No training on a wet artificial grass field in Amsterdam East, but sun, sea and Spanish artificial grass. Just before Christmas, the JO13-1 of WV-HEDW (Second Division) exchanged the wintry Netherlands for a few days of Valencia. With seventeen players, staff and seven parents for guidance, the group left for Spain from Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 December. And that turned out to be anything but a holiday outing.
“Was I particularly looking forward to something?” Florian den Dulk (12) wondered out loud as he looked back through the program. “Actually, in everything. But not one thing stood out.” That says enough, because the schedule was packed. Trainer Yassir and his staff had thought and thought about everything.
From stadium tour to Spanish training
After arriving in Valencia the pace immediately picked up. No ‘coffee’ on the terrace, but a stadium tour at Valencia CF. Changing rooms, stands, players’ corridors. Everything was looked at. Then we go into town and then off we go: get changed for training.
That training was fun, Florian thought, although he did have one caveat. “The artificial grass there is different than in the Netherlands. A bit old, it looked like a hockey field.” Still, training took place fanatically, as befits a team that mainly wants to exercise even on ‘holiday’. In the evening there was free time, food and, above all, a lot of time together. “The evenings were perhaps the most fun,” says Florian. “Just all together in the hallway, visiting each other, wandering around a bit.”
Museums, beach and spontaneous sprints
Friday started with swimming in the hotel, after which the program was slightly changed. On to the Museum of Art and Science: impressive, modern buildings where you feel like you are at a world exhibition. Then on to the beach for beach football volleyball. Sporty, sunny and – of course – again followed by free time. That free time was not spent sitting. In a park, boys and girls flocked to so-called fitness equipment, as if they train there every day. A little later, four players spontaneously ran along the boulevard with three unknown runners. “Those men looked strange at first, but then they laughed about it,” Florian looked back on that moment with visible pleasure.
Padel, professional football and Ajax in Spain
A padel tournament was scheduled for Saturday. The first time for many. “I really liked that,” says Florian. “I had never done it before, but it went pretty well.” Then on to the stadium for Levante against Real Sociedad. “Not the best football,” he admits honestly, “but exciting.” Real Sociedad led 0-1 for a long time, until Levante received a penalty in the very last minute: 1-1. That made up for a lot. The evening ended on a sporty and fun note: eating together in the city and watching NEC – Ajax in a sports café. And yes, some players simply ran back to the hotel afterwards. At ten o’clock at night. Just because it’s possible.
Educational
The only match of the trip was played against a Spanish opponent who turned out to be just a year older. Florian: “We are under 13, the opponent was 13 years old.” Bigger, stronger, physically more advanced. WV-HEDW had a tough time and lost big. “That was a bit less,” says Florian matter-of-factly. “But that’s also part of it.” Then the adventure was over. Pack your suitcases, head to the airport and back to Amsterdam.
One team, one experience
What remains after a wonderful trip? Not the worse artificial grass and not even the defeat. “I think everyone enjoyed just doing everything together,” says Florian. “Always with the team, always busy with each other, the whole weekend was well organised.” And perhaps that says it all about this trip: a team that does not sit idle even on holiday, but above all makes memories together, soaks up culture and gets to know Spanish cuisine. And, as it turned out when a group of players suddenly ran five kilometers back to the hotel instead of the charter bus or Uber: plenty of energy. Even in Valencia.
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