‘Falls short, don’t see anyone going to make it’
NOS Football–
As a committed former Ajacied, he naturally hears things from time to time. “It’s restless,” Rafael van der Vaart states in Studio Football about the situation at Ajax, where there are many shifts at the technical level. “But I don’t like to throw that on the table here then when I hear something,” he said.
Van der Vaart shocked by level of Ajax youth: ‘Falls disappointingly, don’t see anyone who is going to make it’
Maurits Hendriks, Chief Sports Officer (CSO) at Ajax since last year and responsible for youth training, revealed to Studio Football know to be surprised by Ouaali’s departure. Arno Vermeulen does understand Ouaali’s departure.
“He did a great job as youth leader,” Vermeulen said. “Then you get interest from abroad. Look at John van den Brom, Co Adriaanse, Danny Blind, Jan Olde Riekerink. They also held that position. All made careers. Ouaali can also make a move. Marciano Vink and Fred Grim are mentioned as successors.”
‘Nordsjælland played Ajax all over at Future Cup’
Van der Vaart expresses his concerns about the level of youth at Ajax. “I mainly watch soccer,” says the former youth player of the Amsterdammers. On Easter Monday, he saw Ajax’s JO17 lose 3-0 to Denmark’s FC Nordsjælland in the final of the international youth tournament the Future Cup at De Toekomst.
“Nordsjælland played Ajax completely outclassed,” Van der Vaart said. “I don’t see any talent walking at Ajax that is going to make it in two, three years. You used to have a lot more of that. That disappoints me so much. Also what is coming through from the youth now. It is a problem that has been around for a long time. I understand that something has to change in the youth.”
Watch the regular column Final Signal about Hannes Halldórsson (by Frank Heinen) below. And check further excerpts about the suspended NAC-Willem II match in the first division and the performances of Justin Bijlow and Jasper Cillessen.
