At all Eredivisie matches on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April, a minute of silence will be held before the start due to the death of Willy van der Kuijlen last week, the KNVB announced on Saturday afternoon. In recent days, the legitimate question arose on social media as to why the national football association after the death of Mister PSV did not announce to keep a minute of silence before each game in the upcoming Eredivisie round.
Willem II and RKC Waalwijk were already facing each other on Friday evening and only a day later the KNVB comes out with the announcement that there will be a minute of silence in the remaining eight duels. Even before the KNVB came out with the decision, Ajax, however, communicated its own initiative to keep Van der Kuijlen’s silence for a minute, so assures us. The Telegraph.
“Better half turned than completely gone astray,” says a spokesman NUsport know. At the football association there is no fixed protocol for a minute of silence on the death of club icons. Only clubs can make an individual request. “It is difficult to set a limit when we will and will not keep a minute of silence throughout the competition.” With 311 goals, of which 308 in the PSV shirt, Van der Kuijlen is the top scorer of all time in the Eredivisie. He had been ill for quite some time. His family announced last year that Van der Kuijlen suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.
In an emotional funeral service in the Philips Stadium on Saturday, a small group said goodbye to Van der Kuijlen, who died on Monday at the age of 74. The club broadcast the service on the website. In the presence of his wife, children and grandchildren, the career and life of Mister PSV. An honorary title that Van der Kuijlen also carried with verve after his active career.
First as a youth and assistant coach and later as a scout and club icon. Van der Kuijlen was involved in and active in the PSV organization for more than half a century. On Wednesday evening, dozens of PSV fans already said goodbye by offering an impressive final greeting with torches, decorative fireworks, a banner and singing at the statue of Van der Kuijlen near the stadium.