 When he reached the A-level status in youth football he played in Feyenoord's A1 team on Saturdays and in Sportclub Feijenoord's (Feyenoord amateur side) team in the Hoofdklasse for about half a season.His time in the A1 team was a successful period and under manager Henk van Stee they became the Dutch national champions twice.They also won all international events they participated in.