The PSV Foundation, in cooperation with FC Robinstijn, has named a FAN of the Match every PSV home game since 1998. Due to the corona virus, this is not possible during the first half of the 2020-2021 season. A great opportunity to look back with a FAN of the Match from the past. This week: ten-year-old Marciano Smits.
Williams syndrome
For Marciano (on the right in the photo above), most things are not as natural as for other children his age. He has Williams syndrome, a condition that, among other things, makes him developmentally delayed. Mother Patricia says her son receives less attention because of his disability. Through an acquaintance, who is a volunteer at FC Robinstijn, the family learned about PSV's FAN of the Match. "That something like this exists is really wonderful," says Patricia.
Removing concerns
PSV - PEC Zwolle on April 4, 2019 was the big day for Marciano. As a PSV supporter, he always wanted to walk onto the Philips Stadium field once. The thought that it was going to happen that day did make the then nine-year-old Marciano nervous. Along with his older brother, he walked onto the field with Phoxy. Phoxy is one of Marciano's big heroes. That made it complete for him. Patricia saw how her son enjoyed everything that was happening to him, "As a family, you are almost always with worries. A day like this takes all that away for a while. Marciano still regularly looks back at photos from that day. That does us good."
Luuk de Jong
With a double, Luuk de Jong had an important part in the 4-0 victory that day. What De Jong also had a part in was making Marciano's day even better. Prior to the match, Marciano had one real dream: to meet Luuk de Jong. It happened! A meeting, a photo and a chat with the former PSV striker made the day complete for Marciano. The drawing Marciano had made for De Jong was warmly received. "After that meeting he had to shed a tear," Patricia says of her son.
The real experience
For the family, 'just going to the Philips Stadium' is out of the question. The family box in the PSV stadium is at a great height and for Marciano it is difficult to walk up all the stairs. He had been to a match before, but during this day he could really experience it all. One meeting with Phoxy and Luuk de Jong richer, Marciano still looks back with joy on the day when he was FAN of the Match and briefly took center stage. "It was in a word wonderful," concludes Patricia.
There is still a remote FAN of the Match. One of PSV'ers takes a specially made robot onto the field every home game when the team walks onto the field.