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| Davis
Mendes da Silva stays with Sparta |
11 July 2001
|
| David
Mendes da Silva has decided to stay at 'Het Kasteel' for another season.
Newcastle and Ajax had both shown a lot of interest in the 18 year-old
and Sparta were practically ready to do a deal with the English
Premiership side. However, the arrival of Frank Rijkaard at Sparta has
changed all that. The talented young defender was dismayed to see the
departure of that man Ali Elkhattabi and trainer Willem van
Hannegem but is now excited by the prospect of a season with the former
Oranje coach. |
| Émerson
on trial with Sparta |
11 July 2001
|
| The
talented Brazilian Luiz Firmino Émerson is on trial
this week with Sparta after his former club, First Division side MVV, were
unwilling to extend his contract. The 27 year-old former Campinas, São
Paulo FC, Hamburger SV, Hiratsuka Bellmare and FC Sankt Pauli striker
has played for the Maastricht side since February
1998 - scoring 20 goals in 60 Premier Division matches and two goals in
the 11 First Division matches he played for them last season. |
| Tom
Sier signs for Sparta |
06 July 2001
|
| Tom
Sier has signed up with Sparta for one season after earlier
asking Ajax to let him go. The 31 year-old defender's career has been
hampered by injury and he's also been unable to get into the 1st team
under Co Adriaanse. |
| Frank
Rijkaard new Sparta coach |
02 July 2001
|
| Former
Dutch international and Oranje coach Frank Rijkaard is to take over at
Sparta on a contract for two years. The ex-Ajax and AC Milan player
resigned as the Dutch national coach after Holland's defeat by Italy in
the semi-finals of Euro 2000. This latest news will give some extra added
sparkle to the coming 2001/2002 season and is welcome news for the
Rotterdam club after Wim van Hanegem's
resignation. |
| Wim
van Hanegem leaves Sparta |
25 June 2001
|
| John
Nieuwenburg stay with Sparta |
23 June 2001
|
| Sparta
have decided to continue to hire John Nieuwneburg (currently
recovering from a knee injury) from Ajax next season. The 22 year-old
moved from "Het Kasteel" (Sparta's stadium) to Ajax in the
summer of 1999 but has not been able to break through into the 1st team in
the Arena and returned to his former club last season. |
| Ajax
make new bid for Sparta's Da Silva |
18 June 2001
|
| Ajax
have reentered the hunt for Sparta's David Mendes da Silva with an offer
to swap John Nieuwenburg (already on loan to the Rotterdammers), John
O'Brien, Jan van Halst and a large sum of money for the 18 year-old youth
international. Newcastle United have also made an official bid for his
services (it's no secret the youngster would love to play in the English
Premiership) in a move which has caused the Amsterdam club to come up with
this latest offer. The Rotterdammers have been asking in the region of
€4.5 million Euros for Da Silva and would accept half that amount
together with the 3 Ajax players in part exchange. |
| Playoff
Roundup |
17 June 2001
|
| Today's
playoffs were in Group B...Go Ahead Eagles played host to Sparta and drew
1 - 1. Dick Schreuder put the Eagles ahead in the 11th minute and they
were the stronger side throughout the 1st half. Sparta's Silvan Inia got
sent opff in the 55th minute but that man Ali Elkhattabi got the
equalizer in the 62nd to earn the Rotterdammers the one point they still
needed to remain in the Ere Divisie next season.
|
| Reggie
Blinker signs for Sparta |
17 June 2001
|
| After
only one season at RBC Roosendaal, the veteran former Feyenoorder
Reggie Blinker is moving on to play for Sparta next season on a contract
for two years. He'd always stated his intention to remain playing Ere
Divisie football and, now that RBC are relegated, has made this move in
order to stay in Holland's Premier Division. |
| Serious
injury for Van Nieuwenburg |
15 June 2001
|
| Sparta's
John Nieuwenburg has been injured during Wednesday's playoff against
Cambuur Leuuwaarden and it is feared that the defensive midfielder has
torn his meniscus. He goes into hospital for an MRI scan today and could
be facing a long spell on the injured list. The blow comes just as he was
showing a return to form at his old club who were about to offer him a
contract - he's been on loan from Ajax and it remains to be seen if Sparta
will now want to sign him. |
| Playoff
Roundup |
14 June 2001
|
| Sparta beat Cambuur
2 - 0 in Group B -
Michel Langerak got a 58th minute goal and Bram Marbus got the 2nd in the
68th. Sparta have never been relegated and now need only un point
against Go Ahead Eagles on Sunday to make sure of their place in the Ere
Divisie for next season. |
| Newcastle
want Mendes da Silva |
12 June 2001
|
| During
the course of this week Newcastle United are expected tonegotiations
with Sparta for the transfer of David Mendes da Silva. The 18 year-old
talented defender had been on Ajax's
wanted list last season but technical director Leo Beenhakker thought
the €4,54 million Euro price tag too high. |
| Playoff
Roundup |
09 June 2001
|
| Sparta
beat Excelsior - goals from Michel Langerak (32nd minute) and that
man Ali Elkhattabi (51st) looked to have sealed victory before Somalia
put one away in the 65th to give their Rotterdam neighbours hope of
recovery but Nourdin Boukhari got a late 88th minute 3rd goal for the home
team to make the final score 3 - 1.
|
| Bouchiba
signs for Sparta |
01 June 2001
|
| AZ's
Elbekay Buchiba has signed a contract with Sparta for the coming three
seasons. The 22 year-old former Megacles and Willem II midfielder will be
reunited with trainer Willem van Hanegem, who knows him from the time when
he worked at the Alkmaarderhout stadium. |
| Sparta
beat Go Ahead Eagles in 2nd playoff |
31 May 2001
|
| Sparta
have beaten Go Ahead Eagles in the 2nd playoff with goals from Nourdin
Boukhari, David Mendes da Silva and Silvan Inia while Dick Kooijman scored
for the Eagles. |
| Sparta
hit by injuries |
19 May 2001
|
| Sparta
will have to face NAC without a string of injured players - Dennis de
Nooijer (food-poisoning), Bram Marbus (calf-injury), Danny Koevermans
(hamstring), Dave van der Moeer and Marillia both have "wounded"
knees. They'll also be missing the suspended Sieme Zijm and Steve Goossen. |
| Sparta
lose to AZ 0 - 3 |
13 May 2001
|
| Poor
old 17th
placed Sparta really need the points this afternoon if they intend to stay
in the Premier Division (they've never been relegated) while the Alkmaarders could leapfrog Groningen
(who were decisively beaten 3 - 0 by Willem II yesterday) into 13th place
if they win. As the match got started the level of play was sometimes
particularly poor - Van Aarle had an early chance for Sparta while AZ's
Nelisse had another soon after. Thereafter it was back to the poor play
for the rest of the 1st half. Early in the 2nd half Elkhattabi had a
chance to score against his future club - he's off to Almaar next season.
After that it was AZ all the way - Dries Boussata scored in the 69th minute and Max
Huiberts got 2 in the last minute, one from the spot and the other
pouncing on a defensive error by Rudge
to give the
visitors their leapfrogging points. |
| Sparta
prepare for the worst |
10 May 2001
|
| Sparta
still have a chance to avoid the end-of-season playoffs but are playing
safe and preparing for the worst. Fans can buy advance season tickets for
2001/2002 which will give them free entry to the playoffs if the
Rotterdammers end up having to take part in a last ditch fight for Ere
Divisie survival. The club have never been relegated and it would be a
tremendous blow if they go down and could signal the end of their
relationship with current trainer Wim
van Hannegem who's still considering his future with them. |
| Un
point for Groningen and Sparta 1 - 1 |
06 May 2001
|
| Sparta
really need at least un point from this afternoon's match if they want
to avoid keeping RBC company at the bottom of the table (they're in 17th on
23, 2 points behind Fortuna who are 2 behind 15th-placed De Graafschap).
Groningen have no ambitions (being in 13th place, trailing Twente by 5
points). The visitors started the match as if they had a point to prove -
namely that they belong at the top. That man Ali Elkattabi was on hand to put the
Rotterdammers ahead with a shot-in-the-arm spot-shot in the 28th minute.
Sparta dominated the 1st half but the northerners came out after the break
to put things right. Within 5 minutes of substitute Dejan Curovic
appearing he got a late-in-the-2nd half equalizer in the
77th. Both teams stay where they were, but a point richer - Sparta in
17th on 24 (resigned to fighting for their place in the Ere Divisie in the
end-of-season playoffs) and Groningen in 13th on 33. |
| Van
Hannegem still undecided |
01 May 2001
|
| Wim
van Hanegem is still undecided regarding his future with Sparta. Since
joining the club the respected ex-international's name has been
linked to the vacancies at Southampton (Glen Hoddle went to Spurs) and
Twente (Fred Rutten is leaving to take care of the youth squad at
PSV). He's only signed up till the end of
the season with the Rotterdammers (although there's an option for another
year) and, although he says the interest from other clubs is not the
reason behind his hesitation, a move abroad to the English Premiership is
not unlikely (he was previously in the running for the Everton job in
1999). He could be waiting to see if Sparta escape relegation - they are
getting a bit too close for comfort to the danger zone and may well have
to take part in the end-of-season playoffs to stay up. |
| Sparta
go down to
Heerenveen's storming Swede 1 - 3 |
28 Apr 2001
|
| Sparta
are stuck in 17th place, only one point behind Fortuna, and really need a
win if they are to get clear of the danger zone or else there'll be Toto
Division football for them next season! Heerenveen are considerably more
comfortable in 8th place but would be more than happy to take the points
and add them to their collection. They've not lost since the winter break
and are jostling with Vitesse, Roda, Utrecht and RKC for a
European-football-earning position via an end-of-the-season spurt. Theng play was mediocre with too many free balls being given away on
both sides..... Marcus Allbäckd the score in the 38th but that man Ali Elkhattabi equalized with a spot-shot in the
41st only to see team-Humphrey Rudge give away an own goal 2 minutes
later. Although the Rotterdammers played with a lot of determination
after the break but weren't sharp enough up-front. Their hearts sunk when
the storming Swede Allbäck put away his 2nd of the evening in
the 63rd to seal victory for the Frieslanders. Sparta never got back into
the match after that and the Frieslanders could have increased their
score, denied only by the woodwork and the alert goalkeeping of Kooiman. |
| Soetaers
goal as Roda snatch win against Sparta 1 - 0 |
21 Apr 2001
|
| Roda
will be wanting to pick up 3 points in their bid for European
football next season - they're in 4th on 49 points. Sparta are caught
between a rock and a hard place in 17th and desperately need the points if
they're to make a last minute escape from relegation. Fortuna and De
Graafschap are only one point ahead so the Rotterdammers still have a small
chance of avoiding the drop. The home side were unable to create any
chances in theng half and Sparta had the best, and only, opportunity
but it was wasted. The 2nd half saw Roda go on the attack and
man-of-the-match Tom Soetaers got a winner in the 83rd
minute to move them ahead of Ajax into 3rd place - but the Amsterdammers
have a game in hand. Shame about Sparta - if hadn't been for the excellent
goalkeeping of Frank Kooiman several other balls would have found the back
of the net! |
| Ali
Elkhattabi signs for AZ |
21 Apr 2001
|
| That
man Ali Elkhattabi, as we reported earlier,
is indeed off to AZ on a contract for 5 years. He was signed up till 2002
with Sparta but the club didn't want to stand in the way of the top scorer
(he's currently on 19, 3 goals behind Mateja Kezman). Anderlecht
had earlier shown an interest in the 24 year-old Moroccan striker but
he ended talks with the Belgians and decided to
stay in Holland. He started his professional career with the
Rotterdammers in 1995, went to Heerenveen in 1996 and returned to ''Het
Kasteel'' (The Castle) in 1999. |
| Elkhattabi
bound for AZ? |
19 Apr 2001
|
| That
man Ali Elkattabi could well be bound for AZ - Henk van Stee worked
with the Moroccan when he was involved in Sparta's youth academy. The
Rotterdam club's top scorer is not extending his stay at "Het
Kasteel" (the Castle) but surprisingly, considering his talent and
goalscoring record, there hasn't exactly been a queue of clubs forming to
snap him up. The Alkmaarders are the only ones showing an interest in him
at the moment but are only offering €700,00 Euros for him (compared to
the asking price of €2 million). |
| RBC
go down 1 - 3 to Sparta |
14 Apr 2001
|
| An
important relegation duel between fellow strugglers the Roosendaalers and
the Rotterdammers - RBC really need the points if they are to get off the
bottom rung and Sparta have had a dose of the defeats which they need to
get out of their system since starting so well under Wim Hannegem. Henk
Vos put the home side ahead in the 10th but that man Ali Elkhattabi
pulled Sparta level 6 minutes later and Nordin Boukhari put them 1 - 2
ahead in the 39th minute. Silvan Inia clinched the match in the 65th with
a great freekick that curved over the wall and hit the back of the net -
Elkhattabi surprisingly missed a penalty. The win
lifts Sparta above De Graafschap, who have a game in hand, and they take on
Feyenoord tomorrow in the lion's den, the Kuip! RBC can resign
themselves to First Division football again next season - with only 14
points and 22 defeats in 28 games. Their promotion last year came as a bit
of a surprise and it was probably expecting too much that they would stay
afloat among the bigger fish in the Ere Divisie. The last matches of the
season will determine whether it will be Sparta, De Graafschap or Fortuna
who will escape the indignity of the end-of-season playoffs. |
| Sparta's
van der Meer out for rest of season |
13 Apr 2001
|
| Sparta
will have to do without defender Dave van der Meer for the rest of this
season - he's been unable to play for the last few weeks and needs an
operation on his knee. They are already without another defender Richard
Elzinga (recently operated on his right foot) and also miss midfielder and
captain Michel Langerak (injured in training earlier this week). |
| Sparta
fail against Fortuna 0 - 2 |
08 Apr 2001
|
| Both
teams are fighting possible relegation, only 2 points separating
last-but-one Fortuna and 16th placed Sparta, and badly needed to win for
the confidence boosting effect of a victory as well as for the points.
Ronald Hamming gave Fortuna the lead in the 46th minute and finished
off the Rotterdammers with another in the 84th. |
| Roks
new Sparta technical director |
04 Apr 2001
|
| Sparta's
former trainer Dolf Roks will start his new job as the club's
technical director (succeeding the departing Leo Stegman) at the beginning
of next season or, if that's not possible, from January 1st next year.
After being relieved as trainer by Wim Hannegem he has continued as
assistant trainer in the understanding that he would be offered a new job. |
| Elkhattabi
stays in Holland |
30 Mar 2001
|
| That
man Ali Elkhattabi has apparently
decided not to make the move to Belgian club Anderlecht
- the talks were taking too long for him and, when the Belgians suddenly
wanted to talk, the highly sought after striker had already decided not to
leave Holland. Feyenoord, AZ and PSV are all interested in the 24 year-old
with 18 goals to his name this season. |
| Sparta
let 5 players go |
30 Mar 2001
|
| Sparta
are letting 5 of their players go at the end of this season: Romeo Wouden,
Erik Tammer, Yurtcan Kayis, Patrick Molendijk and Roland Jansen have all
been told to start looking.... The news comes as a particular
disappointment for Kayis, in his 5th year at the club, who'd been hoping
for a new contract to sign. |
| End
of season for Elzinga |
21 Mar 2001
|
| The
end of the season has come early for Sparta's Richard Elzinga. The
defender has a niggling foot injury which will be operated on this Friday.
It's going to keep him out for between several weeks and several months. |
| Ajax
slaughter Sparta 9 - 0 |
18 Mar 2001
|
| It
just missed hitting double figures this afternoon as Ajax put on a
dazzling display to dominate lowly Sparta. The Rotterdammers had made a
good start in their first few games under Wim van Hanegem but, apart from
theng quarter of an hour, they were completely outclassed. Co
Adriaanse seems to have found the lineup - Machlas being
left out and Van der Meyde coming in, allowing Arveladze to be central
attacker with van der Gun slotting in behind him. As the Ajax machine got
into gear it was Wamberto who started the slaughter in the 8th minute. Andy van der Meyde got the 2nd in
the 10th, Cedric van der Gun made it three in the 23rd and Tim de Cler
scored the 4th in the 26th. Shota Arveladze made it five in the 39th and
scored from the spot in the 48th minute. Cedric van der Gun got his 2nd in
the 59th and Arveladze added his 3rd and 4th to take it to 9 - 0 in the
66th and 86th minutes. Ajax seem to have found their feet and the
goal in a big way - just in time for the last push of the season. |
| Elkhattabi
talks to Anderlecht |
16 Mar 2001
|
| Sparta's
Ali Elkhattabi is to have talks next week with Anderlecht about a possible
transfer. The Belgium club are offering a deal involving midfielder
Patrick van Diemen for the Moroccan (who's scored 18 times this season)
who they hope will replace departing Tomasz Radzinski on pitch and in the
minds of their fans. |
| Sparta
contracts for young talent |
09 Mar 2001
|
| Sparta
have offered Lorenzo Rimkus and Omar Zaroual contracts till 2005. The 16
year-old midfielder Rimkus plays for the club's B1 team and the Dutch
Under 16 team while midfielder Zaroual plays for Landelijke A-Jeugd and
Oranje-17. The Rotterdammers are well known for the high quality of their
youth academy - Houssin Bezzai, Ali Elkhattabi, David Mendes, John
Nieuwenburg, Yurtcan Kayis, Nordin Boukhari, Dennis de Nooijer and Rui
Monteiro are all products of the 'Castle system' ('Het Kasteel' is the
name of the club's stadium). |
| Ajax
chase Sparta's Da Silva |
08 Mar 2001
|
| Ajax
are interested in adding David Mendes da Silva to their squad and have
approached Sparta with an offer to swap John Nieuwenberg (already on
loan to the Rotterdammers) and American John O'Brien plus some cash for
the 18 year-old. Co Adriaanse would like to put him alongside his other
young stars Rafael van der Vaart and Cedric van der Gun but could run
into some competition from Coventry City and Feyenoord. |
| Sparta
beat Twente 5 - 1 |
04 Mar 2001
|
| Sparta
are of to a terrific start under new trainer Wim hanegem with their 2nd
consecutive win - and what a win! Jan
Vennegoor of Hesselink gave the visitors the lead in the 1st minute but
that was a mere distraction - Silvan Inia equalized for Sparta in the 22nd minute and John
Nieuwenburg put them ahead in the 28th. Erik ten Hag scored an own goal to
make it 3 - 1 for the Rotterdammers in the 54th and Michel Langerak made
it 4 - 1 in the 69th. That man Elkhattabi was there again in the
88th to make it 5 - 1 for Sparta - a great start for Wim Hanegem! |
| Anderlecht
show interest in Elkhattabi |
02 Mar 2001
|
| Anderlecht
are reported to have approached Sparta with an interest in buying the
side's top scoring Moroccan striker Ali Elkahattabi. The
24 year-old has scored 17 of the club's 30 goals this season but is more
interested in going to a top Dutch club. His agent Arnold Oosterveer has
said that it's unlikely any deal will be done before the changes to the
transfer system have been made - Sparta would currently like €7,35
million Euros for him. |
| De
Nooijer returns to Sparta |
02 Mar 2001
|
| Dennis
de Nooijer returns on hire to his old club, Sparta, for the rest of the
season. He's no longer a permanent 1st team fixture at Heerenveen since
Marcus Allbëck's arrival, has had more than his fair share of injuries
and is of the opinion that Foppe de Haan no longer needs/wants him. He
made his Sparta debut on April 2nd 1988 and played for 11 seasons in
Rotterdam before moving north to Heerenveen together with his brother
Gerard. De Nooijer has scored 7 goals in 28 matches with the Frieslanders
and a total of 73 times in 274 Ere Divisie matches. He becomes Wim van Hanegem's 2nd addition to
the squad since taking over (William Rudge being the 1st). |
| Sparta
draw with RKC Waalwijk 2 - 2 |
18 Feb 2001
|
| Willem
van Hannegem, trainer to be, watched as Sparta got their first point in
6 matches. There werengs in the 1st half on both sides but it was
the 2nd half that saw 30 minutes of goal action with Bram Marbus'sr in the 47th minute kicking life into the match. RKC hit the post
and bar before Rick Hoogendorp's shot found its way in to equalize 5
minutes later (54th). John van Loenhout edged the visitors ahead in the
65th and David Mendes headed in the match leveller for Sparta in the
76th. |
| Van
Hannegem replaces Roks as Sparta trainer |
16 Feb 2001
|
| Former
international and ex-Feyenoord and AZ trainer Wim van Hannegem is to take
over the reins from Dolf Roks at Sparta. His job will be to keep the
club in the Ere Divisie- they're now 16th. He'd let it be known last week
that he saw a chance for the club to improve on their placing, and avoid
the dreaded end of season playoffs. Club fans immediately called for his
instatement as trainer and Roks' departure. He won't be going far though
as it's thought he'll be given another job at the "Castle" (Het
Kasteel). |
| De
Graafschap beat Sparta in relegation duel 2 - 1 |
09 Feb 2001
|
| De
Graafschap got their first home win against Sparta in five years thanks to
Marino Promes' winning goal. The 1st half showed why both sides are at the
wrong end of the table, neither able to put any decent moves together on a
poor pitch. It took a couple of errors by Sparta's Richard Elzinga to give
the home team theirr. After a poor clearance Eric Viscaal gratefully
collected the ball and was on his dribbling way to the Spartan goal when
Elzinga brought him down in the penalty area - Robert Fuchs made no
mistake from the spot 1 - 0. Sparta struck back in the 2nd half from
a free kick by David Mendes da Silva - his ball was headed back by Bram
Marbus and that man Elkattabi put away his 16th of this season from
the edge of the area. Two minutes later the winner came from a badly
cleared corner, René Bot tapped it to Mr. Promes who slid it simply
around goalie Frank Kooiman. The Superboeren climb clear of the bottom
three - Sparta, Fortuna and RBC. |
| Jansen
leaves Sparta at end of season |
09 Feb 2001
|
| Sparta's
reserve goalie Roland Jansen is to leave at the end of this season and
look for a new club who'll give him a first team place. The 33 year-old
former Willem II goalie has had to stand aside for Frank Kooiman and only
seen action in a handfull of matches this season. |
| PSV
beat Sparta 1 - 0 |
04 Feb 2001
|
| The
decision to stage this match was a controversial one - the pitch was
totally waterlogged and made real football impossible. The match was also
a duel between the top scorers Mateja Kezman and Ali Elkhattabi. The
Moroccan striker had the first opportunity to show his skills but his
lobbed ball just bounced off the outside of the post. Kezman headed in the
only goal 4 minutes later from Jonas Kolkka's pass. The 2nd half was just
as impossible for the players as the 1st and, although Sparta kept
believing they could come back, it wasn't to be. |
| Willem
II win 4 - 1 against Sparta |
31 Jan 2001
|
| That
man's at it again. Mr. Elkhattabi scores in the 1st minute to shake up
Willem II as Sparta come to play and Ali leaves his calling card!
Unfortunately he was the best thing about the Rotterdam side - how long
will it be before another club snaps him up?Marília
got sent off in the 49th minute leaving Sparta with 10 men. Denny
Landzaat scored from a penalty, after a controversial handsball, in the 45th to bring Willem II level and
again, this time from a freekick, in the 61st minute 2-1. Dave van der Meer gave away an own goal in the
71st and Mariano Bombarda made it 4-1 in the 89th. Willem II climb a
little higher and closer to their European dream, while Sparta sink
dangerously low. |
| Sparta
lose to NAC 1 - 2 |
14 Dec 2000
|
| The
teams had to contend with strong winds but the match was still a
disappointing affair. NAC's Christiano and Stewart missed opon goals with
rugby style shots which went way over the bar and high into the stand.
Even dependable Ali Elkhattabi was having an off night. The visitors
scored twice in the 2nd half with headers by Rick Versteeg (in the 50th)
from Alfred Schreuder's corner and Rob Penders from Schreuder's freekick
(in the 54th minute). Sparta fought back in the last part of the match and
Elkhattabi saved a little honour for himself and the club with a goal in
the 70th minute. |
| Fortuna
2 Sparta 1 |
09 Dec 2000
|
| Things
are finally starting to change for unfortunate Fortuna. The boost of
knowing they've got a new trainer in former Fortuna player Frans Thijssen
gave them renewed confidence. Dennis
Gerritsen put the home team ahead in the 7th minute but Robert Roest
scored an own goal in the 15th. Sparta took heart and were the stronger
looking team for the rest of the 1st half, unfortunately for them Ruud
Hesp was once again on hand to stop them from scoring (I bet Barcelona are
really kicking themselves they let him go). There must have been a
halftime pep talk from the new trainer because the home team came out
reborn. They took control in midfield and Ronald Hamming got their 2nd and winning
goal in the 64th. This gives them their first win of the 15 matches played
so far this season. |
| Coventry
have their eye on Sparta's Da Silva |
01 Dec 2000
|
| The
Coventry scout Ray Clarke (himself an ex-Spartan) has confirmed that the
club is interested in Sparta's 18 year-old up and coming star David Mendes
Da Silva Gonçalves. |
| Feyenoord
No.1 again after 2-1 against Sparta |
30 Nov 2000
|
| Feyenoord
didn't have to dig too deep to beat their Rotterdam neighbours tonight.
That was a good thing because they didn't have much to offer, looking
tired. They went ahead in the 5th minute after a pass meant for Tomasson
was put away for an own goal by poor, nervous
Yurtkan Kayis. Feyenoord had little else to show for their 1st half
efforts and it was Sparta who had the
best goal scoring opportunities - mainly through Elkhatabbi, who missed with 2
shots. Why Sparta's new signing John Nieuwenburg was left out is a mystery
because his defensive skills were sorely missed. The situation in the 2nd half was
even weaker than the 1st - the match not living up to the expectations a
derby generates. After Tomasson had missed a couple of clear chances it
took until the last quarter of an hour before Pauuwe
scored Feyenoord's 2nd from Leonardo's quickly taken freekick. It was that
man Elkhattabi again who restored some honour for Sparta 3 minutes later.
He now has 12 goals to his name and shares top honours with AZ's Robin
Nelisse. |
| Sparta
miss Mendes da Silva against Feyenoord |
29 Nov 2000
|
| Sparta
will have to miss David Mendes da Silva in tonight's Rotterdam derby with
Feyenoord. He has been selected to play for the Dutch Under 18s against
Germany tomorrow and Sparta's request to the Dutch FA that he be allowed
to play in tonight's premier division duel has been rejected. |
| Nieuwenburg
returns to Sparta |
28 Nov 2000
|
| After
being bought by Ajax from Sparta in the summer for 3.6 million Euros
defender John Nieuwenburg is to return to Rotterdam. He never secured a
place in the first team, playing in only 2 games compared with 22 at
Sparta last season He made his debut at Sparta in the 1996'97 season after
coming up through their youth scheme.. |
| AZ
draw with Sparta 1 - 1 |
25 Nov 2000
|
| Last
season AZ won 4 - 0 at home and 6-3 in Rotterdam so they had reason
enough to feel a little confident going into this match. The game began
promisingly - Nelisse had a couple of great chances for AZ in theng
minutes, teammate Ali Elkhattabi had his moments for Sparta too. He even
'scored' a goal in the 16th only to have it disallowed. Barry Opdam hit
the bar for AZ and Henk Timmer's fingertips saved Spartan Sylvian Inia's
freekick. The referee decided to lend fate a hand by giving Boukhari his
2nd yellow card just before half time. Even after Sparta were reduced to
10 men the home team made hard going of the match. After 20 minutes of the
2nd half Nelisse put AZ ahead from the spot after being awarded a penalty.
Sparta didn't give up and threw everyone into attack, Marbus scoring an
equalizer in the 79th minute. 35 year-old John Bosman came on for AZ to
make his 500th professional appearance and gave his team a little extra.
In the 82nd he hit wood with a header while earlier also being close - but
almost was not enough to put a point on the scoreboard. It was to be 1 -
1. |
| Elkhatabbi
and Boukhari wanted by Morocco |
18 Nov 2000
|
| The
Moroccan FA has invited Sparta's Ali Elkhattabi and Nourdin Boukhari to
join the national squad. There is little chance of them doing so - Elkhattabi has
only seen action as a substitute and is unwilling to go if he doesn't
start in the team and Boukhari still has to think about it. |
| NEC
through in FA Cup 3 - 1 against Sparta |
17 Nov 2000
|
| After
last Sunday's 2-0 defeat at the hands of NEC Sparta may have been hoping
for revenge. It was not to be - within 10 minutes they were already 2
goals down - Mike Zonneveld and Patrick Ax the scorers. Sparta's only
saving grace was Ali Elkhattabi who impressed throughout the match with
his ball skills and manoeuverability. It was his constant ability to find
space which led to Sparta's only goal. He can turn on a Euro and did so,
firing a shot which hit the post and rebounded to be smartly put away by
Langerak. The game was pretty uninspiring apart from these displays of
talent and took place in a rather empty stadium. It seems that a cup match
doesn't generate the excitement it used to. Hristov scored a 3rd in the
dying minutes of the game to seal Sparta's cup fate - they can now
concentrate on the league. |
| Sparta
lose to NEC 0 - 2 |
12 Nov 2000
|
| NEC
remain the only unbeaten team in the Premier Division this season after
Feyenoord's defeat by Vitesse. This was only the 3rd time in 24 meetings
that NEC had managed an away win at "The Castle" (Het Kasteel),
the others being in 1968 (0-3) and 1989(0-2). Under trainer Johan Neeskens
they are enjoying a new lease of life and are sitting comfortably in 4th
place. Former international Bart
Latuherud the score in the 27th minute, continuing his good form of
the last few weeks. He was the engine in midfield feeding ball after ball
to Hristov and George de Gier up front. The match was also a meeting
between the division's top scorers Gorgi Hristov and Ali Elkhatabbi.
Hristov scored in the 60th
to take his total to 11 this season and draw level with Elkhatabbi who had
more scoring chances but didn't get one in. Sparta remain too dependent on
the Moroccan's goal scoring talents which is why they are still too close
to the relegation zone for comfort. |
| Utrecht
and Sparta draw 1 - 1 |
05 Nov 2000
|
| In
an uninspiring match the only highlights were the goals. Igor Gluscevic
scored for the home team in the 60th minute. Ali Elkhattabi scored a most
spectacular goal for the visitors in the 81st, snatching Nielsen's pass
out of the air and slamming it away for his 11th of the season. He is now
top scorer. |
| Tired
Heerenveen draw with Sparta 1-1 |
02 Nov 2000
|
| Tired,
and missing too many players through injury, Heerenveen began the match
aggressively and had chances to score through Krstev, Talan and, in
particular, the tireless veteran Harris Huizingh. All failed to deliver
the quality of finishing necessary to see the ball hit the back of the
net. Their fans were nonetheless rewarded with a goal by Anthony
Lurling in the 25th minute after several defensive errors by Sparta.
Minutes later Sparta defender Marilia practically gave them another when
he almost scored an own goal. After that Heerenveen started to run out of
steam as errors in midfield crept in. Their wingers Lurling and Nurmela
saw little of the ball and Sparta began to smell blood. Langerak had the
best of their chances but wasn't sharp enough to capitalise on a mistake
in Sparta's defence and Boukhari had a goal dissallowed. The 2nd half was
more of the same - Sparta's goalie Kooiman kept out Lurling's shot after a
run down the left and Elkhattabi was denied a goal by the home side's Hans
Vonk in goal. He now shares top goal scoring honours with NEC's Hristov
(both have 10). Langerak headed in the equalizer for Sparta in the 80th
minute. Heerenveen have now dropped to 10th place and Sparta have climbed
a little further out of the danger zone. |
| Sparta
- Roda JC 2 - 2 |
19 Aug 2000
|
| The
new season kicked off yesterday with Sparta - Roda JC holding each other
to a 2 - 2 draw. Roda JC saw centre forward Bob Peeters
leave for Vitesse a few days before the start of the season but have
found a more than adequate replacement in the Greek player Ioannis
Anastasiou. The new Roda playerd the score in the 16th minute
and was unlucky to miss his second goal of the game a little later on.
Another player to make a good impression was Sparta's Ali Elkhatabbi.The
Moroccan player not only scored both of Sparta's goal, his second a
cracker, but was also a constant threat to Roda's defence. |
| |
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