No fewer than 2 players from the amateur club NEO from Borne were part of the Dutch national team in the EM classification match against Gibraltar last Monday evening, March 27.
Mats Wieffer and Wout Weghorst both grew up in Borne and both had their first training at NEO (Nomen Est Omen) in Borne. Matts Wieffer was already included in the youth selection of FcTwente at the age of 12, Wout Weghorst still played in the1st team of NEO and only made a follow-up step in his soccer career at the age of 18.
For both players, it was only through their own conviction and willpower that they were able to bring their talent to the highest level of soccer. Mats Wieffer was thought to be too light for thefirst team at FcTwente, but his belief in his own abilities has now made him an important force in the Feijenoord team, which leads the league and is on its way to the national championship. Wout Weghorst has now found his way to a starting place at Manchester United after intermediate steps at Heracles Almelo, Alkmaar-Zaanstreek (AZ67) and VFL Wolfsburg, among others. And that while many initially thought that professional soccer would probably be too high for Wout.
In NEO’s cafeteria hangs a large wall-covering photo of Wout Weghorst with his motto: “To want is to be able.” Besides the shirts of Weghorst and Wieffer, you can also find in the clubhouse the shirt of Niels Oude Kamphuis, one-time international, played for years for FcTwente and Schalcke04 and also from NEO’s youth.
Both Mats Wieffer and Wout Weghorst still regularly visit NEO’s sports park when they have the opportunity to do so.
According to former NEO board member Gerard Schwering in Borne nobody will claim to have had a share in the success of these 2 players. They did it all by themselves.