The shutdown of the department store chain V&D will go down as the worst economic dilemma in the Netherlands this year. In the football world a similar calamity is about to explode, Feyenoord.
- By Amos Abuga
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No team in Europe’s elite or even the lower leagues has had a more calamitous 2016 than Feyenoord. The side from Rotterdam is experiencing their worst win ratio in the club’s history.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side were considered favourites together with Ajax and PSV to win the 2016 Eredivisie title, their first in over 15 years, going into the winter break. However, that was before darkness engulfed them and the club went on a record breaking streak of seven straight league losses.
It’s on that regard that thousand of fans took to the street to protest the latest happenings at their beloved club. During the protest by over 1000 Feyenoord supporters at the club’s De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam, Police arrested over three hundred who were demonstrating before the match against Roda JC on Sunday afternoon.
A huge banner highlighted the fans frustration at the Feyenoord backroom staff, ‘If we’re the customers, you’re the board of V&D’, in reference to the massive chain store’s recent shutdown.
The once (few months ago) free-scoring side are now locked in deep uncertainty. Van Bronckhorst seems to have no answers, leading to the appointment of Dick Advocaat as an adviser, while the magic of Dirk Kuyt seems to be running out. Sven van Beek and Michiel Kramer seem shadows of the players from the start of the season, and the club’s fans will be wondering which players will stand up and save their season.
On Sunday, Feyenoord travel to in-form Utrecht and a defeat coupled with wins for NEC and PEC Zwolle could see the once title contenders slip to ninth and fighting for a place in the end of season play-offs.
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Amos is a Kenyan who is passionate with sports but has a bias for football. Currently doing his MBA course from the Greenwich and Saxion Universities. follow him on Twitter @AMOKC1oo1
