SC Cambuur before the duel: Who will replace the injured key players?

SC Cambuur before the duel: Who will replace the injured key players?

SC Cambuur faces an exciting challenge as they face RKC Waalwijk on Tuesday evening for a place in the round of 16 of TOTO KNVB Beker. However, coach Henk de Jong cannot rely on all of his players as some are out due to injuries. Particularly painful is the loss of right-back Rik Mulders, who is currently recovering and may be able to rejoin the team at the end of the week.

Another loss is midfielder Ilias Alhaft, who is also injured. Tony Rölke will replace him and is optimistic that he will quickly get used to the new environment. “I feel better and am looking forward to the challenge,” said Rölke. De Jong, however, revealed on Thursday that Jorn Berkhout was training separately due to fitness problems while Ismaël Baouf is still in Morocco, where he received a reception for winning the U20 World Cup. Baouf plans to spend time with his family on his return this weekend after being away for five weeks.

Optimism despite personnel problems

Despite the injury problem, de Jong is confident and doesn't see any major problems in defense. “We have enough options and the players are ready to take on the challenge,” he affirms. On Tuesday, Daan Reiziger will be in goal, while players like Arnau Casas, Maikel Kieftenbeld and Michael de Leeuw are also scheduled to start. Around 172 SC Cambuur fans are expected in the away block to loudly support the team.

Additionally, de Jong explained that while the league is a priority, the cup also needs to be taken seriously. “It's always exciting to play against an Eredivisie club,” says the coach, enthusiastically about the upcoming game, which can be followed live on the ESPN channel and radio (Omrop Fryslân/Omroep Leeuwarden).

Injury risks in football

The challenges in football are not just limited to the game. Injuries are a common issue, especially at the professional level. According to the Society for Arthroscopy and Joint Surgery (AGA), approximately 50% of injuries occur through contact during competition. The most common injuries affect the lateral ligaments and often result from twisting while running. Muscular problems, such as torn muscle fibers, are also commonplace and are usually treated conservatively according to the RICE principle. For Cambuur players, this means going into the game well prepared to avoid the common risks of injury that come with a football match.

For SC Cambuur it is now time to focus on the upcoming games and overcome the personnel challenges in the best possible way. All eyes are on the duel against RKC Waalwijk on Tuesday, in which the team wants to prove that they can play well despite the failures and that the dream of winning the cup can live on.