Mohamed Ihattaren showcased his talent on Saturday night as he made his debut for RKC Waalwijk against Fortuna Sittard. This match marked the first time the midfielder had started alongside his team this season, and he played a pivotal role leading up to their late comeback, which resulted in a nail-biting 3-2 finish.
Ihattaren remained on the field for the full 90 minutes and was instrumental during the game. His standout moment came when, during the 66th minute, he expertly maneuvered past three defenders, including delivering an impressive panna on Samuel Bastien. He then quickly moved to assist his teammate Richonell Margaret, who provided the cross for Oskar Zawada's goal, narrowing the score from 3-0 to 3-2.
The game had started off poorly for RKC Waalwijk, as they found themselves significantly behind after Fortuna Sittard scored three goals within the first half. They saw goals from Alessio Da Cruz, Kristoffer Peterson, and Ezequiel Bullaude at the 19th, 30th, and 34th minutes respectively, making for what looked like a devastating defeat. But the team began to turn the tide, and Zawada's goal just before the halftime break sparked hope for the visitors.
Commentator Sjors Blaauw from ESPN remarked on Ihattaren’s display saying, "Daar toonde Mo Ihattaren even zijn klasse. Dit is echt geweldig gedaan," meaning he really showed his class. This praise clearly illustrated the expectations surrounding him, especially after almost four years since he last started a match.
After the game, Ihattaren expressed his surprise and delight at his performance. He revealed to the cameras, "Ik sta er zelf ook versteld van. […] Voor mijn doen heb ik alles gegeven. Ik ben blij met die statistieken en met wat leuke acties. Maar de drie punten zijn belangrijker en het is jammer dat die niet mee naar Waalwijk gaan." His sentiment highlights the mix of personal accomplishment against the frustration of not securing points for the team.
Adding to his impressive performance, Ihattaren covered the most ground of any player on the pitch, running 11.7 kilometers. He humorously remarked on his performance, "Ik sta er zelf ook versteld van, 11,7 kilometer is veel hè?" indicating he was taken aback by the distance he managed.
Ihattaren’s road back to the pitch has not been without its detours. The 22-year-old has been on the move through several clubs over the past years, including time with PSV, Juventus, and Sampdoria. Each time, challenges have led to him departing, making his recent return with RKC Waalwijk all the more special as he aims to revive his career.
Despite RKC’s current position at the bottom of the Eredivisie, Ihattaren exuded confidence when discussing the team's potential moving forward. He concluded, "Ik ben hier om punten te pakken en RKC erin te houden. Daar heb ik nog steeds alle vertrouwen in," expressing his commitment to the club's goals this season and belief in their ability to turn things around.
This debut game represented not only skill and determination from Ihattaren but also the groundwork for his hopes as he attempts to regain his former prowess on the field. Fans of RKC Waalwijk will undoubtedly be watching closely to see how this resurgence develops, especially after witnessing what he could achieve when his talent shines through on the pitch.
