Joop Munsterman: It is a great tragedy; we are in shock – Dutch Eredivisie news
Part of De Grolsch Veste roof collapsed during renovation on Thursday, July 7, leaving 1 dead and 16 injured. Joop Munsterman, the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Twente-c39233 Enschede president, has revealed in a press conference that the club is in great shock after going through the tragic
incident.
De Grolsch Veste, home ground of FC Twente, was extended to a capacity of 24,000 in 2008. However, the club’s impressive performances coupled with an increase in the fan base in recent years tempted the Tukkers management to expand the stadium again, this
time to a capacity of 32,000 people.
Following the disaster yesterday, the Tukkers are in a state of shock. Munsterman refereed to the collapse as a tragic event and revealed that his side, who were training in New Zealand, are on their way back to Enschede.
“This usually happens in disaster movies. It is a great tragedy. It touches us deep in the heart and for us, therefore, it became impossible to continue the training camp. We have already decided to cancel the training match on Saturday and the entire team
is on the way back to Enschede”, Munsterman said while talking to the journalists.
In the season ended, The Tukkers finished second in the league table and therefore will play in the third qualifying round of UEFA Champions League. They would be hosting a match in either the last week of July or the first week of August. Munsterman revealed
that he is yet to think about the consequences of the disaster, and whether they would be allowed to host a match at De Grolsch Veste by UEFA.
“I have not thought about the possible consequences for hosting the preliminary round of Champions League at the end of July or early in August. We are so far only concerned about the victims and what we can do for them”, Munsterman concluded.
De Grolsch Veste will be hosting Champions League encounters in the upcoming season and the Tukkers would be hoping that the disaster does not affect their game hosting abilities.
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