Sergio Padt has for the cameras of ESPN admitted that he was surprised by the fact that Henk Veerman took the penalty on Sunday afternoon during the Derby of the North. SC Heerenveen was too strong on a visit to FC Groningen with 0-2 and took the lead by a striking penalty kick from the attacker. Padt had not counted on Veerman as a penalty taker and reacted visibly frustrated towards the Groningen bank. Afterwards, the goalkeeper had to hold back when reporter Vincent Schildkamp asked him about the moment in question.
“I think it is best that I am here uh … I was not completely satisfied, that’s right,” said Padt after the game. Heerenveen received three penalties this season prior to the game with Groningen. The first two were used in September by Joey Veerman against Fortuna Sittard (1-3 win) and VVV-Venlo (1-0 win) respectively. The third time, in the home game against Vitesse (1-0 win) on February 6, the midfielder failed. Henk Veerman then decided to claim responsibility against Groningen. “Every player, including Henk Veerman, has taken penalties in his career. In his case, there have not been many, but he also took them. You discuss that before a match to increase the chance, that’s how we discuss penalties ”, Padt continues.
Schildkamp asks whether Henk Veerman’s name has slipped in between when discussing the penalties. “Let’s just keep it there,” says Padt. “I’m not going to say too much about this, otherwise I might beat someone up and I don’t feel like it. Never mind like that. I am normally very open, but leave it at that. ” The game was decided in the final phase by Tibor Halilovic, who could easily finish from close by on a pass from Joey Veerman. “I have often stopped a few good balls in the first half and then you hope that it yields points, because that’s what you play for. That did not happen this time and that is very unpleasant. “
Kees Kwakman, who was present at the game as an analyst, did not understand much of Padt’s gestures and frustrated reaction. “Then I will jump into the breach for the goalkeeper coach, because that is probably what it is about”, the former footballer responded. “Henk Veerman has taken one penalty in his career, that was at FC St. Pauli against Holstein Kiel in the last minute and that went wrong. Furthermore, he did not take a penalty, so it was quite impossible that they would know where he would shoot. I think it’s a bit strange. He had probably tuned in to Lasse Schöne, understandably. How is the goalkeeper coach supposed to know that Henk Veerman has taken one penalty in his career? ”