Belgian Youth coach, Hendrik Swerten, has praised Nigerian striker, Cyriel Dessers, whose heroics helped Feyenoord overcome Olympique Marseille in the semi-final first leg of the Europa Conference League.

Feyenoord defeated Marseille 3-2 at De Kuip on Thursday with Dessers scoring a brace to take his tally to 10 goals in the competition this season.

Swerten who coached Dessers at the age of eight at De Zwaluw Vechmaal spoke highly of the Nigerian’s talent and mentality in an interview with
Rtlnieuws.nl.

“It was fun again last night,” Swerten told Rtlnieuws.nl

“His touch and play (at age eight) were already of an incredibly high level, he still has the talent.

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Swerten recalls that the forward was set back at a certain level when his trainers thought that at 15 he wasn’t good enough.

Swerten added: “And now look, he fought back and showed how strong his character is.

“I stood behind him during that difficult period. When he signed his first professional contract at Lokeren a few years later, he sent a message ‘thank you for always believing in me.”

Swerten had a text message exchange with Dessers after the Feyenoord-Marseille clash.

“Dessers on fire, what a pleasant evening – I sent to him, to which he replied ‘thank you Hendrik’, with a smiley face.

“Between all the messages he probably received, he still found the time to answer me, that also typifies him.”

Dessers has scored 118 goals from 42 appearances in all competitions for Feyenoord this season – 10 in the Europa Conference Leagie, six in the Eredivisie, one in the Champions League qualifiers and one in the KNVB Beker [domestic Cup]. He has also provided six assists so far this term.

By Toju Sote