The duel between De Graafschap and NAC Breda is a special poster for Ralf Seuntjens. The striker will return to De Vijverberg on Friday evening, after he narrowly missed promotion to the Eredivisie last year with the club from Doetinchem. In the run-up to that crazy denouement, Seuntjens already announced his departure to childhood sweetheart NAC, which was not appreciated by the fans of De Graafschap. If Seuntjens manages to find the net against his old club, he is not going to hold back.
“I am still good with the people internally at the club, we have to see how the fans react,” Seuntjens told ESPN. When the attacker announced in March that he was moving to competitor NAC, he could count on little sympathy from De Graafschap’s supporters. “We cannot use a footballer on the way to the Eredivisie who benefits more in the long term from promotion from another club,” said Brigata Tifosi supporters’ association at the time. “They wanted to get rid of me right away, so I don’t expect a very warm welcome,” said Seuntjens.
?? Tomorrow Ralf Seuntjens will return to his old club De Graafschap with NAC Breda. What does he expect to receive and will he cheer when he scores? ??
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) August 19, 2021
The attack leader of the Breda team therefore does not expect that he will be warmly received on Friday evening. “I adapt to that, I’m used to it,” Seuntjens continues. “That was also the case at Venlo, so that’s fine. And if you score against your old team, it seems that you are not allowed to cheer. I will do that, yes. Then they should have offered a better contract.” Seuntjens already met another former employer on the first day of play with VVV-Venlo (2-2) and there too his hands went up when he gave his team the lead after ten minutes of play.
The transfer of Seuntjens from De Graafschap to NAC caused so much controversy last season that trainer Mike Snoei decided to remove the captain’s armband. Supporters showed their displeasure, among other things, with a banner at the front of the stadium. “To the end station without Ralf! Houdoe and thank you!”, was the clear message. A message was also attached to a stadium door. “No unauthorized access”, with a letter below in which the Graafschap supporters let the board know what they thought about the matter. NAC has taken two points so far this season and is therefore two places below De Graafschap, which took one point more.
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