There’s a good chance you’ve seen this Netherlands fan in the stands, cheering on his team. He wears a modified military/sombrero type hat, a red, white and blue striped bowtie, and a jacket adorned with pins. All oranje, of course. The man’s also been known to hoist his replica World Cup trophy when the camera pans to him.
Turns out that Winifried Witjes, a shop manager from Elst, is more or less the biggest Netherlands supporter in the world. He follows his team from tournament to friendly, and estimates that, since 1988, he’s attended 80% of their games.
On Saturday night, after Netherlands beat Brazil 3-0 to claim their third place medal, Robin van Persie rewarded Witjes for his dedication and love of the national team. The striker strode toward the crowd, pointing straight at Witjes. He then handed the superfan his captain’s armband -- and was rewarded with a kiss on the hand from van Persie.
Watch -- it will make your heart melt just a little:
Awww. That man’s evening was made. Or quite possibly his life. Witjes didn’t get to witness his beloved team lift the World Cup, but he did have his devotion rewarded in an extremely touching manner. Well done, Robin.