Feb 15, 2010 | Amsterdam Nuon announces ball boys and girls for Dutch national football team
The names of the official Nuon ball boys and girls have been announced. Last weekend 1200 boys and girls from across the country battled it out for the much sought-after places on the touchline at matches of the Dutch national football team. That dream will soon come true for 42 lucky youngsters aged between 12 and 16. Assistant national coach Frank de Boer saw to it personally that the best ball boys and girls were selected.
The finals weekend took place on 13 and 14 February at the KNVB complex in Zeist. Assistant national coach Frank de Boer and former internationals such as Aron Winter were present to coach the boys and girls and to select the lucky winners. By doing exercises such as a dribbling track and a five-a-side match the boys and girls were able to show what they can do.
"The Nuon ball boys and girls can help the Dutch national team to prepare properly for the World Cup," says Frank de Boer. "I saw a lot of talent today, so it won’t be the fault of those youngsters."
Persistence and teamwork
The Nuon ball boys and girls are selected on the basis of their enthusiasm, perseverance and sporting insight. The main selection criterion of former international Aron Winter was that the youngsters were able to work with one another. "Two balls on the pitch at the same time is distracted for the players, so the ball boys and girls have to pay attention to each other," says Aron.
Another three matches
This year the Dutch eleven will play three more home matches in the run-in to the football World Cup. During the each of those matches, against the United States, Ghana and Hungary, 14 ball boys and girls will have the vital task of helping the Dutch national team to prepare properly for the championship in South Africa.
The youngsters selected as official Nuon ball boys and girls are:
| Name | Residence | Age |
| Eva Klomp | Drouwen | 13 |
| Elleke Snippe | Hollandscheveld | 14 |
| Marc Hoiting | Westerbork | 13 |
| Ryan Wolters | Nieuw-Amsterdam | 15 |
| Arjen Bergsma | Joure | 13 |
| Fleur Schrijver | Sneek | 12 |
| Anouk Louwrink | Apeldoorn | 13 |
| Nick Holleman | Huissen | 14 |
| Steffan Spaanstra | Apeldoorn | 12 |
| Tijn Jellema | Beuningen | 12 |
| Erwin Siekman | Groningen | 15 |
| Revelinho Sille | Groningen | 15 |
| Daan van Looijen | Venlo | 12 |
| Jeremy Cahn | Maasbree | 12 |
| Ken Gommans | Buggenum | 13 |
| Coen van Langen | Sint Oedenrode | 13 |
| Jordi Verhagen | Heesch | 13 |
| Karim Hassan | Dinteloord | 13 |
| Laura Scheepens | Eindhoven | 15 |
| Roos Fransdonk | Uden | 12 |
| Sven Moerland | Willemstad | 12 |
| Bas Lefferts | Uithoorn | 16 |
| Bram Zwaan | Bovenkarspel | 13 |
| Douwe Schermer | Wormer | 13 |
| Harm Westers | Hilversum | 12 |
| Marvin Ubels | Haarlem | 15 |
| Melle de Ruiter | Aalsmeer | 14 |
| Nick Albers | Uithoorn | 12 |
| Nick Verschut | Uithoorn | 13 |
| Thomas van Scheppingen | Uithoorn | 12 |
| Patrick Engelmoer | Amstelveen | 13 |
| Jelle Landman | Zwolle | 12 |
| Joris Post | Amersfoort | 12 |
| Jeska de Ruiter | Hooglanderveen | 13 |
| Michael Wilhelm | Vinkeveen | 15 |
| Michael van Oort | Nieuwegein | 13 |
| Sander Nell | Amerongen | 12 |
| Scott de Wit | Maarssen | 15 |
| Vincent Wilhelm | Vinkeveen | 14 |
| Wouter Meeles | Driebergen | 12 |
| Jonathan Velasco Ramirez | Tholen | 14 |
| Justin van Rijswijk | Den Haag | 12 |
Nuon and the KNVB
Nuon sponsors the KNVB and therefore also the Dutch national team. This year Nuon has selected the official Nuon ball boys and girls for the Dutch national team for the fifth year in succession.
About Nuon
Nuon is an energy company whose 6,000 employees serve around three million consumers, businesses and organisations in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Its key commitment is to supply energy that is reliable, affordable and as clean as possible. Nuon produces and supplies gas, electricity, heat and natural cooling and helps customers to reduce their energy use. The company operates as Business Group Benelux of the Vattenfall Group.
More information
Nuon Press Office
E-mail: pressoffice@nuon.com
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nuonballenjongens/
Videos: http://www.youtube.com/ballenjongens