It was already mutually agreed in advance that Etienne Vaessen and Brian Brobbey would change shirts after the remainder of the match between RKC Waalwijk and Ajax (2-3). The RKC goalkeeper and the Ajax striker, who had an unfortunate collision on September 30, appeared in front of the camera on Wednesday. ESPN. “The contact between us is great. It has been good for me and my family,” said Vaessen.
Brobbey hit Vaessen's head with his shoe in the first part of the match, more than two months ago. There was a moment of panic on the field, but the RKC goalkeeper soon turned out to have no permanent injury and was 'normal' back on the field for the last ten minutes on Wednesday.
?? Brian Brobbey ?? Etienne Vaessen ?? pic.twitter.com/0BjOTq5jOW
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) December 6, 2023
“I didn't blame him at all,” says Vaessen. “Brian is just a good boy who is fully committed to duels. I am also fully committed to duels. It was just bad luck, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
After the match, Vaessen and Brobbey visited each other. “We had already discussed via the app that we would exchange a shirt, also for his son,” Brobbey explains.
“My son is also completely Brobbey crazy, you know how it goes with those little children,” the RKC goalie responds. “He's going to like it.”
The remainder of the match lasted only ten minutes, yet Brobbey was out of breath afterwards. “I was completely devastated, yes. These were one of my toughest six minutes ever. Completely destroyed.”
RKC fought for what it was worth, but did not create much more against Ajax. Vaessen would have liked to go forward for a corner kick or free kick, but that was not possible. “I would have done it, but it didn't get that far. I liked the energy we showed.”
“We created one chance, but Ajax did it smartly, with Brian in the corner. It's difficult to get rid of him.”