UTRECHT – The story has already been told a lot. Henk Veerman made a promise to his deceased friend that he would one day play for FC Utrecht. Whether he also mentioned that he would score the winning goal on his debut is not known, but it did happen. Henk Veerman went ‘all the way’ in his first match in red and white in the Galgenwaard..
Veerman, who did not start in the base, was allowed to make his debut against Cambuur in the 30th minute. Probably earlier than planned, but what choice did trainer René Hake have. His team was already 2-0 behind and the whistle concerts came from the stands. It turned out to be the only correct substitution at that time, as Veerman took his new team by the hand to victory. “Perhaps this should be the case”, Veerman reacted after the game.
In Budim they speak of the dead as if they were still among us. As a Catholic Volendammer, Veerman has not had much to say about the Eastern faith, but today it came very close “Maybe it is just the way it is. It has often been discussed, because the story is part of it. It just makes me very proud. It was nice to be on the Bunnikside, but playing for it is even more beautiful.”
Three minutes after his substitute, Tasos Douvikas scored the first Utrecht goal on a pass from Mahi. Five after the connecting goal, Douvikas also made it 2-2. The introductory work was by Henk Veerman. Veerman saved the ultimate goal for himself. In the 64th minute he drove in the winning 3-2. His final salute was a header on the crossbar. It didn’t matter anymore. FC Utrecht defeated Cambuur 3-2 and maintained their position in 7th place in the Eredivisie.
Brilliant basic debut Van der Kust
In Veerman’s shadow, Djevencio van der Kust also experienced an afternoon to remember. The left back immediately kicked off after Django Warmerdam was not fit enough in the warm-up. With only 10 minutes in the main force under his belt, he held his ground with flying colours. “This feels good. Also a bit strange. Ten minutes before the game you suddenly hear that you have to go in. This stadium is so beautiful to play in. The supporters were fantastic.”
Van der Kust received an eternal memento in the form of a few stitches after a tough duel with a Cambuur player. “I got his heel in the face, but I’m a fighter so I was able to continue playing.”
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