Football professional Mark Verkuijl talks about his girlfriend’s death

In the light of the floodlights of the Johan‑Cruijff‑Stadium, the 20‑year‑old football professional Mark Verkuijl, midfielder for Ajax Amsterdam, stands silently. A year after the December death of his girlfriend Elisa, who was killed in a car accident, he speaks for the first time about the inner battle he has been fighting since.

Contract with the record champion

Verkuijl is under contract with the Dutch record champion Ajax Amsterdam. As a young professional, he has already made several appearances for the second team, Jong Ajax.

The loss of his girlfriend

Last year he suffered a tragedy when his 21‑year‑old girlfriend Elisa was hit by a car in December while she was jogging. A helicopter took her to the hospital, where she died from her injuries.

Four days after the accident, Elisa was honored with a minute of silence at a Jong Ajax match. Verkuijl placed a jersey with her name in the centre circle, but did not take part in the game himself.

After the most recent match against RKC Waalwijk, which was broadcast live, he expressed his feelings: “It is very hard for me to continue living my life,” he said. “You have to keep going, but I actually don’t want to.”

He emphasized that Elisa was not just “someone” to him, but the love of his life, and her loss has hit him deeply. “She would have really done anything for me. She was always there.”

Outside of football he does not feel well yet, but the sport gives him a distraction: “Through football I can occasionally clear my head and train with full intensity.”

His return only took place in April of this year after a longer break. Since then he has tried not to link the game with the loss, especially when RKC Waalwijk appears as an opponent.

“I have tried not to think about it, because it is difficult when RKC was the first match after my girlfriend’s death,” Verkuijl explained. “I focus on the game, but the memory remains.”