Simon Kistemaker (81) died on Tuesday from the effects of cancer, reports ESPN. On Sunday 14 November, Hans Kraay Jr. performed during Good morning the Dutch already with bad news about the health of Kistemaker, former trainer of De Graafschap, FC Utrecht and Telstar.
With the approval of his friend Kistemaker, Kraay Jr., with Ajax coach Erik ten Hag at his side, announced that Kistemaker has colon cancer and prostate cancer. Kraay Jr. and Ten Hag were both good friends with Kistemaker, under whom they both played for De Graafschap. “Erik and I do not see each other in private, but we always had a good relationship here and always depended on Simon Kistemaker and Simon Kistemaker was quite dependent on us,” said Kraay Jr. from the De Graafschap stadium on that Sunday. Kraay Jr. explained in the broadcast that Kistemaker has been struggling for years, partly due to the death of his wife and his illness. “Erik went to see him on Tuesday and he really appreciated that.”
Kraay Jr. then explained how things are going with eighty-year-old Kistemaker. “I went to see him yesterday,” said the former footballer. “Since his wife passed away, his lust for life has diminished a lot. He got blood results Friday. He has colon cancer and prostate cancer, I can say that about him. And now he also has metastases in his liver.”
“On Tuesday he said to Erik: ‘I’m glad I could say goodbye to you’, and he said that to me yesterday. He doesn’t want anymore. I cried like a little boy when I left yesterday. I have embraced him and then that very tough Kistemaker says: ‘I love Erik and I love you friend.’ Under normal circumstances, he would never say that, but he does love us.”
Kistemaker became a club legend at De Graafschap, with which he became undefeated champion in the First Division in 1991 as a trainer. The championship team was known for the ‘fighting football’ that was played at De Vijverberg.
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