In the Johan Cruijff ArenA, we speak to Van Gaal. "The most beautiful things happen here: Klassiekers, Champions League matches," he says. "Always with plenty of noise, cheering, singing and shouting. But for some things you may pause for a moment, or it may even need to fall silent for a moment."
Van Gaal is referring to the campaign for Spieren voor Spieren, which is very dear to him. "Everyone was once a child, and many will perhaps have dreamed of becoming a professional footballer and one day standing here in the ArenA. For many children that dream is far away, maybe even completely impossible, yet they keep fighting, with all the uncertainty that brings."
"It’s not the career that matters, but whether you can still walk, swallow, or breathe independently – basically everything for which you need muscles," Van Gaal continues. And then, after a short pause: "Just think for a moment about all the things you are using muscles for right now. We talk, blink, breathe and our heart beats. All things that are very important, and for which healthy muscles are even more important."
That there is attention for Spieren voor Spieren during Klassieker weekend means a great deal to Van Gaal. "It is wonderful that Ajax and Feyenoord want to cooperate with this. And that it is happening here at Ajax, the club that is in my heart."
"It is important to be able to address muscle diseases at an early stage. If you have a muscle disease, those muscles eventually die and you cannot continue living easily. The earlier we know what is going wrong, the greater the chance that we can save muscles and nerves by giving the right medicine."
Van Gaal hopes that many Ajax fans will want to make a donation this weekend. "Football is emotion. We cheer, we empathise and we give everything for our club. But there are also children who want to run, cheer and join in, but their muscles do not allow it. They fight their own match every single day. If you cheer for a win, or shout in frustration, that is possible because your muscles cooperate. Then you may also take a moment to think about what it means when that is not the case."
Support as well
Do you also want to help defeat muscle diseases in children? Then donate via the button below
