Fortuna defender Justin Hubner was extremely important on Sunday with his late goal against Go Ahead Eagles (2-2). It marked his first professional goal, with which he immediately gave coach Danny Buijs’ team a point.
“I already texted my fiancée beforehand that I was going to score,” Hubner says The Limburger. “I actually never say that, because I hardly ever score. But yes, it was a bit of a premonition.” On the freezing Sunday, Hubner stood out because of his shirt without long sleeves. “In England I had a trainer who always said to me and other defenders: ‘No thermals, no gloves. You have to show that you are tough,'” says the defender. “Maybe also as a signal to my opponent.”
Hubner played for Wolverhampton Wanderers in England for many years, with a loan period to Japan at Cerezo Osaka. Bee Wolves he learned how to defend the hard way. “The Eredivisie took some getting used to, because in England we play harder. They are not used to my tackles here. I have also had a lot of criticism, from people who think that I can only knock everyone down. But as you can see: I can also play football and defend. I have to show that more, and sometimes remain a little calmer. If I keep my head, no one can get around me.”
In addition to his club career, Hubner is an Indonesian international. Given the few playing minutes in the first half of the season, he received a lot of criticism from the country where his roots lie. “If a Dutch player plays poorly or makes a mistake, he might hear it from a few hundred people. I from a hundred thousand. I have to deal with that pressure, whether I want to or not. And I think it’s getting better and better. My fiancée helps me, as does my agent and also the trainer,” Hubner concludes.
