Tijjani Noslin was on Friday evening with his first goal as a professional football player of great value to Fortuna Sittard visiting Willem II (1-1). It was an evening to remember for the 22-year-old attacker, who played with the amateurs of DHSC until six months ago. With the help of Wesley Sneijder and Mounir El Hamdaoui, Noslin ended up in Sittard.
“You dream of this from an early age. I have always worked towards this. I thought: if that ball goes in, I will experience something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. When the ball hits the net, all the discharge comes out,” said Noslin afterwards in front of the camera of ESPN. Halfway through the game he came in as a replacement for Mickaël Tirpan and ten minutes later it was hit. On a pass from George Cox, Noslin opened the score. His goal was not enough for a victory, because the final score was determined at 1-1 by Mats Köhlert.
Noslin, a center striker who can also play as a winger, can call himself a professional football player thanks to Sneijder. “Six months ago I played football at DHSC in Utrecht and I worked in the Subway. And now I am in the Eredivisie,” said the former youth player of FC Den Bosch and FC Twente, among others, on Friday evening. Last year he ended up at DHSC, where Sneijder was an assistant coach. The former the Dutch international took Noslin under his wing together with El Hamdaoui. Last summer, through TOP Oss, the attacker ended up at Fortuna Sittard on the intercession of Sneijder, which has a Utrecht connection with Sjors Ultee, Robbie Alflen and Jan Wouters in the technical staff.
In Limburg, Noslin signed a contract until the summer of 2024, with an option for another year. The attacker is happy that Sneijder and El Hamdaoui have helped him. “It all happened very spontaneously,” said Noslin. “Sneijder was already at DHSC and El Hamdaoui joined. They asked if they could accompany me. I had nothing to lose, so I did business with them. I’m glad they saw it in me.” This Eredivisie season, Noslin’s counter is on six substitutes.
Noslin spoke to the press on Friday evening with his mother by his side. She played an important role prior to the duel with Willem II. Noslin had forgotten his football boots and shin guards and his mother brought them. “That has brought luck. Maybe I should forget about them more often,” Noslin said with a smile L1.