Van Persie’s speech lifts Givairo Read from Volendam to Feyenoord Kuip

Als a youth player, Givairo Read had to learn patience before his ascent from FC Volendam’s youth set‑up to a starting role at Feyenoord’s Kuip was delayed by a forgotten registration deadline but later propelled by Robin van Persie’s encouraging speech.

A photograph of Read in action for Jong FC Volendam was supplied by photographer Pim Ras.

Registration hurdle in 2022

In April 2022 the team manager of FC Volendam attempted to enter the young defender into the KNVB’s player registration system. An upcoming clash with Jong Ajax left the squad short of defenders, prompting the technical staff to consider promoting Read to the first team. Read had already impressed head coach Wim Jonk and several others at the Kras Stadium for months. Promotion required Read to be officially listed in the KNVB system, otherwise he could not appear on the digital match sheet.

Ruben Jongkind, then director of the academy, said the procedure was normally a simple task. He added that this time it failed. When Jongkind called the KNVB he was told Read could not be registered because he was too young to play professional football. The association said no dispensation could be granted. Jongkind remarked that allowing him would amount to child labour. At the time Read, from Amsterdam’s Holendrecht, was only fifteen years old. A KNVB spokesperson confirmed he was indeed too young under the rules then. In June 2025 the age limit was lowered from sixteen to fifteen.

Mentors and patience

Five years later Read, now twenty, is Feyenoord’s youngest regular starter and among the Eredivisie’s most valuable players. His rise was credited to a speech by Robin van Persie, according to his legal representative Bert van Dun. Until he turned twelve Read had to wait patiently for a chance to be scouted. Marciano Vink recalled that the eager youngster constantly begged to be noticed. Vink, then an analyst, had coached him at Zeeburgia’s F1 and E1 teams.

That Zeeburgia cohort, which also featured Vink’s son Skye, had won international tournaments against clubs such as Arsenal, Schalke 04 and Austria Wien. Although several teammates were scouted, Read was not; his over‑eagerness, Vink said, backfired. Vink later visited Read at his home in Amsterdam‑Zuidoost, where the player lives with his parents, older brother and twin sisters. He noted that he often made similar visits to other youngsters at the time. During a bedroom conversation Vink explained that Read was pushing himself too hard, after which the defender began to play more patiently.

From Volendam to the Kuip

At twelve Read finally received permission to join a professional club, and FC Volendam secured his services. He entered the Under‑13 side, which that season captured the KNVB Cup – a rare feat for the club. Cees Keizer, one of Read’s former youth coaches and now head of football development at FC Volendam, praised the mixed squad that combined early developers with later bloomers like Read. Within the club, Team Jonk, led by head coach Wim Jonk, sought to professionalise the academy and partnered with Don Bosco College, a secondary school designed to be top‑sport friendly.

Read attended the college, commuting from Amsterdam each day in a club‑provided van. Keizer added that extra morning training sessions often featured Read, who always arrived with a smile. In the spring of 2022, with a thin back line at Jong FC Volendam, Read’s name re‑emerged on the staff’s shortlist. He eventually made the move to Feyenoord, where he now stars at the historic Kuip.