12-08-2017: Voetbal: FC Volendam v Jong Ajax: Volendam Volle tribune FC Volendam Fotograaf: Fred Rotgans

Teams of De Toekomst back in action

After a short but weary summer, Ajax have returned to playing Eredivisie ball again past weekend. It didn’t quite start like we all envisioned though, especially considering the way the team played in the double-header with Nice. Nevertheless, things have begun again. Unfortunately, the youth and Jong Ajax always start later, but they played friendly games. With no further ado, here’s the first Toekomst round-up of 2017-2018.

Jong Ajax played their last friendly of pre-season against Volendam on the 12th of August, with their season starting next weekend, away against Cambuur. And we can safely say it wasn’t the best of showings for new manager Michael Reiziger’s side. Away at Volendam, the side suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat.

Just 10 minutes into the game, Joey Veerman opened up the score for the home side by making the best from an error of Noussair Mazraoui. Veerman got goalside and managed to put the ball behind Stan van Bladeren.

Jong Ajax’s game improved a lot after half time, resulting in a fair few chances for the boys in white and red. Especially Mazraoui and Cassierra came close to scoring. Volendam were the side to draw score firstly though, with last year’s Helmond Sport striker Ten Den tapping home a low cross. Short after, Zian Flemming brough Jong Ajax back into it by scoring the 2-1; some chances followed for an equalizer but they never materialized in a goal.

It were the home side whom pulled the longest straw in the end, finishing up the game in a matter of mere minutes. Ten Den scored his second goal of the game, after an error by Mazraoui and Bergsma; Visser made it 4-1. A bad general showing for Reiziger and co.

On the 15th of August, both the U19’s and U17’s travelled down south, to visit our Belgian neighbors in Genk. The U19’s were up first, in a tightly contested game. The first friendly game by our, arguably, most important youth squad ended in a 1-2 victory.

Ché Nunnely opened his tab for the season, scoring after just 5 minutes, but the real talk of the day was about newcomer Saku Ylätupa scoring his first goal in an Ajax jersey. Genk managed to net a goal too, 21 minutes in, but they never caused any real trouble and the Ajax U19’s comfortably bagged a win.

The U17’s were in for a bigger battle and it showed. Ajax played a great first half, getting forward frequently and it resulted in a 0-2 lead, Venitchio Sint and Ryan Gravenberch scoring the goals. The second half was there Waterloo, though, as the Genk youngsters clawed their way back into the game and onto victory. 3-2 was the final score.

Last, but not least, there was also some football at De Toekomst being played, more specifically by the Under 16’s and the Under 16 national side of the USA. In a 9-0 rout, the Americans were outclassed by their Dutch counterparts.

Just 6 minutes in, Jaymilio Pinas (a new arrival from FC Volendam) hit home the opener with his left boot, after a good move and run. The game then went quiet for a bit, until Soulyman Allouch hit a low shot into the bottom left corner, which sailed in past the USA goalkeeper. The pace of scoring then picked up, with Hoogewerf, Allouch and Pinas netting in a short space of time.

The second half began where it had left off, namely with Ajax scoring goals. The Under 16’s very own American, Joshua Pynadath, scored the 7th, assisted by Hoogewerf. Not much later, Hoogewerf himself scored his second of the game due a goalkeeping error. Ibrahim El Kadiri made it 8-0 and Pynadath gave the final blow in the 50th minute, scoring the decisive 9-0.