Joey Didulica's championship fever
Monday 09 March 2009
Match winner Kew Jaliens had one
dash left in his lungs after the final whistle. He used
it to rush over to goal keeper Joey Didulica, and give
him a big cuddle.
After Jaliens Maarten Martens also
sprinted the length of the pitch to get to the goal
keeper.
The outburst of joy surrounding
the Australian formed the end of four dramatic days.
The Cup elimination against NAC,
Romero breaking his hand and the unexpected return of
Didulica who hadn't played a league game in 2½
years.
It were testing days for the entire
Alkmaar team.
But the 21st victory of the season
didn't only prove that AZ can take a knock it was also
a giant leap towards the second league title for the
club.
Where chasers FC Twente and Ajax
dropped points AZ took the full load thanks to Didulica
and Jaliens.
Jaliens, the most modest of AZ's
players, was happier for Didulica than he was with his
own winning goal.
"This was a laden game for
us," Jaliens said.
"When you then manage to keep
a clean sheet you achieve something big at an important
point in time. I am so happy for Joey."
For Martens there was the fact
that he and Didulica spent most of last season in the
sickbay and the fitness room.
"We both out with injuries
for a long time," Martens says.
"I know how much he had to
do to fight back. And once he was fit he was told that
he wouldn't be the first choice."
Didulica knows the tough laws of
life at the top.
Yesterday he said that he understood
the decision Louis van Gaal made at the start of the
season: "Sergio has turned out to be a great goal
keeper."
The fact that his first phone call
in the catacombs of the NEC stadium was to Romero says
it all.
Didulica: "There is the language
barrier between us. He doesn't speak English and I don't
speak Spanish. We share 20 words between us. What I
told him? That as a goal keeper it's better to hit your
head against the wall than your hand."
It was a bit of black humor.
The Australian got seriously injured
to the head in 2006 when his compatriot Jason Culina
hit him with a blasting shot.
After a long period of recovery
he played with a protective helmet just like Chelsea
keeper Petr Cech still does.
Didulica played with just a cap
on yesterday.
During the poor game in Nijmegen
he was a beacon of calmness in the Alkmaar defense as
Jaliens in front of him took to Greek-roman wrestling
for 90 minutes with NEC forward Jhonny van Beukering,
winning each corner kick on 'wazari'.
After Jaliens had put his team
ahead with a firm header the pressure on Didulica's
goal mounted.
But the Australian, tall as a tree,
didn't give way.
With a formidable save near the
first post, ten minutes from the end, he secured three
points for his team.
For coach Van Gaal Didulica's performance
was a reason to make him a big compliment, just as keeper
trainer Jan Nederburgh had done before him.
"Especially mentally he did
exceptionally well. Of course he had to prove what he's
worth today. He's a much different keeper than Sergio
is. Joey coaches more, as he speaks the language better
and has more experience. That is why I wasn't worried
about him at all."
Didulica thinks is fantastic that
after all his physical trouble and disappointments he
now has the chance t win some silverware with AZ.
Romero started the campaign and
the man who's career began 12 years ago at the Melbourne
Knights will finish the race.
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