Friday, April 16, 2021 at 10:45 AM• Rian Rosendaal • Last update: 11:03

For Danilho Doekhi, Sunday’s cup final is a match with a special touch. The center defender of Vitesse was part of the youth academy of the Amsterdam club for two years, although the step to the first team turned out to be too big in the end. Doekhi knew several generation colleagues who did not manage to break through in the main force of Ajax.

Doekhi became champion in his second season at Jong Ajax with, among others, Noa Lang, Mitchel Bakker, Dani de Wit and Kaj Sierhuis. All players who no longer play for Ajax. “Only Noussair Mazraoui has made it to the first”, the Vitesse stopper sighs in conversation with the Gelderlander. “What does that say? That the level is high and it is becoming more and more difficult for Ajax youth players to break through there. Although that sometimes succeeds”, Doekhi refers to players such as Ryan Gravenberch, Devyne Rensch and Jurriën Timber. “When we became champions, Matthijs de Ligt already played in the first and they took Daley Blind, Perr Schuurs and Lisandro Magallán. I didn’t have to leave, but wanted to go to the Eredivisie. Fortunately, Vitesse came.”

The former Ajax player has developed rapidly at Vitesse and it seems a matter of time before he takes the step higher. Trainer Thomas Letsch recently emphasized, however, that a possible transfer to Feyenoord is currently no improvement for Doekhi. “I’ve read it,” said the defender, with a contract in Arnhem until 2022. “It will be an exciting summer. I am at a crossroads and I have ambitions. At the same time I know what I have here and I cherish it. We also have to wait and see which clubs may come for me. Now the cup final is all that matters.”

For Doekhi, only the cup clash with Ajax, the club of his uncle Winston Bogarde, counts for the time being. Before the match, however, there will be no contact via WhatsApp with the assistant coach of Ajax. “My uncle doesn’t like his phone,” says Doekhi with a joke. “But after the game we will probably talk to each other. Hopefully he will have to congratulate me”, said the man who exchanged Excelsior for Amsterdam five years ago. “Feyenoord was closer. But they were never concrete. And Ajax is a top club, with good facilities and high-level trainers.”