Sitting in a busy canteen at the Toekomst sports complex, Noordman appears relaxed. The talented Ajax player switched from PEC Zwolle, Sunday's opponent, to the Ajax Women last year. She is now in her second season in Amsterdam and has noticed a slightly higher intensity. "I've got used to it now. When you join a new team, you have to get to know everyone. I already knew some players from the national teams, but you still have to get to know the rest."
"As a newcomer, I tend to keep a low profile at first. It makes me feel more comfortable", Noordman continues. "I think the team has got to know me better now, and they realise that I enjoy a bit of fun as well. When you're new in a group, you’re preoccupied with many other things, like finding a place to live and adjusting to the environment. Now I have more peace of mind and can be more myself."
From Dalfsen to Amsterdam
Before moving to Amsterdam, Noordman lived with her parents and two brothers in Dalfsen, a town in the province of Overijssel. She started looking for an apartment as commuting was too far. "I'm now living with two flatmates and really enjoying it."
When asked if there are big differences between Zwolle and Amsterdam, Noordman laughs. "Yes, there are. But it's not necessarily a bad thing. Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but people here are a bit more upfront about what they think. Sometimes that’s a good thing. I had to get used to it at first, but it's important that you can set expectations for one another and feel comfortable addressing certain things."
The talented Ajax player dreamt of a football career in Amsterdam as a child. "We used to go to Ajax's Open Day occasionally. I would always say that I wanted to play for Ajax, and now I'm here. It's very special, and my brothers think it's amazing too. They support me a lot. When I think about it, I can hardly believe that my dream has come true. When you're little, you say these things, but now I’m actually playing here. I'm very proud of that."
Personal ambitions
Last season, Noordman was not yet a regular starter for the Ajax Women. This year, that's one of the goals for the 20-year-old. "I want to play a lot and be important to the team by scoring goals and providing assists. Besides that, I also have other personal goals, like becoming more composed on the ball. I need to learn to make the right decisions at the right moments. That's an area I want to keep developing."
This summer, De Reus and Sonny Silooy joined the Ajax Women as head coach and assistant coach, respectively. Noordman is happy with the duo's arrival. "They balance each other out well. Hesterine is a bit more serious, while Sonny is more light-hearted. They work well with the group and want to do their best for us. Of course, we've had various changes in the team. They need to get used to us, and we need to get used to them. But that’s all going smoothly."
Close-knit team
During the summer transfer window, the technical staff saw several key players leave for clubs abroad, including Romée Leuchter and Chasity Grant. "As a result, a few young players have moved up to the first team. That's great for them. These players can develop further here. I think we still have a close-knit team. We all get along well, and you can turn to anyone. That's great because football is a team sport. It's nice that we can all have a laugh together and share things with each other", says Noordman.
Before the Dutch league officially began, the Ajax Women were eliminated in the UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying rounds by Fiorentina: 0-1. "That was very disappointing, especially because Fiorentina didn't outplay us. After that setback, we have to refocus on the league and the Cup tournament. But yes, it's still a shame. Especially knowing how last season went. We had so many great moments as a team back then, and now that won't happen. Our focus is now on the league so that we can qualify for the Champions League again next year."
New season
The league starts on Sunday with a match against PEC Zwolle. After a long preparation period with a training camp, friendly matches, a Supercup match, and the Women's Champions League qualifiers, the team is eager to start the new season. "We had a good run of friendly matches, although a few could have been better. But you also learn from less good games."
One of those less favourable matches was the Supercup clash against FC Twente, where the Ajax Women eventually lost 6-1 at the Grolsch Veste. "Of course, that match is one we'd like to forget quickly. I think we started well. After taking a 0-1 lead, we dropped off a bit. That wasn't necessary because we were playing our own game at the beginning. We watched the footage again to see what could be improved. All in all, I’m confident in a great season with this team", Noordman concludes.
