The Kitchen Champion Division has been used as a nursery for national and international talents for decades and this season too, many football players with potential are walking around on the second level. Voetbalzone, the official media partner of the Kitchen Champion Division, highlights one of these talents every week, this time focusing on eighteen-year-old Basar Önal, who conquered a basic place in De Graafschap’s experienced team this season. The left winger, born in Doetinchem, has also been active for several years as a youth international for Turkey.
By Wessel Antes
Önal grew up as the son of two Turkish parents in Doetinchem, where he was born and spent his entire childhood. It’s no secret that most Turks are crazy about football, so little Basar soon caught the football virus. “I heard I was already playing a ball when I was two years old, but from the age of five I was crazy about football. Then I also went to an amateur club. DZC’68 in Doetinchem, where I played to the E’tjes. It soon became clear that I was talented, I think I learned that from above.”
As a result, Önal was already scouted by De Graafschap at the age of eight. A club to which he owes a lot. “This club means a lot to me and actually I don’t know any better than a life with De Graafschap. I have experienced almost all my football memories here. As a youth player we always got a season ticket, so we often went to watch matches with the whole team. A game I can still remember well was at home against Almere City in the Play-offs (2-1, 2018, ed.). Then De Graafschap was promoted back to the Eredivisie. I thought Youssef El Jebli was a wonderful player, who I also looked up to a bit.”
As a Fenerbahçe fan, Önal also liked to watch the Brazilian Alex de Souza. “That was my absolute idol when I was little. Really a golden player in a wonderful team, wow!” In the Under 14 of De Graafschap, Önal himself was part of a great batch. “Then we were second in the national Eredivisie and we beat big teams like Ajax and Feyenoord. We were also really described as a golden crop. That was nice to be a part of. With those guys we are now largely doing well towards the main force. Philip (Brittijn, ed.), Devin (Haen, ed.) and I, for example.”
Önal has impressed as a left winger this season, but has not always played in that position. “I started at De Graafschap as a left back in youth, but I soon found out that I was more of an attacker. Then I told the coach that I am striker wide. That went very well and because of that I was allowed to stay in the point for almost my entire youth academy. From the Under 17 I also started playing as a left winger and now I prefer to play from the flanks.”
The Doetinchem square football player knows very well what his qualities are. “I am fast and can be played in depth, but also with the ball at my foot I can easily pass my direct opponent. Actually, I’m a bit of a street football player. Am I ever compared to someone? Not really. If I have to choose myself, I think of Eden Hazard. He also always wants to be played on and can play on the flanks as well as a false striker.”
In the past season, Önal was allowed to make his debut in the first team of De Graafschap, without having trained even once. “When Jan (Vreman, ed.) was appointed, I knew that we had a good relationship from the Under 18s, but he took me to the main force almost immediately.” Önal cannot remember everything about his debut in the home match against MVV Maastricht (1-3 defeat). “I thought I would be alone on the couch, but then suddenly I was called in. From the moment I put on my shirt, I haven’t really experienced anything. I think I was so tense that my mind just went out.”
Önal during his debut against MVV Maastricht at De Vijverberg
Less than a month later, his first goal in professional football followed, in the game against Helmond Sport (4-0 win). “I played really well that game and of course I scored my first goal as a professional football player. Since then I have only trained with the first. I can’t quite remember that goal either. I know I got the ball and I scored, but then I lost it. I think I just put my hands in the air and jumped, haha.”
During his debut season, Önal played a total of four times for De Graafschap. However, he was able to learn a lot. “Sometimes you just have to think simpler. In the beginning I thought I could always play the same as I did in the youth, with dribbling and actions, but in the Kitchen Champion Division you sometimes have to play more mature. It’s a lot more physical, so you have to get used to it first. Now that works a lot better and I know when I can make my actions. It doesn’t necessarily matter to me who I stand in front of. Whether that is an experienced man like Bram van Polen (PEC Zwolle), or a boy of nineteen, I just do my own thing.”
This season, Önal was immediately part of the main squad and he had set a clear goal for himself: to become a basic player at De Graafschap. In the last five games, the right leg, who is fixed in Doetinchem until mid-2025, had a base place. “It went fast, yes. I got off to a good start and got a lot of minutes, so it’s time to give the club and the fans what they deserve. Those are goals, assists and points. I work hard for that every day.”
Önal in a duel with Quinten Timber (at the time still FC Utrecht), during the preparation for the current season
Where Önal was accurate in his second game last season, he now has zero goals and assists. “That is difficult. I think I’ve been very menacing so far and add a lot of depth, but as a striker you also have to score goals and provide assists. If I miss an opportunity I can think about it for a long time. It’s not that my confidence is completely gone, but it would be nice if everything falls into place quickly. Also with the team.”
At least Önal knows how to celebrate his next goal. “I grew up in the Huet, a neighborhood in Doetinchem. The end of our zip code number has a 6, which is why I use that in my Instagram name. I’ve always said that I’m going to represent my neighborhood when I’m a pro, so if I score I’ll throw a 6 in the air, haha!”
Önal is happy with the confidence he receives from Adrie Poldervaart and expects rapid improvement at De Graafschap. “I understand, because we don’t take points, that from the outside it seems like nothing is going right. That is not the case, however, because we train really well and do everything we can. Fortunately, the season is not a sprint but a marathon. It is important to quickly convert that hard work into points. Adrie has given me a lot of confidence and I want to repay him quickly. He is very honest and human. It is a pity that he is now receiving a lot of criticism, because behind the scenes everyone is working very hard and it is not his fault at all of course.”
Promotion is therefore still the big goal that De Graafschap has for this season. “Anyway, that just has to happen if you look at our selection. The first two may be difficult, but making the playoffs should be the minimum. I still have full confidence in that,” said Önal. Personally, he mainly wants to work on his return. “It’s nice to make nice dribbles and create chances, but in the end as an attacker you also have to deliver in terms of statistics. That has not been possible so far, but it really has to happen now.”
Önal and his teammates thank the audience after the home game against VVV Venlo
With Turkey’s Under 19s, Önal is in Bulgaria for the European Championship qualification during this international match. The winger still remembers the moment when he was first called up for Ay-Yildizlilar. “Everyone was proud and it really feels like I’m playing for my family. It feels great to be able to play in that beautiful shirt. Suppose I now had to choose between the Netherlands and Turkey, I think I would still choose Turkey. That may be easy to say, but they gave me a wonderful opportunity and it really feels like coming home there.”
At the Turkish national team, Önal is good friends with Muhlis Dagasan, who plays in the youth at PSV. “That’s nice, because we can travel together during the international match. You draw closer to each other as a result.” In the first team of Turkey there are more players who were born in the Netherlands with Orkun Kökçü, Ferdi Kadioglu and Halil Dervisoglu. “I want to take that step someday. I don’t know these guys personally, but I would probably bond with them soon. It is easy if you can also communicate in Dutch. My Turkish is good, by the way, since a lot of people speak Turkish at home.”
Önal does not only dream of an international career with Turkey, because his ambitions reach as far as the Premier League. “I’ve always said I want to play in England one day. The LaLiga is beautiful, but the Premier League seems great to me. Real Madrid used to be my dream club, but I have to be realistic. Every club is big in the Premier League. If I can play there, my career has been successful, then I can close the book at Fenerbahçe,” says the ambitious right leg with a laugh.
Voetbalzone is the official media partner of the Kitchen Champion Division
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