A new season, a new name, a new coach and a new league, so many novelties at the start of the league.
A new name.
O<12 this season, so no more D2. Like the countries around us, PSV's youth teams will henceforth be referred to by age.
A new trainer.
Kevin Hofland is the new trainer of PSV O<12. As a former player of Fortuna Sittard, PSV and Feyenoord, among others, Kevin knows exactly what it takes to reach the top, so the players of PSV O<12 will gratefully make use of Kevin's experience. And what could be better for a player to learn the tricks of the trade from a former player. Showing a good attitude, playing well-kept football and above all enjoying the game are the words that keep coming up in every discussion of the trainer. So the players know what is expected of them in the coming season.
A new competition.
Previously, the D2 was always classified in a league with mainly D1 teams from amateur clubs and a few BVO. Starting this season, an O<12 league has been created with only BVOs. A closed BVO O<12 competition as stated in the description of the KNVB. The league consists of 2 groups, 1 from the north and 1 from the south. After the winter break the top teams and the bottom teams will be split into 2 national groups.

Today the competition started. Excelsior Rotterdam was the opponent. Because there was another match going on, the match started 15 minutes late, but the boys had no trouble at all given the start of the match. Immediately they started to play the ball well, the free man was found well, the free space was found well, everything went exactly as it should from minute 1.
After playing the ball around well the team found the right moment to look for depth, Martijn was able to reach Joep with a good pass who coolly finished off the ball 0-1, within 1 minute 0-1 this promised a lot for the rest of the match.
After the opening goal, PSV kept playing well, the ball stayed in the team and they created some small chances. In the 6th minute Excelsior threatened for the first time, a free kick from about 25 meters was perfectly caught by Kevin.
By putting good pressure PSV earned a corner in the 11th minute, from this corner Jesse managed to score with a perfect header, 0-2.
Still PSV continued to play good positional play, put good pressure and put up a lot of fight. Excelsior still did not get a chance. After another corner in the 18th minute, Joris kept the best watch and was able to score after a scrimmage in front of the goal, 0-3.
After the 0-3 the play became less, they used the long ball more often and played too much in the rush and not in the spaces. Excelsiors only achievements were a few free kicks but these were all easy balls for Kevin the goalkeeper in the 1st half.

The 2nd half showed a more equal battle, the football was significantly less, too much was played the long ball, or stayed too long in the too small space, and did not look for openings on the sides. Excelsior managed to score once in the 33 minute but was otherwise not really dangerous, and if they got out it was usually a PSV mistake. A 1-3 win away at Excelsior is a nice start to the league. A game with 2 different halves but a good result. And still a lot of learning moments which the coach will certainly be able to use. Next week the home game against Helmond Sport awaits and they will have to show again that the good play is improving.