The ball’s rolling again, everywhere now. And that means lots of football at De Toekomst for both Jong Ajax as well as the youth sides. The U19’s began their league with a visit to Volendam, a short bus trip (in fact, one you can easily make by bike). The U16’s got to entertain their arch rivals Feyenoord at De Toekomst. And on Monday, Jong Ajax played against RKC. In others words, plenty of football.

On Saturday, both the U19’s and U16’s kicked off their seasons. Heitinga’s Under 19’s had to travel away to Volendam, facing off against the local FC’s age-mates. And what a show it would be. Heitinga started with El Maach on goal, Bakboord, Botman, Bakker and Kemper at the back, new signing Jensen in midfield alongside Ter Heide and Pasquali, with a frontline consisting of Nunnely and new signings Danilo and Ylatupa.

The flagship of the youth came bursting out of the starting blocks, grabbing the lead early on. After setting up the attack, Finnish forward Ylatupa found Ché Nunnely. The winger tucked the ball away in the back of the net in the 8th minute to mark the opener. Both sides then became stable, not giving away many chances until Navajo Bakboord had a shot on goal in the 23rd minute. Hitting the ball towards goals an odd 30 yards out, his shot smashed against the underside of the bar and into the goal. 0-2. Ajax got plenty of chances to increase the lead before half time, but failed to do so, leaving the difference at two.

About half way into the second half, Ylatupa was pulled down inside the box and stepped up the spot himself, making it 3 for Ajax. After the third goal, Ajax’ play improved and a plethora of chances followed but no goals. That was until the final seconds, when Sven Botman and Martijn Kaars both netted their chances and made it 0-4 and 0-5 respectively. A heavy defeat for Volendam, whom were simply outclassed on the day by Heitinga’s youngsters.

The U16’s played their game against Feyenoord at De Toekomst. After a great start, in which Jaymilio Pinas scored twice to give Ajax a 2-0 lead, the youngsters let their win slip away slowly. Feyenoord scored the 2-1 before half time, scored the 2-2 in the 60th minute and looked to run away with the win after 70 minutes, when they made it 2-3. Luckily, defender Ki-Jana Hoever managed to push on and score the 3-3 late on, preventing a very sour defeat.

On Monday, RKC made a trip to De Toekomst to face off against Jong Ajax. The homeside didn’t feature Wöber or Sinkgraven but first team reserves Lamprou, Orejuela, Zeefuik, Eiting and Cassierra all gave acte de presence. After a promising start to the season, retaining all 9 points from the 3 former games, there was lots to be expected of Reiziger’s men.

After the game was postponed ten minutes in, due to thunder storms surrounding the area, Ajax came out of the dressing room looking chaotic and unmotivated, leaving RKC with the initiative. Despite the away side getting loads of chances from, mainly, set-pieces, it was Ajax whom scored first. Just before half time, Carel Eiting went up with an attack and drove the ball home with his left foot into the back of the net.

The second half featured a Jong Ajax that was far less daunting than usual, missing the zip in attack and not creating half as many chances as we’re used of them. Truth be told, part of this also lay in RKC setting themselves up well defensively and forcing Ajax wide. On the other side, RKC defender Henrico Drost made it 1-1 from a set-piece halfway into the second half. Due to lots of long distance shots missing target, Mazraoui missing a big chance on the volley and Eiting getting a goal disallowed in the dying seconds, Jong Ajax only gained a point from this draw.