FC Volendam currently sits 16th in the Eredivisie with 32 points, 8W‑8D‑18L, and recently fell 1‑2 to Willem II on 23‑05‑2026. In the season's first friendly, brothers Dion and Gerry Vlak faced off, with Gerry starting for RKAV Volendam and Dion guarding the net for FC Volendam in the second half.

Who played and what happened?

The match at the amateur club's ground attracted a decent crowd. Gerry Vlak, 30, featured as a midfielder for RKAV, while his brother Dion, 25, stood between the posts for the professional side. A hard collision with a teammate caused a shoulder injury for Dion, forcing him to leave the pitch shortly after. Gerry immediately checked on his brother, wondering about the injury.

Why does this matter for FC Volendam?

Dion Vlak is in his third spell with FC Volendam and currently serves as the backup keeper behind Roy Steur, partly due to the potential exit of Kayne van Oevelen. His frequent moves between amateur and professional levels label him a "Heen en Weer" player. An injury could affect his chances of becoming the first‑choice keeper, especially as the club battles for points in a precarious spot.

How did the new coach respond?

Erwin van de Looi, who just oversaw his first training session with the squad, saw his team win 3‑2. He described the match as mixed and stressed that no risks were taken with players like Kayne van Oevelen and Precious Ugwu, who were absent. Nordin Bukala and Yannick Leliendal did feature, indicating a broader rotation policy.

What does this mean for the future?

The sibling rivalry highlights the close bond between the Vlak brothers, but also the challenges Dion faces to prove himself as a potential first‑team keeper. With FC Volendam currently scoring 35 goals and conceding 55 (‑20 GD), any injury is a points‑draining event. The club must now focus on stability and leveraging squad depth to narrow the 52‑point gap behind leaders PSV Eindhoven.

FC Volendam continues to search for consistency in a season where recent form is 1W‑1D‑3L (LWLLD) and confidence is low. The coming weeks will be decisive for both the goalkeeper position and the overall team dynamics.