Post by : Rameen Ariff

Feyenoord manager Robin van Persie has defended his decision to hand his son Shaqueel a senior debut in their recent Europa League match against Celtic, emphasizing that the call was made strictly in his role as the team’s coach, not as a father. The Dutch side suffered a 3-1 home defeat on Thursday, with Shaqueel coming on late in the game.

Nineteen-year-old Shaqueel van Persie signed his first professional contract with Feyenoord in 2022 and was recently promoted to the first-team squad. He was an unused substitute in Feyenoord’s Eredivisie loss to NEC Nijmegen on Sunday but made his senior debut four days later against Celtic, entering the field in the 81st minute to replace defender Jordan Lotomba while the team was trailing by two goals.

Speaking after the match, Robin van Persie explained, “I made that call as a coach, not as a dad, because we needed a goal. Shaqueel is a player who can score from all angles. That was the reason I brought him on.” Despite his confidence in his son, Feyenoord conceded a third goal just a minute later, with Benjamin Nygren’s strike sealing Celtic’s 3-1 victory.

Reflecting on the personal aspect of the moment, Van Persie added, “From a father’s point of view, when your son makes his debut, that is always special. But I wasn’t focused on enjoying that moment. I was doing my work, just like Shaqueel was doing his.”

Feyenoord will look to bounce back in the Eredivisie when they face SC Telstar on Sunday, aiming to regain momentum and showcase their young talents, including Shaqueel, who has already started making an impression at the senior level.

This carefully managed debut highlights Feyenoord’s commitment to nurturing youth talent while maintaining professional standards, even when familial ties are involved. The match against Celtic may have ended in defeat, but Shaqueel van Persie’s first senior appearance signals the beginning of his promising career in Dutch football.

#Global News #Sports News