Indonesian national team goalkeeper Maarten Paes recently marked a significant milestone, making his debut for Dutch giants Ajax in the prestigious Eredivisie. The highly anticipated appearance took place on Sunday, February 22, during a challenging fixture against NEC Nijmegen in the early hours WIB.
Paes delivered a truly commendable performance during his inaugural outing, showcasing his capabilities between the sticks. According to statistics compiled by Fotmob, the 27-year-old goalkeeper was instrumental, pulling off an impressive seven crucial saves throughout the match, a testament to his sharp reflexes and commanding presence.
Following the intense encounter, Paes shared his sentiments, expressing a mix of delight and candid self-assessment regarding his debut. While thrilled to finally don the Ajax jersey in a competitive league match, he openly admitted to committing a few minor errors during the game.
“Yes, personally, everything went quite well for me,” Paes stated, as quoted by the club’s official website. He continued, acknowledging the slight imperfections in his play, “Indeed, I made some small mistakes when controlling the ball.”
Despite these minor blips, Paes emphasized his composure under pressure, drawing on his professional journey. “However, with the experience and journey I have been through, I try to remain as calm as possible,” he explained. “Especially since I was truly thrown directly into a very challenging situation, which tested my resolve.”
Unfortunately for Ajax, Paes’s individual brilliance was not enough to secure a victory on the day. The Amsterdam club initially took the lead in the 39th minute through Godts. However, NEC Nijmegen mounted a comeback, finding an equalizer in the 57th minute courtesy of Nejasmic, ultimately leading to a drawn match for the Eredivisie contenders.
Summary
Indonesian national team goalkeeper Maarten Paes made his Eredivisie debut for Ajax on Sunday, February 22, against NEC Nijmegen. He delivered a commendable performance, executing seven crucial saves throughout the match. Although delighted, Paes candidly admitted to making some minor errors in ball control during his inaugural outing.
Despite these imperfections, Paes maintained composure under pressure, relying on his professional experience, especially when facing a very challenging situation. Unfortunately, Paes’s individual brilliance was not enough to secure a victory for Ajax, as the game ultimately ended in a draw after NEC Nijmegen scored an equalizer.