(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Henk Seppen)
 Amsterdam Pirates discharges 3B Coach Jaarsma of duties after approach by Neptunus
Nederlands
 AMSTERDAM (Neth.) -
Less than a week before the start of the Holland Series, L&D Amsterdam Pirates has discharged 3B Coach Ronald Jaarsma of his duties, effective immediately, the club announced in a press release on Tuesday (September 20).
The reason for this unexpected decision is the fact that Jaarsma has been approached by reigning champion Curaçao Neptunus to coach the Rotterdam-squad next season and has agreed to do so.
It was not immediately known what coaching position Jaarsma will get with Neptunus.
However, on Monday, Neptunus announced that it will end the cooperation with its Head Coach Evert-Jan 't Hoen after the current season.
With that, Jaarsma might become his successor.
In its announcement, Neptunus states that it will start filling in its coaching-staff for next year after conclusion of the season.
Article on the separation between Neptunus and 't Hoen
As Neptunus is the opponent in the upcoming best-of-seven Championship Final, the Board of Amsterdam Pirates decided to 'give Jaarsma a honorable relief of his duties, effective immediately'.
In a press release on Tuesday, Amsterdam Pirates states:
,,It has become clear that the Board of Neptunus has approached Ronald Jaarsma just before the start of the decisive game of Amsterdam Pirates against Neptunus during the Play-Offs for a position in the coaching staff of Curaçao Neptunus.
Without our knowledge, more talks have followed in the following weeks.
Recently, Ronald Jaarsma informed the Board of Amsterdam Pirates that he had accepted the offer.''
The press release continues:
,,The Board of Amsterdam Pirates is unpleasantly surprised by the decision of Neptunus to approach and come to an agreement with Ronald Jaarsma during the current season.
It is an unwritten rule that no transfer-talks are started or completed during the Play-Offs and Holland Series.
Especially when both teams still have to play important games (Play-Offs and Holland Series) against each other.
This action of Neptunus is in our view respectless and unsportsmanlike.''
In the press release, Amsterdam Pirates' Chairman Gerard van Tiggelen continues on behalf of the Board:
,,Amsterdam Pirates has had a fantastic cooperation with Ronald Jaarsma for four years.
Also due to his knowledge, enthusiasm and efforts, L&D Amsterdam this year won the European Cup and again plays for the Dutch Championship.
With pain in our hearts, we respect his decision, but we regret that Ronald now has come in a sticky situation.
With the coming Holland Series approaching, we have decided to relief Ronald Jaarsma honorably, but effective immediately, of his duties as Assistant Coach of L&D Amsterdam.''
The press release closes with the sentence ''that the Board of Amsterdam Pirates for the moment will limit the relation and communication with Neptunus to a necessary minimum.''
...Ronald Jaarsma with Amsterdam...
...Head Coach Charles Urbanus...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Last Saturday, Amsterdam Pirates played a game in Deurne (Belgium) to prepare itself for the Holland Series, which opens next Saturday (September 24) in Rotterdam.
The second game the next day also will be played in Rotterdam.
The Series then shifts to Amsterdam for the next three games, starting on Thursday, September 29.
Ronald Jaarsma played in the Dutch big league mostly for HCAW, but also played for Neptunus.
After having started his career with HCAW, he played for Tridents (then the second team of Neptunus) in 1993-1994, but returned to HCAW, where he played in its second team in 1995.
Hereafter, he went back to Rotterdam, again played for Tridents, but also made his debut in the big league-team.
Jaarsma then played for Neptunus in 1997-1998 and was on the roster for the 1999 season, but left the team in the first month and returned again tot HCAW, where he finished the season.
Jaarsma continued playing for HCAW and retired after the 2008 season.
He then became the 3B Coach of the Bussum-squad the next season.
During the 2011 season, Jaarsma took over as interim Head Coach.
After not having coached in 2012, he became the 3B Coach of Sidney de Jong, who was named Head Coach of Amsterdam Pirates for the 2013 season.
When current Amsterdam Head Coach Charles Urbanus took over the team in 2014, Jaarsma stayed in his staff as his 3B Coach.
This season, Jaarsma was to be the Head Coach of Amsterdam Baseball, which was scheduled to play in the European League Baseball, but Amsterdam Pirates withdraw its coaches and players from the league early May.
(September 20)
|
