It is no secret that the atmosphere around Feyenoord has been anything but positive in recent times. Disappointments are piling up, the game raises questions and the patience of supporters is running out. It is especially in such phases that it is important not only to look at what goes wrong, but also to keep an eye on the few bright spots that present themselves. And one of those bright spots goes by the name Shaqueel van Persie.
Last weekend, Feyenoord seemed to be heading for another disappointing evening in the home match against Sparta for a long time. Until Shaqueel took the field. What followed was almost a perfect raid. With a technically clever finish behind the supporting leg, he scored the tying goal and a few minutes later he exploded De Kuip with an unprecedented bicycle kick, good for the equalizer. His first and second goal for Feyenoord’s first team, in a few minutes.
The fact that it ultimately went wrong, because Sparta scored the winning goal in a surplus situation in extremis, caused extra frustration. But one thing should not be overlooked: it was certainly not Shaqueel van Persie’s fault.
This is emphatically not just about two nice goals. Van Persie is only 19 years old (born on November 16) and is only at the beginning of his career. Yet he has already shown that he has the right mentality. He made his debut for the first team at De Kuip against Celtic in the Europa League, where he came on as a substitute in the closing stages. In those few minutes, his eagerness was immediately noticeable: a boy who wanted to run, hunt and, above all, be important to the team.
His Premier League debut against Telstar also followed in the same week. Yet after that it was hardly about his playing. The discussion quickly shifted to his last name. It was suggested that he would have an advantage because his father, Robin van Persie, is a trainer. That grumbling was also heard again against Sparta when he was introduced. But with his performance he silenced that criticism in a sporting manner.
Of course, he will have to show it many more times. No one is saying that Shaqueel van Persie is there yet. But that is precisely why he deserves trust instead of skepticism. Especially when we look at the current situation at the striker position. Things are poor behind our Japanese top striker. Casper Tengstedt is not performing as hoped and Cyle Larin is currently not in a form that exudes confidence. In that light, it is anything but illogical to give a young striker with potential opportunities.
Van Persie dreams of becoming important for Feyenoord, of scoring in a full Kuip and of giving something back to the Legion. Last weekend he showed that that dream is not empty words. The fact that the loss came so late must have been extra painful for him.
In addition, there were rumors going around afterwards that ESPN had asked him for an interview, but that he refused because the majority of the questions would probably be about his father. That is significant and actually sad. A boy who has just scored two fantastic goals, but is aware of the frame in which he is placed.
Maybe it’s time for us as supporters to think about that too. In difficult times we often look for scapegoats, but sometimes we forget to embrace these kinds of talents and moments. Shaqueel van Persie is not a solution to all problems, but he is a bright spot that can help Feyenoord move forward if we give him space to grow.
Let us cherish that eagerness. Let’s reward that courage. And let’s hope that we can sing often in De Kuip:
Ohhh Shaqueel van Persie…
Ohhh Shaqueel van Persie.
