Vitesse was dead except for dying, but may start on Friday after a miraculous escape at the Kitchen Champion Division. Nu.nl followed the Raarreen Voetbalclub for a week, which had to put together a selection in a hurry. “Even the receptionist was offered players.”
Deep hidden in the forests near Arnhem, a referee asks if the players are ready. It is Monday a little after 3 p.m. if 22 players are on a Vitesse training field. Two teams play against each other: one in the yellow-black, the other in the Maroonrode Airborne kit.
But all those football players are not players from Vitesse. They hope to be correct, during a specially inserted match between unemployed football players. Vitesse trainer Rüdiger Rehm watches the game from a television tower. Club icon and technical adviser Theo Janssen watches, leaning against a pole.
Normally a club does months about the composition of a selection, says Vitesse icon Edward Sturing. Vitesse has more than a week. After losing the professional license, the selection emptied. Around ten players were left when Vitesse was allowed to participate in the competition.
“And we also have to look for a very limited budget, because there is little money,” says Sturing, as a member of the Technical Heart involved in the composition of the Vitesse selection. “There were already people who said we only had to put eleven bar stools. If we could play football.”
Control: ‘We got up from grave’
Control understands the sentiment. “We got up from the grave. But Vitesse remains a top sport organization. We want to create a team that can also win a game in the Kitchen Champion Division and not slaughtered every time.”
But where do you start? And who wants to play football at Vitesse, which also starts with -12 points on the competition? Control, laughing: “We have been offered more than 150 players of as many as 80 agents. Consultants even reported to the woman behind the reception. We are being lived.”
Former player and trainer control (62), who has been walking around the club for 38 years, sees wonderful scenes passing by. In the first days after the judgment of the Court of Appeal, so Vitesse received the professional license for the time being, even players go to the complex on Papendal on good luck asking if they can train.
Thank control and trainer Rehm for that. They can email their resume to the remaining scouts of Vitesse. They make the first shilling. A group of almost thirty unemployed players remains, including former Eredivisie players Patrick Joosten, Dabney Dos Santos and Yanic Wildschut. They play the selection match.
In the days that follow, countless players come to test. Captain and club player Alexander Büttner sees new faces every day. He does not know everyone, he admits honestly. “But if that’s the worst … we have the license back and still live. That is the biggest competition we could win.”
‘Tomorrow everything will be different’
Michel Schaay is already happy that it is about football again at Vitesse. Without the 51-year-old Arnhemmer and his group local money lenders, the 133-year-old club would have become history this summer. He was welcomed as a hero when he drank a beer on the happy ending hours after the ruling on the Korenmarkt in the center of Arnhem.
But Vitesse is not there yet, says Schaay. “The song Tomorrow everything will be different from Bonnie St. Claire is a bit of the changing room song of Vitesse, but it is not yet tomorrow. There is a lot of work to be done. The past must now be behind us.”
It is going in the right direction, Schaay sees. Youth players and sponsors return en masse and thousands of fans take a season ticket. The club had sold more than 12,000 year tickets on Thursday evening, the largest number in more than ten years. After months without income, Vitesse receives money again.
But the question is how long Vitesse will continue. The KNVB can continue the legal fight with the club, so Vitesse may disappear. Schaay: “It is possible, but we don’t take it into account. I don’t want to be busy with it at all. It limits you in your progress. The KNVB is constructively.”
According to Schaay, a bankruptcy is no longer up to date due to the rush on season tickets. “We are going to build and make Vitesse healthy. In five years, Vitesse will have to be a serious party in the Eredivisie, but we want to go step by step to that end goal. What happened here should never happen again.”
Interim director Ben Mansvelder: “Michel always says it beautifully: we no longer have Russian oligarchs, but soon Arnhemgarches. Those are not a running ATMs, but realistic people. It must be typical Vitesse here again. And then there is always something going on.”
Run for the KNVB Deadline
That is no different on Thursday morning. Control runs out of the clubhouse just before 11 am with a reassuring announcement initially. “It took me a lot of headaches and short nights, but we have sixteen.”
According to the KNVB rules, Vitesse must have sixteen players before noon to be able to start the competition the next day. All kinds of players have been inspected, recorded and presented in a short time.
But once the training has started, dozens of fans and about fifteen journalists see something unique happening. Control calls Yuval Ranon off the field. He must sign a contract. That must be done quickly, otherwise Ranon cannot be on the players list. Ranon goes to the club building with control.
The hectic pace is great. Timo Braasch, the German shareholder who is also involved in the composition of the selection, runs through the corridors. Michel Driezen and Elias Huth are also picked from the field. Huth appears to have forgotten his signature on one page of his contract.
He puts it for a few minutes before noon. Vitesse can therefore start definitively tonight, with an away game against Young AZ. It provides relief on the offices. Director Mansvelder secretly enjoys it. “This is the dynamics that again belong to a football company. It’s finally about football again.”
Vitesse was on the verge of Death, but after a miraculous escape, they can still start in the kitchen champion on Friday. Nu.nl followed the resurrected Football Club for a week, which had to put together a selection head over heels. “Even the receptionist was sacrificed players.”
Deep in the Woods Near Arnhem, a referee Asks if the players are ready. It is Monday, Shortly After 3:00 pm, When 22 Players Are On A Vitesse Training Field. Two teams are playing against each other: One in Yellow and Black, the other in the Maroon Airborne Outfit.
But All Those Football Players Are Not Vitesse Players. That is Exactly What they hope to Become, Dooring a Specialy Arranged Match between Unemployed Football Players. Vitesse coach Rüdiger Rehm Watches the match from a television tower. Club Icon and Technical Advisor Theo Janssen Watches Along, Leaning Against a pole.
Normally, it takes a club months to assemble a selection, says vitesse icon edward control. Vitesse has just over a week. After Losing the Professional License, The Selection was Emptied. There Were only about ten players Left When Vitesse was Allowed to Participate in the Competition.
“And we have to search with a very limited budget, because there is little money,” Says control, as a member of the technical heart Involved in the Composition of the Vitesse Selection. “There were already people who said that we should just put down eleven bar stools. If only we could play football.”
Control: ‘We rose from the grave’
Control Understands The Sentiment. “We have risen from the grave. But vitesse a top sports organization. We want to put together a team that can also win a match in the kitchen champion division and not be laughtered every time.”
But where do you start? And Who Still Wants To Play Football At Vitesse, WHY ALSO STARTS THE Competition with -12 Points? Control, Laughing: “We have bone sacrificed more than 150 players from as many as 80 agents. Agents just reported to the woman behind the reception. We are being lived.”
Former Player and Coach Sturing (62), Who Has Been with the Club for 38 years, sees wondrous scenes passing by. In The First Days After the Court Ruling, which Provisionally Restored Vitesse’s Professional License, Players Even Go to the Complex in Papendal on the Off Chance That They Can Train.
Control and coach Rehm thank them for that. They can email their CV to the Remoining Scouts of Vitesse. They make the first selection. A Group of Just Under Thirty Unemployed Players Remains, Including Former Eredivisie Players Patrick Joosten, Dabney Dos Santos and Yanic Wildschut. They play the selection match.
In The Days That Follow, Countless Players Come On Trial. Captain and Club Player Alexander Büttner Sees New Faces Every Day. He admits honey that does not know everyone. “But if that’s the sausage … we have the license back and are still alive. That’s the biggest game we could win.”
‘Tomorrow Everything Will Be Different’
Michel Schaay is just happy that it’s about Football again at Vitesse. Without the 51-year-old from Arnhem and his group of local financiers, the 133-year-old club would have Become history this summer. He was welcomed as a hero when he drink a bear on the korenmarkt in the city center of Arnhem Hours after the verdict.
But Vitesse is not there, Says Schaay. “The Song Tomorrow Everything Will Be Different by Bonnie St. Claire is a bit of the dressing room song of vitesse, but it is not tomorrow yet. There is a lot of work to be done. The past now be definitely Behind us.”
Things are going in the right direction, Schaay Sees. Youth Players and Sponsors Are Returning and Masse and Thousands of Fans Are Taking A Season Ticket. The Club had Sold More Than 12,000 Season Tickets on Thursday Evening, The Largest Number in More Than Ten Years. After Months Without Income, Vitesse is Receiving Money Again.
But the Question is how Long Vitesse will continuously to exist. The KNVB Can Continue the Legal Battle With The Club, which may cause vitesse to disappear after all. Schaay: “It can, but we are not twaking it into account. I don’t want to be involved with it at all now. It limits your progress. The KNVB is constructive.”
Accordance to Schaay, a bankruptcy is no longer relevant due to the rush for season tickets. “We are going to build and make vitesse healthy. In five years, vitesse must be serious party in the premier division again, but we because to move Towards that ultimate goal step by step. What happened here must never happen again.”
Interim Director Ben Mansvelder: “Michel Always It Brilliantly: We No Longer Have Russian Oligarchs, But Soon Arnhemgarchen. These are not walking atms, but realistic people. It must be typical vitesse again Going on.
Running for the KNVB Deadline
That is no different on Thursday morning. Control walks out of the club Building Shortly Before 11:00 am with an initially Reasuring Message. “It cost me a lot of headaches and short nights, but we have sixteen.”
Accordance to the KNVB Rules, Vitesse must have sixteen players before 12:00 pm in order to be allowed to start the competition the next day. In A Short Time, All Kinds of Players Have Been Inspected, Recorded and Presented.
But Once Training HAS Started, Boxes of Fans and About Fifteen Journalists See Something Unique Happen. Control calls yuval ranon from the field. He has to sign a contract. That has to happen quickly, otherwise ranon cannot be on the players list. Ranon Runs with control to the club Building.
The Hectic Pace is Great. Timo Braasch, The German Shareholder Who is also Involved in the Composition of the Selection, Runs Through The Corridors. Michel Driezen and Elias Huth are also picked from the field. Huth appears to have forgotten his signature on one page of his contract.
He Still Puts It On A Few Minutes Before 12:00 pm. Vitesse is Therefore Allowed to Start Definitely Tonight, With An Away Match Against Young AZ. This provides relief in the offices. Director Mansvelder Secretly Enjoys It. “This is the dynamics that belong to a football company again. It’s finally about football again here.”