AMSTERDAM, September 5, 2024 – HERA United and Telstar take an important step in their collaboration with the strengthening of the Telstar Women team with new talent. In addition to the promotion of Nicci Berrevoets, Esmeé Daalman and Joy Vader from Telstar’s Reserves, Sydney Blomquist, Akari Takeshige and Samya Hassani have been brought in from outside. Vera Pauw has been brought in as technical advisor to HERA United.
Strengthening position in the Eredivisie The new players who have been brought in, together with the players who have been promoted, are an important step towards strengthening the team’s position in the Eredivisie. Sydney Blomquist comes from American club Coppermine United and Akari Takeshige comes from Japanese club INAC Kobe Leonessa. Samya Hassani, who previously played at Telstar for two seasons, returns after a short period at Fenerbahçe SK.
Hans de Winter, manager of women’s football at Telstar, is satisfied with the current composition of the squad: “Through targeted reinforcements and retaining our core, we have succeeded, partly thanks to the support of Hera, in assembling a close-knit and talented group of players. In addition, we have once again given several talented youth players the chance to move up to the first team. A sign that our youth academy is functioning well and that we have a strong foundation for the long term.”
Marieke Visser, founder of HERA United: “I am pleased that we have immediately taken concrete steps by attracting new players together, and welcoming Vera Pauw, the founder of women’s football in the Netherlands, as technical advisor. Telstar has laid a strong foundation in recent years that we can build on. With this squad, the left side of the table should be possible this coming season, in order to shift our sporting ambitions as HERA United from the following season. Within three years we want to grow to the top of the Eredivisie and thus raise the bar in women’s football.”
HERA United’s ambition In addition to these ambitious sporting objectives, HERA United strives to also elevate the youth academy in the region and at national level to a higher standard. In collaboration with Telstar, HERA United is thus working on strengthening the existing youth academy, creating more opportunities for youth players to develop. HERA United regards this as an important step in the growth of women’s football in the Netherlands and as a way to give the sport a more prominent place. The club hopes to inspire other clubs with this initiative and show that investing in women’s football can be valuable in the long term.
Current Telstar Women squad Goalkeepers: Kelly Steen, Mei Wei Rispens; Defense: Puck Donker, Felice Hermans, Akari Takeshige, Nikki Ridder, Kim Remijnse, Pauline van de Pol, Esmeé Daalman; Midfield: Isa Gomez, Chinatsu Kira, Anna van der Vlist, Sydney Blomquist, Joy Vader; Attack: Jannette van Belen, Isabelle Nottet, Mila Lagcher, Lieke Vis, Nicci Berrevoets, Samya Hassani.