International Test match against Boston Bolts
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Sportfreunde Neersbroich receives visitors from the United States
In a Test match, Sportfreunde Neersbroich’s C-Juniors met the Boston Bolts’ youth team.
Photo: Udo Koch
Youth football The C-Juniors of Sportfreunde Neersbroich competed in a friendly with the Boston Bolts of the United States. The relationship was mediated by a former junior player for the club.
“First Touch”, “Go”, “Be Possessive”. Unusual commands echoed on the Sportfreunde Neersbroich pitch last week. The Boston Bolts, the American training duo, were responsible for these instructions. With a junior team of 14- and 15-year-old footballers, the Bolts sailed from the US East Coast via the Netherlands and Germany for a week – at the end of their stay they stopped at Sportfreunde Neersbroich for a friendly match against C.C. – Young people.
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Before the game, the captains exchanged scarves and pennants.
Photo: Udo Koch
“Such an international friendly against a team from the United States is a big highlight for our boys,” said Udo Koch, president of Sportfreunde. “Our U15 coach Saska Fall was also interested in the idea and we put 19 players together, but the game was on during the Easter holidays.”
Max Krause, a former youth player at Sportfreunde Neersbroich, and his parents contacted Boston Bolts. The 23-year-old is not far from the Neersbroicher facility and started playing football with sports fans. During the break of the American College League, known as the Cross Summer League – played for the Boston Bolt team.
During their journey through Europe, the youngsters from the United States played in several friendly matches against the Dutch youth teams. But travel should be more than just a game. “We took the players to the Dutch Cup final between Ajax and PSV, went to the Anne Frank House and arranged meetings with other youngsters,” said John Bruin, who planned the trip to the Boston Bolts.
“It’s important for me that young people not only play football, but also enjoy social interactions.” Going to Sportfreunde Neersbroich was the right decision. “After the game, all players and parents were invited to a barbecue at the facility,” says Udo Koch. “Our boys talked to American soldiers and exchanged ideas. It was definitely a great situation.
The Bolts also enjoyed their stay, and they look forward to returning to Neerbroze with their youth teams in the future. Of course, sports fans have already been invited to the United States.
In terms of the game, the game ended in a clear one for the Boston Bolts, who won 5-1. “You can already tell that the work in the United States was very good. I had never seen such ball defense and playing ability at that age,” the head of Neersbroach praised the performance of the guests.
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