Family Stadium in Rotterdam with Farewell to Loek van Mil

by Pim van Nes

Play-off game 1 Curacao Neptunus Rotterdam vs Meerlease Pioniers Hoofddorp was opened with the line-ups caps off in respect of late Loek van Mil, closer for both Neptunus and Netherlands national team. Home team board presided by Mr Frans van Aalen thanked the player, who passed away last Sunday, for his important contributions as relief pitcher clinching four national championships and three European championships for club teams. The speech in the stadium also referred to Van Mil’s professional career in USA, Japan and Australia. His clubs Neptunus Rotterdam and Bandits Brisbane are defending champions in the Netherlands and in Australia.

During the minute of silence in Familie Stadium, an aeroplane took off from Rotterdam airport Zestienhoven rising alongside the stadium up to the sky fading away in some clouds. After the silence, fans of both clubs applauded Loek van Mil and the stadium announcer for the last time aired Loek van Mil’s walk up song: Breathe by The Prodigy.

Video by RTV Rijnmond: