North American Revolution at Heerenveen

[feyenoordsoccerfan]

I am going to present you with the translation (in episodes, due to the speed or rather lack of speed of my typing) of an article in Voetbal International called:
North American Revolution at SC Heerenveen

This article will give you an impression of how Canadian player Rob Friend integrates into the Dutch soccer culture, how he is looked upon and what his ambitions are.

Part 1
Rob Friend gives SC Heerenveen a different face.

Demolisher as target man

Message for defenders in the Netherlands. Cherish noses and cheek bones while you still can. The chance is big that they are going to have an unlucky aquaintance with the imposing body of target man Rob Friend. The Canadian giant is one of the eyecatchers of the new Heerenveen.

Once upon a time there were ordinarily Scandinavians playing at SC Heerenveen. That regularity has vanished. In search for reinforcements the Frisian club extends its view further around the globe. The “Abe Lenstra”stadium is now home to players from exotic regions like Brasil, Uruquay, and Marocco.
For a short time now the selection of coach Gert Verbeek numbers even a four headed delegation from North America: three relatively young players adn Rob Friend, the most eye catching person. Canadian, a strapping fellow, strong as a bear.
Only seven years ago he started to occupy himself seriously with soccer for the first time.

“In my youth I pursued several sports. Than I played volley ball for 6 months, than again a few months indoor rugby, basket ball, tennis or soccer. When I was eighteen I decided to focus on soccer, that sport I enjoyed most.If I had known I would become this tall I would have chosen ice hockey… “
Because of his late choice for soccer Friend has to catch up.
In conditional and physical respect he says he holds his own with his team mates at Heerenveen, in the technical aspects he learns every day.

“Where other players of my age hardly evolve anymore, I develop tremendously. I therefor see it as an advantage that I started so late with soccer. I am very eager to work on my shortcomings and will become only better in the coming years”he suspects.

Friend doesnot make any effort to hide his borderless ambition.
According to Verbeek the Canadian sometimes tips the scale in his drive.
“Rob Friend is really too eager to prove himself. He puts himself under too much pressure. Nothing wrong with ambition, but you should be able to look at yourself realistically. Rob always talks about scoring goals, but his first task is to make the team play better. Those goals will come naturally."

a part in the Yanks abroad thread:http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?p=9522610#post9522610

[Daniel from Montréal]

Verbeek on Wil Johnson:

Very agressive and adequately skillfull with the ball. Will gets a year the time with the talents team to show what he is able to. He is a little bit short for a centre target man, het o me seems more a man for the sides.

---------------------------------

He's Canadian, too ;)

[feyenoordsoccerfan]

Part 2:

The target man nods when he hears the comments made by his coach. Friend was born in Rosetown, a village with 500 inhabitents. When he was 6 he moved to Vancouver. About twelve years later he drifted down to the American Santa Barbara, where he combined a study in economics with playing for the university team. Friend broke every goal scoring record and by doing so earned a spot in the Canadian youth selection for the youth WC 2001 in Argentinia.

“I played a good tournement. Especially during the match against Brasil, with guys like Kaka and Adriano I was able to distinguise myself. It yielded him a contract with the Norwegian first division club Moss FK. One and a half year later the change over to the highest level, to Molde FK was made. For that club he scored 15 times in 42 matches, enough to convince Heerenveen. The target man signed for 4 seasons in Friesland. The transfer turned out to be a return to his roots.

“My ancesters were Frisians who once moved to Canada to work on a farm over there. My parents think it to be great/excellent that I turned up in Heerenveen, of all places. To me that past doesnot mean too much.”

He chose, also on advice of Daniel Berg Hestad (player of Molde and before that of Heerenveen), for football technical reasons for a Dutch continuation of his career.

“There was also interest from a few English clubs. Once I hope to play in the top of the EPL, preferably for my dream club Manchester United. At the moment I’m not ready for that. Firstly I want to polish my play. Refine my technique for instance and become a lot more versatile. In the Dutch competition I get the chance to develop myself into a complete player.”

Is the player, who in the past looked up to the Czech hunk Koller, not afraid that his style is too unpolished for the “Eredivisie”?

“On the contrary, I think I can be of an added value with my style of play. With only technical and fast players you willnot get far. A team like Heerenveen also needs someone who is strong in the air and in front of the opponents goal. In those areas there are few players better than I am. Donot ask me to perform tricks or to pass by four opponents, but heading and scoring I do well. I think I need about 2 months to adjust. After that I want tob e doing well and become successful. Already in my first year in Friesland I want to make an impact.”

[CanuckFan]

Part 2:

The target man nods when he hears the comments made by his coach. Friend was born in Rosetown, a village with 500 inhabitents. When he was 6 he moved to Vancouver. About twelve years later he drifted down to the American Santa Barbara, where he combined a study in economics with playing for the university team. Friend broke every goal scoring record and by doing so earned a spot in the Canadian youth selection for the youth WC 2001 in Argentinia.

“I played a good tournement. Especially during the match against Brasil, with guys like Kaka and Adriano I was able to distinguise myself. It yielded him a contract with the Norwegian first division club Moss FK. One and a half year later the change over to the highest level, to Molde FK was made. For that club he scored 15 times in 42 matches, enough to convince Heerenveen. The target man signed for 4 seasons in Friesland. The transfer turned out to be a return to his roots.

“My ancesters were Frisians who once moved to Canada to work on a farm over there. My parents think it to be great/excellent that I turned up in Heerenveen, of all places. To me that past doesnot mean too much.”

He chose, also on advice of Daniel Berg Hestad (player of Molde and before that of Heerenveen), for football technical reasons for a Dutch continuation of his career.

“There was also interest from a few English clubs. Once I hope to play in the top of the EPL, preferably for my dream club Manchester United. At the moment I’m not ready for that. Firstly I want to polish my play. Refine my technique for instance and become a lot more versatile. In the Dutch competition I get the chance to develop myself into a complete player.”

Is the player, who in the past looked up to the Czech hunk Koller, not afraid that his style is too unpolished for the “Eredivisie”?

“On the contrary, I think I can be of an added value with my style of play. With only technical and fast players you willnot get far. A team like Heerenveen also needs someone who is strong in the air and in front of the opponents goal. In those areas there are few players better than I am. Donot ask me to perform tricks or to pass by four opponents, but heading and scoring I do well. I think I need about 2 months to adjust. After that I want tob e doing well and become successful. Already in my first year in Friesland I want to make an impact.”

Kind of exciting. A little bit of Garrett Kusch memories in terms of ambition and physical presence, a little humility, and tremendous upside (no disrespect to either). The sky is the limit. Thank Christ he didn't go to England. Good chance to improve his game at Heerenveen.
I absolutely love this comment: "To me that past doesnot mean too much.”

[feyenoordsoccerfan]

Part 3, final part:

The 7 time international of Canada knows who can help him to realize that goal: teammate Ugur Yildirim, the Turkish Dutch winger with the sweet golden assist, who under Gertjan Verbeek however cannot count on a first team place and is stearing towards a departure.

“Ugur really is a fantastic player, I love that guy! He is the type of player I need to become successful. When Ugur is on the field, I walk around with a big smile on my face. In that instance I know I will get three to four chances for shure.

I symply am dependent of assists. Watch the tapes of my last year with Molde for that. Of the thirteen goals I made ten with my head. If I can do anything to keep Ugur, I willnot fail to do that.”

With or without Yildirim, without a doubt Friend will make a name in his new homeland. Be it positively, otherwise negatively. Different from what his name might make you suspect he can come across anything but amical.

The center target man, with a hesitating grin: “Most defenders in Norway will be happy that I’m gone. With my rough way of play I collected yellow cards and damaged body parts. Lats season I broke a few cheekbones and I myself suffered twice a concussion, to give you an idea/impression. I really am not a dirty player, but if you are as big as I am, you must use your body. The Dutch defenders will know that I am there.”

There is no lack of confidence. It is now up to the Canadian to prove that he possessses the accompanying football qualities. His first goal, made against Willem II during the 5-0 win is now a fact. Possibly Friend can make the names Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Gegorgios Samaras be forgotten in Friesland.

“I never heard of my predecessors, but I understood they are a kind of legends. The bar is high, but I donot feel any pressure. I will fill in the role of target man with Heerenveen successfully, maybe not in a way they are used to here. I’ll do it my way.”