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[ View the Fotopage entry | View the complete Fotopage ]
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[ View the Fotopage entry | View the complete Fotopage ]
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| Wednesday, 26-Jul-2006 12:00 |
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Thank you and Good bye
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"We've got Dennis Bergkamp"
Saturday July 22nd 2006 11:55 pm Live on Astro Supersport Channel 80. The Dennis Bergkamp testimonial match between Arsenal and Ajax Amsterdam in their new homeground, the Emirates Stadium.
The end of the Flying Dutch's career, but the beginning of a new era for Arsenal. The new stadium in Ashburton Grove will benefit the Gunners more in the future.
The environment in the Emirates Stadium was superb and fantastic, as 54,000 fans, who came from as far as Holland, gathered up to bid farewell to the Dutch Master. Special made t-shirt written DB10 and Iceman was made for everybody, as the form a sea of reds, whites and oranges around the stadium.
A small ceremony were held before the kick-off. Dennis Bergkamp's father was given the honor to kick-start the game.
The first half match was uneventful. A bunch of Arsenal youngsters take on a bunch of unfamiliar Ajax's players. Bugger. 31st minutes, Arsene Wenger took Dennis Bergkamp off the pitch to be replaced by I don't remember who. Double bugger. 37th minutes, Ajax scored the first goal. The first goal in Arsenal's new stadium was scored not by an Arsenal player. Tripple bugger.
Before I believe the game will be as dull as England's World Cup campaign, the surprises came in. The host announced the line-up for Ajax legends. Came in among them were Van der Sar, Wim Jonk, the de Boer brothers, Aaron Winter and Edgar Davids. Even Frank Rijkaard the Barcelona's coach played too. Man I guess this guy must be so good that many old school stars willing to come and pay homage to him.
But I was kinda suprise to see Van der Sar was there. He was supposed to be on a vacation after the World Cup campaign, and if it is not that, his team Man Utd got a friendly tournament in South Africa. Astro even showed a live telecast of the match before this testimonial match. Still he came to London to pay tribute to the Iceman. Salute you man.
Then the best thing came up. The host announced one by one, the line-up for Arsenal legends. Came in David Seaman, The Fantastic Five Lee Dixon, Nigel Winterburn, Steve Bould and Martin Keown, Gilles Grimandi, Marc Overmars, Emmanuel Petit, Edu, Ray Parlour, Thierry "King" Henry who came off his vacation just for this moment, Oleg Luzhny, Giovanni van Bronckhorst of Barcelona, Alex Manninger, Patrick Vieira of Juventus and recently goes to Inter, Glenn Helder, Kanu, and the legendary Ian Wright, whose record was just broken by Henry in the last league campaign.
I was like Holyyyy Shitteee!!! Jumping around in cheers and clapping my hands to see those legends came to play. Every players wore their old numbers during their time in Arsenal. Even better when Henry scored the equalizer. The first Arsenal player to score in the new stadium ever is also a legend-in-made, Thierry Henry.
I thought that was just it, but then I jumped again in cheers. More surprises came in!! The Holland legends Johann Cryuff and Marco Van Basten came as a late substitues!! Holyyyy Shittteeee!!! Johann Cryuff is a 59 years old dude, and he looks a bit slow, but man he still got some skills. And you know what, Van Basten nearly scored a nice goal! He flipped the ball over Steve Bould's head and gave a left foot volley, causing Alex Manninger to stretch out to save the ball.
Kanu scored another goal. Everybody now didn't care wether Arsenal will win or not, as long as Bergkamp score. Henry tried hard to open chances for Bergkamp, and it came in the last minutes where Bergkamp was just one on one with the goalkeeper but the goalkeeper managed to save it. Bugger!
Finally the referee blowed the final whistle. The match was fantastic, but it is even better if Bergkamp scored. And it will be perfect if Tony Adams and Robert Pires were also there.
After the final whistle, Bergkamp received a final presentation from the Arsenal chairman. He said a few words to the crowd, and did a lap of honor. I could see how hard he tried to hold on his tears. It was a very touching moment. The fan sang and cried out Dennis Bergkamp's name. Bergkamp! Bergkamp! Bergkamp! can be heared all over the stadium. He was then lifted on the shoulders of the Legends.
With that, the legend careers ends. No more chants of "We've got Dennis Bergkamp" around the stadium. After 11 years, 420 games, 120 goals, some of them were the best yet ever scored, and millions of memories, the time has come for the Dutch Master to hang up his boots.
Some players give inspiration, some bring admiration, and a few can provide both. And Dennis Bergkamp was one of them. His developed his skills at Ajax before moved on to Inter, but his best years will always belong to Arsenal.
I fell in love with the Gunners because of him. And now, he wanted to go. Thank you Bergkamp, for all the memories, and good bye.
We sure will miss you.
Adios.
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