STEVEN BERGWIJN’S debut Tottenham goal was a tribute to a childhood friend whose career was cruelly cut short by brain damage.
Abdelhak “Appie” Nouri was one of the most promising products of the Ajax academy for years.
Steven Bergwijn scored on his debut against Manchester CityCredit: PA:Empics Sport
But he collapsed during a friendly in July 2017 due to the same heart problem that almost claimed Bolton’s Fabrice Muamba at Spurs in 2012.
Appie survived but suffered permanent brain damage that has left him profoundly disabled.
Bergwijn said: “We were like brothers. I have known Appie from when we were seven-years-old.
“We came in the same squad. Since then we were best friends.
“Before the game [against Manchester City] I spoke with his brother and he told me ‘You’re going to score for Appie’.
“And I said ‘OK, watch me, I’m going to score’. I did it.”
Two throwback snaps of Steven Bergwijn and best pal Abdelhak NouriCredit: Facebook
Nouri was renowned for his technique and would have been proud of the way his friend took the ball on his chest and lashed it past City keeper Ederson.
Bergwijn broke into a smile when asked about Appie the footballer.
He said: “Ah fantastic player, this guy could do everything with the ball.
“If you ask him ‘do this’ the next day he would say ‘wait’ and he will do it.”
But the events of July 2017 continue to weigh heavily on Bergwijn, Nouri’s friends and family and Dutch football as a whole.
Ajax admitted in 2018 that the medical care Appie received had been “inadequate” and the family is pursuing a legal case against the club.
By the time of the incident, Bergwijn had been at PSV Eindhoven for four years but still remembers the day with painful clarity.
I heard two or three weeks later that he had brain damage. I can’t describe it. At that time, I didn’t sleep so much.
Steven Bergwijn on hearing his friend had collapsed
He was playing in a trial match against RKC Waalwijk and said: “I scored two.
“I was happy and after the game the manager came to me and said this has happened.
“My world collapsed. I just waited for the calls from my agent because he went there.
“Then I heard two or three weeks later that he had brain damage. I can’t describe it. At that time, I didn’t sleep so much.
“The first weeks I was scared to play, to go on the pitch because a young boy, out of nowhere — this was in my head. It was difficult. I speak to his brother every day but it’s still difficult.”
Bergwijn has experienced a lot for a man of only 22.
The strength of character he has shown to become a Dutch league winner, international player and now Premier League star was evident from a young age.
Among his many tattoos are the words ‘Fear’ and ‘None’.
TAUGHT BY VAN NISTELROOY
And he was not afraid to take the big step of leaving the Ajax academy and join PSV when he was just 13.
The final straw came when Bergwijn’s dad, Steven Snr, protested about his son being left on the bench by waving a white handkerchief at the Ajax coach.
Bergwijn said: “I didn’t have the feeling there any more. If that’s gone you have to leave.”
The move to PSV meant years of 5.30am alarm calls so his father could drive him 80 miles from Almere to Eindhoven.
Bergwijn said: “We went to Eindhoven, trained until 11am, started at 9am, then back to school in Almere until 4pm.
“I wanted to play for PSV but I didn’t want to stay with a local family.
“I wanted to stay with my family and they wanted that too. That’s why we did it.”
Bergwijn thrived at PSV where his teachers included former internationals Ruud van Nistelrooy, Boudewijn Zenden and Luc Nilis.
He said: “They are big players so when they talk, you listen. It was the small things that helped me.
“Sometimes Luc Nilis would say ‘When you shoot just look at the ball, you already know where the goal is, just look at the ball’. Small details.
“Zenden looks at my games, ten minutes of highlights of what I can do better, what I did well.
“Ruud, it was the same — shooting from every position. It was amazing.”
Van Nistelrooy scored 150 goals in 219 games for Manchester United.
Can Bergwijn make a similar impact? He added: “I want to, that’s why I am here. That’s why you play football, you want to be the biggest, the greatest.
“I hope I can be that big in England.”
That spectacular goal Bergwijn scored on debut was a good start.
And whatever he achieves, his pal Appie will never be far from his thoughts.
“Stevie Wonder” is already a popular figure at the Tottenham training ground.
Staff are using the nickname Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler gave Steven Bergwijn after his spectacular goal against City.
The Dutchman knew the ball was in as soon as he hit it, saying: “If you look at the highlights you already see me run, I had no time to think, just touch and shoot.”
The new signing hopes something else will catch on — the celebration of putting his hand over his face.
Bergwijn is a keen player of the Fifa video game and said: “I hope they will do it on Fifa.
“It is one I have done all my career. One of my friends told me to do it, so I did.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
