On Sunday, Telstar will play against Ajax on his return to the highest level after 47 years. And that without Eredivisie-worthy acquisitions that are not eager to come to Velsen-Zuid. “Playing at Telstar is not on their bucket list.”
From one of the business spaces of the 711 Stadium of Telstar, technical manager Peter Hofstede proudly looks out the window. On the left are people working on the brand new north stand of the club. In the meantime, the lines of the newly landscaped lawn are chalked and the LEDboarding is prepared.
We work hard at Telstar to get the stadium ready on time for the first home game with PEC Zwolle on Friday. Satisfied Hofstede finds that everything is going smoothly. “We are on schedule,” he says. “Unfortunately, attracting players is a lot more difficult.”
After a sporty dream season, in which Telstar promoted to the Eredivisie after 47 years, it seemed that a simple job for the technical man at ‘De Witte Leeuwen’. After all, the small club from Velsen-Zuid aroused sympathy everywhere. But Hofstede was cheated.
The technical manager approached numerous players in recent months. Conversely, he was offered players from all kinds of countries, an estimated one hundred a week, from agents from all over the world. But at the beginning of August the transfer harvest is sample.
Of the seven newcomers, four players (indirectly) come from amateur champion Quick Boys and only have two of them Eredivisie experience. “I had to form a team three times before after a promotion,” says Hofstede. “But this is the most difficult transfer period I have experienced.”
‘Playing for Telstar is not on bucket list’
On the day of the game with Ajax, Telstar has only seventeen players with a professional contract on the payroll, one less than the license requirement of Van de KNVB prescribes. Although that requirement is only tested when the market is closed, it indicates how difficult the search for players is.
Telstar has no money for Scouts. Hofstede and trainer Anthony Correia pull the cart at transfers and had many conversations with players in recent weeks, but still without great success. “All players we don’t want want to come. And all the players we want are not yet coming,” says Hofstede.
“We want fit guests, with Eredivisie experience. Three or four reinforcements at the top. But those guys still have more options and are still waiting. We fish in the same pond as clubs such as Heracles Almelo and FC Groningen. With us, players think: Oops, they are going to meet a tough year.”
Hofstede emphasizes that the absence of premier league-worthy reinforcements is “not on money”. After the promotion, the budget rose to 8 million euros. The player budget is even 2 million euros this season, much more than in the past seasons.
“But guests do not have to play on their bucket list for Telstar,” says general director Leon Annokkée. “Only when other options lose weight, do we become more promising.”
And that is problematic for Telstar. After last season, captain Mitch Apau and top scorer Youssef El Kachati left, but no direct substitutes came for them. Also in width it does not end. The points of Telstar recently lost 5-0 to Jong Sparta.
“Quite a lot of our players have no Eredivisie or even Kitchen Champion Division experience,” says Telstar defender Danny Bakker, who played with ADO Den Haag at the highest level. “My experience is that your body and brain have to get used to the level. And that takes time.”
That time is actually not there. But Correia is “no worries”. The 43-year-old coach is a club of the club, raised in nearby Velserbroek, and played fifteen seasons for Telstar. He enjoys the adventure with his club and accepts the defects.
“I also know that we are not the most beautiful girl in the class,” says Correia. “But we are the nicest girl in the class. You first have to get to know nice girls. Believe me: once you play here, you immediately embrace the club.”
Correia hopes that potential acquisitions also embrace Telstar. “We are perhaps the best springboard of all the Eredivisie clubs. Jerdy Schouten, now PSV captain, has played here. There are countless examples. You can play fun and cared for football in a pleasant place and then take a nice step.”
With that football story, Telstar hopes to convince players in the coming weeks to come to the club, in combination with the sympathy that the club calls in the country. Telstar had the gun factor last year when it promoted as an underdog via the play-offs.
“That can happen again in the Eredivisie,” says Hofstede. He points to the stands. “Six thousand people can sit here soon. Maybe I look too romantically at it, but it can be a very nice adventure.”
The question is whether that adventure does not start too fast for Telstar. “I find it difficult to say if we are Eredivisie- proof ,” says Bakker. “It is a mega -big difference whether you are playing against Ajax or against Young Ajax, like last year. But we don’t see the Eredivisie as a school trip.”
Correia agrees. “Guys, we are also just at Studio Sport this season, huh. We are an Eredivisie club and belong, ready. I have studied Ajax and they also dropped stitches in the preparation. We want to take advantage of that.”
And laughing: “I spoke to the mayor of Velsen recently. He said that everyone was committed to Telstar and granted us. We must be able to pay back that trust with a game of good football, right?”
“Anthony’s playing style asks top -fit players, who can provide a lot of intensity,” says technical manager Peter Hofstede. “That is currently not the case with Adam.”
Telstar Will Play Directly Against Ajax on Sunday Upon Their Return to the Highest Level After 47 Years. And that without Eredivisie-Vorthy acquisitions, who are not eager to come to Velsen-Zuid. “Playing for Telstar is not on their bucket list.”
From One of the Business Rooms of Telstar’s 711 Stadium, Technical Manager Peter Hofstede Proudly Looks Out The Window. To the Left, People Are Working on the Club’s Brand New North Stand. Meanwhile, the lines of the newly Laid Grass Field Are Being Chalked and the Led Boarding is Being Prepared.
Telstar is working hard to get the stage ready in time for the first home game against PEC Zwolle on Friday. Hofstede Notes with Satisfaction that Everything is going smoothly. “We are on schedule,” he says. “Unfortunately, Attracting Players is Proving More Difficult.”
After a Dream Sporting Season, in which Telstar was promoted to the Eredivisie after 47 years, that seemed Like a Simple Task for the Technical Man at ‘De Witte Leeuwen’ (The White Lions). After all, The Small Club from Velsen-Zuid Aroused sympathy everywhere. But Hofstede was Disappointed.
The Technical Manager Approached Numerous Players in Recent Months. Conversely, he was sacrificed players from All Countries, an estimated hundred a week, by agents from all over the world. But at the beginning of August, The Transfer Harvest is Mager.
Of the Seven Newcomers, Four Players Are (Indirectly) from Amateur Champion Quick Boys and Only Two of Them Have Eredivisie Experience. “I have to form a team three times before after a promotion,” Says Hofstede. “But this is the most diffult transfer period I have ever experienced.”
‘Playing for Telstar is not on their bucket list’
On the day of the match Against Ajax, Telstar Has Only Seventeen Players with a Professional Contract on the Payroll, One less than the License Requirement Prescribed by the KNVB. Althegh this requirement is only tested when the market closes, it indicates how diffress the search for players is proofing.
Telstar Has No Money for Scouts. Hofstede and trainer Anthony Correia Are Leading the Way in Transfers and Have Held Many Talks with Players in recent Weeks, But Without Much Success. “All the players we don’t want to come. And all the players we because are not coming yet,” Says Hofstede.
“We want fit guys, with Eredivisie experience. Three or four reinforcements at the top. But Those guys have more options and are still waiting. We are fishing in the same pound as clubs like heracles almelo and fc groningen. Players toy ush ush ush
Hofstede Emphasizes That the Absence of Eredivisie-Vorthy Reinforcements is “Not Due to Money”. The budget increased to 8 Million Euros After the Promotion. The Players’ Budget This Season is just 2 Million Euros, Much More Than in Recent Seasons.
“But guys just don’t have playing for telstar on their bucket list,” Says general manager Leon Annokkée. “We only Become more likely when other options are dropped.”
And that is Problematic for Telstar. After last Season, Captain Mitch Apau and Top Scorer Youssef El Kachati, Among Others, Left, But No Direct Replacements Came For Them. There is also a Lack of Depth. Telstar’s substitutions recent Lost 5-0 to Jong Sparta.
“QUITE A FEW OR PLAYERS HAVE No Eredivisie OR Even Kitchen Champion Division Experience,” Says Telstar Defender Danny Bakker, Who Played At The Highest Level With Ado The Hague. “My experience is that your body and brain have to get used to the level. And that takes time.”
That time is not really there. But Correia is “not at all worried.” The 43-Year-Old Coach is a child of the club, Grew Up in Nearby Velserbroek, and Played for Telstar for Fifteen Seasons. Hey Enjoys the Adventure with His Club and Accepts the Shortcomings.
“I also know that we are not the prettiest girl in the class,” Says Correia. “But we are the nicest girl in the class. You have to get to know nice girls first. Believe me: Once you play here, you embrace the club immedialy.”
Correia Hopes That Potential Acquisitions Will also Embrace Telstar. “We may be the best springboard of all premier league clubs. Jerdy Schouten, now captain of PSV, has played here. There are countless examples. You can play fun and well-mintained football in a pleasant place and there take a nice step.”
With that Football Story, Telstar Hopes to Convince Players to Come to the Club in the Coming Weeks, in Combination with the sympathy that the club Evokes in the country. Telstar had The Benefit of the Doubt last year it was promoted as an underdog through the play-offs.
“That could happen again in the Eredivisie,” Says Hofstede. He points to the stands. “Six Thousand People will be able to sit here. Maybe I’m looking at it too romantically, but it could be a very nice adventure.”
The Question is Whether that adventure is not starting too quickly for telstar. “I find it difficult to say whether we are honorary- proof ,” Says Bakker. “It’s a huge difference Whether you play against ajax or against young ajax, like last year. But we don’t see the Eredivisie as a school trip.”
Correia Agrees with that. “Guys, we’re just going to be on studio sport this season, you know. We are an premier league club and belong there, period. I have studied ajax and they have also made mistakes in the preparation. We want to take advantage of that.”
And Laughing: “I spoke to the Mayor of Velsen recently. He said that everyone is concerned about Telstar and Wants us to succeed. We must be able to repay that trust with a good game of football, right?”
“Anthony’s Playing Style Requires Top-Fit Players Who Can Deliver a Lot Of Intensity,” Says Technical Manager Peter Hofstede. “That is not currently the case with adam.”