Langedijk scores in her first final: 'Dare to show myself now'

With a tip-in at the far post, Katerina Langedijk (19) immediately scored in her very first National Championship final, against defending champion Den Bosch (2-2). Since the Youth World Cup in Chile, where she played as a reserve in December, her development at Amsterdam has clearly accelerated. 'My teammates really gave me a push: just show what you can do.'

Langedijk candidly looks back in the long corridor of the Wagener Stadium on her first season with Amsterdam, a year that shaped her faster than she had expected. In her first months, the attacker - who had only just come over from Bloemendaal in the Promotional Class - was still too impressed by the level around her, impressed by internationals such as Felice Albers, Freeke Moes and Marijn Veen. Only sometime after the winter did the realization slowly dawn that she herself counted. “To be honest, I had little self-confidence in the beginning,” says Langedijk after the 2-2 draw against Den Bosch. 'Last year I moved to Amsterdam when I was eighteen. I really looked up to those girls, really not normal. Actually, I still do that, because there are crazy players around here. But I have learned that I can also be a little proud of myself. I didn't show myself enough.'

Her tendency to self-efface did not go unnoticed in Amsterdam. Langedijk had plenty of discussions about this last season, including with coach Jesse Mahieu and experienced teammates such as Marijn Veen. 'They kept saying that I could show more why I play in this team. This became more apparent during training, and I dared to show myself more often. That actually got better and better. Ultimately you realize: you are here for a reason. Take today. You don't just play those minutes in a final.'