‘Veendam 1894 has given me a home and a family’

The home ground of football club VV Wildervank, in Veendam, Groningen, is buzzing with excitement following a 1–0 victory over rivals Veendam 1894. Around 1,500 fans had watched as the derby was decided by a header from striker Lourens Huizing. After the match, winners and losers mingle amicably – most of the players from both teams have lived in Veendam all their lives. That is not the case for Basiru Jallow. The 20-year-old Gambian arrived in Veendam two years ago as an asylum seeker. 

‘I’m a bit disappointed by the defeat,’ he says with a wry smile. ‘The lads gave it their all. We’d expected to win because we’ve got the quality in the team.’ Following their elimination in the semi-finals of the third-tier play-offs, the season is over for Veendam 1894. For Basiru, it marks a milestone: against all odds, he has played for the club for two seasons. He feels at home with this team. 

For Basiru, football is more than just a sport. It’s a way of life. From the moment he arrived in the Netherlands after a long journey and a dangerous crossing of the Mediterranean, he was desperate for a chance to kick a ball about. As soon as he heard he was to be placed in an asylum seekers‘ centre in Veendam, he went online to look for a local football club. ’Veendam 1894 was the first result to come up.’ He sent a message to the club and was soon invited to his first training session. That filled him with a sense of excitement and anticipation. He was delighted to have been given the chance to show off his talent. 

Basiru wanted to start competing straight away, but he couldn’t afford the membership fee of 235 euros on his weekly allowance for basic necessities. However, luck was on his side, Basiru explains. ‘After a training session, I got talking to a friendly lady, to whom I explained my situation. She offered to pay for my membership. That meant I could join. It felt as though a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders.’

The next challenge was to secure a place in a team packed with talented players. Basiru sees himself as a deep-lying midfielder who is good at tackling, heading and winning 50-50 challenges. He has since developed into a versatile player. Thanks to coach Armand Mac Andrew, he was promoted from the youth team to the first team. Mac Andrew, a Suriname-born former professional footballer who played professional football for BV Veendam until 2006, proved to be an ideal mentor. ‘I can now play as both a left-back and a right-back, and you can field me anywhere in midfield. The only positions I’m not suited to are goalkeeper and striker.’ 

Of inestimable value

Basiru says he owes his versatility to the coach’s faith in him: he is allowed to play any role, as long as it benefits the team. His ability to grasp things quickly and adapt has helped him develop both on and off the pitch. ‘Basiru is a great lad, and we’re delighted to have him here,’ says Mac Andrew. ‘He’s doing well. We want to keep him for as long as possible.’ 

Twice a week, Basiru cycles 3 kilometres to the Henk Nienhuis Stadium for three-hour training sessions. The time he spends with the team gives him a sense of home far from his native Gambia, which he fled for fear of violence and persecution. He has now made friends, gained fans and found a family, he says. For him, football has been invaluable in helping him integrate. ‘I speak a bit of Dutch now and I’m getting better every day. The lads usually invite me out for a drink, and sometimes the club organises meals before matches.’ 

Whilst strolling through the streets of Veendam, it becomes apparent that some residents recognise him and greet him warmly. Basiru loves it. It reminds him of 1 June 2026, when the Daily newspaper of the North praised him for an outstanding performance against Opende in the play-off quarter-finals. ‘They wrote that Veendam had a strong midfielder from The Gambia,’ he says. He shows a photo of that article on his mobile. 

Although Basiru is enjoying his time in Veendam, after a few unpleasant experiences he wonders whether he is fully accepted. He then tells himself that he must stay calm and not let his emotions get the better of him. ‘The most important thing for me is mutual respect and the ability to make the right decision, even if you feel, see or hear something you don’t like.’ According to regional broadcaster RTV1, the police received eighteen reports last year of discrimination on the grounds of origin and skin colour. 

In last year’s general election, the PVV – which has little sympathy for asylum seekers – became by far the largest party in Veendam. Basiru says he pays no attention to what goes on in the House of Representatives. ‘I don’t follow politics, although I have heard of Geert Wilders. At the moment, I feel loved and I ignore the negative energy. People on the street call me Basi, and most of them seem happy to see me.’ 

His asylum application has now been ongoing for two years. To have any chance of a career in football, Basiru must first be granted refugee status. The COA staff at his asylum centre are supporting him and encouraging him to keep working hard. ‘They keep saying they’ve seen me on Facebook or in the newspaper and that I’m a good role model at the reception centre.’ Basiru feels both close to and yet far removed from the life he envisages once he has found a safe place. He hopes that football will pave the way for a promising future.