax, Celtic and Real Madrid. Swiss internationals such as Philipp Degen, Alexander Frei and Marco Streller are alumni of the system, alongside the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri, Ivan Ratiki? and Felipe Caicedo.

This strong focus on youth development and its success can be demonstrated by the fact that 13 of the 27 first team players came through the academy.

With motivated players excited to be playing on the international scene, FC Basel coaches look forward to the confrontation of various styles of football, and their players' adaptability to it.

Liverpool

1998 marked the opening of a new state-of-the-art Youth Academy in Kirkby, Liverpool.

Overseen by Frank McParland, this academy features four full-size grass pitches and one polytan surface. Combined with seven smaller pitches and an indoor arena the grounds cover an impressive 56 acres.

On the walls of the indoor centre hang the key words 'Technique', 'Attitude', 'Balance' and 'Speed'. These qualities, known as 'TABS' are the key footballing attributes preached at The Academy.

Previous players to emerge from Liverpool's youth development system have been England stars such as Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen and Jamie Carragher. Gerrard became involved with the club aged just 8, though at this age players simply attend after-school training sessions. As the players reach their mid-teens, if deemed talented enough, the academy takes over their academic needs, and as such has a lecture theatre and a computer equipped classroom.

The Academy can handle up to twenty boys in each year group, although the actual number in each is usually around eighteen. Between the ages of eight and twelve the boys play in eight-a-side games of three twenty-minute periods. It allows the boys to play in small groups, attack or defence, within a system and is not as physically demanding as playing eleven-a-side matches.

To continue their outstanding record, both with the first team and the academy team, Liverpool have recently recruited Kenny Dalglish - a Liverpool Football Club legend as player and manager - and internationally renowned youth coach Jose Segura.

Kenny needs no introduction to fans of football; while Jose has a great reputation for helping develop future stars of the calibre of Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Mikel Arteta and Gerard Pique make him a hugely valuable addition to their staff.

The club is confident that the additions of Kenny and Jose will prove invaluable to their youngsters both in the short and the long term.

Sporting Lisbon

Founded more than 100 years ago, the Club was created with the intention to transform into 'a club as big as the biggest in Europe'. Today, Sporting's track record is testament to that principle as well as the values, winning drive and spirit of sportsmanship that are present at every level of the Club.

With more than 3 million fans spread across every continent and hundreds of titles to its name, the Club is indeed living up to its ambitions.

Fuelling their drive to remain Portugal's premier club, and one of the top sides in European competition, is Sporting's modern and well equipped academy. A real source of pride, this academy has produced some of Portugal's greatest, including: Ronaldo, Figo, Nani and Ferreira.

Established in June 2002, The Sporting/Puma Academy is the first of such size and quality to be built in Portugal. Also one of the largest and most modern in Europe it is set in a tranquil environment and climate, beneficial for the development of young players. A strong dedication to management and training leaves them prepared for any type of competition and provides a strategic pillar to the new Sporting.

Sporting's expectations are high for The NextGen Series. For The Portuguese Club "Competing against some of the top teams in Europe will be an excellent motivator and opportunity for our players to develop their skills; giving them the needed experience to conquer, in the near future, a place in our professional squad."

Rosenborg BK

As the most successful team in Norway of all time – Tippeligaen league champions 22 times - Rosenborg BK have a lot to live up to.

Regular competitors in the Champions League, and suppliers of much of the national team's talent over the years, the club looks to their unique player development system as the cause.

With exciting youth talents such as Markus Henriksen (19), Mushaga Bakenga (19), Jonas Svensson (1, and Fredrik Midtsjø (1 already breaking into the first team (and national first team for Henriksen) it's no surprise this academy focused club are thrilled to be entering The NextGenSeries.

'The preparation and confidence that it will give the players, on an international stage, will be vital when they come to play for the first team' said Tore Grønning, Head of Youth Development for Rosenborg.

For Tore, NextGen's international stage and 6 month tournament system make it superior to other competitions. “It has size and gravitas that no other international tournament of its type can offer our academy players”. To Rosenborg this means a far greater insight into the pressure, experience and excitement of a professional tournament for their players. In fact the academy squad are so excited about the series 'they don't talk about anything else.'

Rosenborg's remarkable youth system thrives through offering players the opportunity to play at all levels; be it junior, third, second or even first team. The U19 team were Norwegian Junior Championship winners in 2009, and Ranheim, their cooperation team at level two in Norway, are currently top of their division. This co-operation is beneficial to both teams involved: Ranheim get great advice, support and elite player loans, while Rosenborg get to test upcoming talent at a professional level.

The academy focuses on three goals: to develop players for the A Team, to develop players for the national team, and to work closely with regional clubs and youth teams, nurturing players until they reach the appropriate age for academy signing.

This means they will only select home-grown talent, and will not take on a player under 15. Norwegian culture is to protect the under 15s from the pressures - physical and mental - of high level football. Rosenborg also believe it is difficult to see the full potential of a player until this age. This is of huge credit to the academy, as it means these more mature academy players are living at home, and the club can interact with the families and together nurture their future stars.

Enjoying the benefit of accomplished coaches such as Stale Stensaas and sports manager Erik Hoftun - ex-professionals capped by both the national team and in the Champions League with Rosenborg - the team confidently awaits the tournament.

Molde FK

The return of Molde FK legend Ole Gunnar Solskjær, now as manager, coincides with the excitement of the 100th year of the club and their debut season in The NextGen Series.

'It will be very exciting to see top international football with the next generation of players, some of which will hopefully characterise international football in the future,' noted Are Lervik, the Academy Director.

As a top club in Norway for decades, Molde boasts two Norwegian cups, seven runners up trophies in the Tippeligaen and extensive experience in Europe, including The Champions League and UEFA Cup.

They've also seen excellent achievements from academy teams, including a total of six Norwegian Championships for their U19s. Graduates from these academies include such world-class talents as: Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Øyvind Leonhardsen, Kjetil Rekdal, Trond Andersen, Åge Hareide, Petter Rudi, Magnus Wolff Eikrem and Mame Biram Diouf.

In fact, six of the current first-team came through the academy, including the captain Daniel Berg Hestad, while three of the academy players: Krister Wemberg, Magnus Stamnestrø and Simon Markeng have also already played at this level.

This impressive youth development programme focuses on local talent, placing considerable resources in player development as well as local and regional trainers. 'We are a small club in the tournament, relying on local players, operating a long-term effort to develop them onto the next level. Nevertheless we believe that we have the ability to challenge the teams we are meeting,' Lervik commented.

The experience his team would gain through The NextGen Series by playing twice a week – as many also play for Molde's reserve team - was also an appeal to the Academy Director.

'Molde FK and Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær are very excited about this opportunity that The NextGen Series offers. We want to perform well while showing that MFK is a unique Club from a small town in Norway.'

Manchester City FC

Manchester City not only enters the season as serious Title contenders and first timers in The Champions League, but also as one of few English sides in The NextGen Series.

Since its inception in 1998, thirty-eight graduates of the City Academy have gone on to make frst-team appearances. Stars such as Shaun Wright-Phillips and Micah Richards have since played for England on numerous occasions.

Recent years have seen the club widen their search for young talent, now boasting a more cosmopolitan squad; players from Spain, France, Norway, Holland and England will represent the club in The NextGen Series.

Academy manager, Scott Sellars looks forward to the tournament, seeing it as 'a vital part of the players' development.'

City's brightest prospects are Harry Bunn and Joan Angel Román, who both regularly train with the frst team squad thanks to their impressive form last season. Recent acquisition, Denís Suarez, is another player to watch for when the tournament kicks of.

The aims of the Academy are not restricted to sporting excellence alone. All youngsters are enrolled in an education programme, as the players strive to achieve academic success alongside their training.

Despite being in one of the toughest groups in the tournament – Barcelona, Celtic and Olympique Marseille - City are serious contenders in The NextGen Series.

Over Barcelona, Marseille, Wolfsburg, Fenerbahce SK, Inter Milan en Tottenham Hotspurs geen informatie op de site.

Group 1
FC Barcelona
Celtic FC
Manchester City
FC Marseille

Group 2

Sporting
LisbonLiverpool
FC Molde FK
Vfl Wolfsburg

Group 3

Ajax
Aston Villa
FCFenerbahce
SKRosenborg BK

Group 4

FC Basel
PSV Eindhoven
Inter Milan
FCTottenham Hotspur


[size=150">The Fixtures[/size">

Group 1
Teams Date Time Venue
Marseille VS Celtic 17.08.11 19:30 GMT Stadium Marcel Cerdan
Celtic VS Barcelona 31.08.11 TBC Celtic Park
Celtic VS Marseille 14.09.11 TBC Celtic Park
Manchester City VS Barcelona 15.09.11 19:00 GMT Ewan Fields (Hyde)
Barcelona VS Marseille 28.09.11 TBC Mini Estadi

Group 2
Teams Date Time Venue
Liverpool VS Sporting Lisbon 17.08.11 19:00 GMT Anfield
Molde VS Wolfsburg 18.08.11 18:00 GMT Molde - main stadium: Aker Stadion
Sporting Lisbon VS Wolfsburg 31.08.11 TBC Sporting - main stadium
Molde VS Liverpool 07.09.11 18:00 GMT Molde - main stadium: Aker Stadion
Liverpool VS Wolfsburg 14.09.11 TBC TBC
Sporting Lisbon VS Molde 21.09.11 TBC Sporting - main stadium
Liverpool VS Molde 29.09.11 TBC TBC
Sporting Lisbon VS Liverpool 15.11.11 TBC Sporting - main stadium

Group 3
Teams Date Time Venue
Ajax VS Aston Villa 17.08.11 18:00 GMT TBC
Ajax VS Fenerbahce 07.09.11 18:00 GMT De Toekomst
Aston Villa VS Fenerbahce 03.10.11 TBC Villa Park

Group 4
Teams Date Time Venue
FC Basel VS Tottenham Hotspur 17.08.11 18:30 GMT Stadium Rankhof
FC Basel VS PSV Eindhoven 31.08.11 18:30 GMT Stadium Rankhof
Tottenham Hotspur VS Inter Milan 31.08.11 14:00 GMT Leyton Orient (Brisbane Road)
Inter Milan VS PSV Eindhoven 14.09.11 15:00 GMT Sports Centre Places
- Grazia Deledda
Inter Milan VS FC Basel 28.09.11 15:00 GMT Sports Centre Places
- Grazia Deledda
PSV Eindhoven VS Tottenham Hotspur 28.09.11 14:30 GMT De Herdgang

NIEUWS DOOR: REDACTIE OP 17 AUG 2011
Fred Grim hoopt dat veel Ajacieden woensdag op De Toekomst komen kijken naar Ajax A1 - Aston Villa A1. Dit is het eerste groepsduel in een groot Europees toernooi: de NextGen Series. Zestien A1's van clubs verspreid over Europa nemen het tegen elkaar op.

Uniek meetmoment
"Ik hoop dat er veel publiek komt kijken, dat is voor de spelers ook een stuk leuker. Zo'n wedstrijd is met weinig toeschouwers minder interessant. Het is een mooi moment voor de spelers als zij het veld betreden en de tribunes vol zitten," vertelt Grim aan Ajaxlife.nl.

Ajax is van plan de NextGen Series te gebruiken als platform voor de individuele ontwikkeling van talenten in de jeugdopleiding. "Onze spelers kunnen ervaren hoe het er aan toe gaat op topniveau," geeft Grim aan. "Dat is het belangrijkste, maar bij Ajax wordt ook resultaat verwacht. Dat hoort erbij. Ik heb mijn spelers uitgelegd dat dit een geweldig leermoment is."

Behalve Aston Villa zijn ook Rosenborg BK en Fenerbahçe bij Ajax A1 ingedeeld in groep 3. En de Ajacieden kunnen aan de bak, want de jeugd van Villa heeft een goede reputatie. Grim: "Villa is op het gebied van jeugdvoetbal een van de beste clubs van Engeland. Voor Ajax is het uniek om zich met Villa en andere Europese clubs te meten."

Ajax en Aston Villa trappen woensdag om 18.30 uur af op De Toekomst. De toegang is gratis. In de nieuwe Ajax Lifekrant, die vrijdag verschijnt, staat een uitgebreid verhaal over de NextGen Series.

Ajax speelt woensdagavond tegen Aston Villa zijn eerste groepsduel in de NextGen Series. De aftrap is om 18.30 uur op De Toekomst en de toegang is gratis.

In de nieuwe Ajax Lifekrant, die vrijdag verschijnt, staat een uitgebreid verhaal over de NextGen Series met onder meer bedenker Mark Warburton.

Ajax A1 is het nieuwe voetbalseizoen woensdagavond flitsend begonnen. Op sportcomplex de Toekomst won het team van Fred Grim de eerste competitiewedstrijd met ruime cijfers van Willem II/RKC A1: 5-0. Ouasim Bouy (2x), Davy Klaassen, Lesley de Sa en Viktor Fischer verzorgden de doelpunten op de Toekomst.

Na de overtuigende zeges op de leeftijdsgenoten van Aston Villa (NextGen Series) en NAC Breda (Supercup) kwam de A1 van Ajax woensdagavond opnieuw goed voor de dag. De vlekkeloos verlopen voorbereiding werd tegen Willem II eindelijk ook eens in cijfers uitgedrukt. De trefzekerheid deed Grim goed, zeker ook omdat er tegen Aston Villa en NAC weliswaar gewonnen werd, maar ook vele kansen werden gemist. Tegen de hoogste jeugdploeg van Willem II/RKC wist Ajax het doel vijf keer te vinden. ,,We hebben de afgelopen periode veel aandacht besteed aan de laatste pass. Daar moet een idee achter zitten. Vanavond hebben de jongens dat goed laten zien. Ondanks dat ze al snel voelden dat ze beter dan Willem II waren, hebben ze steeds de uitdaging gevonden om de score verder te verhogen", sprak de A1-coach na afloop.

De regerend landskampioen bij de A-junioren kwam snel op voorsprong via een doelpunt van Viktor Fischer. De Deense aanvaller opende al na vijf minuten de score. Een klein kwartier later maakte Ouasim Bouy er 2-0 van. Met die twee goals was de doelpuntenhonger van de A1 echter nog lang niet gestild. Davy Klaassen (vlak voor rust), Lesley de Sa (vlak na rust) en opnieuw Ouasim Bouy (vrije trap) bepaalden de eindstand uiteindelijk op 5-0.

Grim: ,,Ze hebben het geweldig gedaan. Zeker als je bedenkt dat dit al de derde wedstrijd in een week was. Nu is het belangrijk dat de spelers even rust nemen, want volgende week staan er voor de meeste jongens alweer twee interlands op het programma. En anderhalve dag na de tweede interland wacht de tweede thuiswedstrijd in de NextGen Series tegen Fenerbahçe. Dat belooft een prachtige wedstrijd te worden waarin de spelers zich - net als bij de interlands - op internationaal niveau met hun tegenstanders kunnen meten. Hopelijk komt er woensdagavond 7 september veel publiek naar de Toekomst zodat we er een echt 'Europees avondje' van kunnen maken met de A1."

Scoreverloop: 5. Fischer 1-0, 17. Bouy 2-0, 39. Klaassen 3-0, 52. De Sa 4-0, 82. Bouy 5-0.

Opstelling Ajax A1:
Mickey van der Hart, Sven Nieuwpoort, Fabian Sporkslede, Stefano Denswil, Xandro Schenk (65. Darren Rosheuvel), Youssef Fennich (80. Mike Busse), Davy Klaassen, Ouasim Bouy, Lesley de Sa (70. Boban Lazic), Rowendey Schoop (60. Danzell Gravenberch), Viktor Fischer (55. Nick de Bondt).