Every week, acquaintances with red-yellow roots share their vision of Go Ahead Eagles and more. For this season these are Erdal Ascipinar, Robert Heukels, Edwin Lugt and Martijn Jongbloed. Today it is Martijn Jongbloed’s turn again.
On the road to talent: who actually drives?
The car turns into Twello. The dashboard still smells of this morning’s cheese sandwich, while in the backseat a tense boy in a tracksuit checks his laces. His mother glances at him through the rearview mirror. She doesn’t say anything, but the silence speaks volumes.
It’s not the first time she drives him here and it won’t be the last. The cars in the parking lot of SV Twello can no longer be counted. A procession of parents, from all corners of the country, who bring their children here. For some a routine, for others a leap into the deep.
At Go Ahead Eagles we call them the invisible driving forces: parents and educators. The people who travel miles every day, make sandwiches and fill backpacks. And yet, their role goes much further than that. They are the safety net when the ball figuratively goes wide, the cheerleaders for a first victory and sometimes also the critical mirror. Without them there would be no players, without them there would be no club. That’s why we take them seriously. Not just as drivers, but as partners in the process.
During our annual meetings, such as the 24/7 meeting, the Christmas meal and the barbecue, parents do not sit on the sidelines. They are part of the triangle that we cherish: parents, child, club. This is where we make connections. We talk about setbacks and growth, about autonomy and collaboration. About how they can find the balance between directing and letting go of their child. A talent may be born, but true potential only blossoms with the right support – and that starts at home.
Take our meetings on mental resilience. A father of a young striker once said: “I thought I had to coach. But really I just had to listen.” Those words stick. We organize these moments not only for our players, but for the people around them. Together we ensure that our boys and girls become stronger not only on the field, but also off it. Because football is about more than scoring: it is character, perseverance and cooperation.
And yet? Are we doing it perfectly? No! Sometimes we miss a signal, hit a wrong note or overlook an opportunity. We talk about that. Because just as a player makes mistakes to learn, so do we as an organization. We fall, get up, and continue riding. Always on the move, together with parents and our community.
So, the next time you walk past a training field and see a parent standing there with a cup of coffee in hand, ask yourself this question. Who is really the driving force behind talent development here? The player on the field? Or perhaps the person along the line, who never seeks the spotlight, but without whom the lights wouldn’t even turn on?
