Lily Yohannes opens Cruyff Court in Holendrecht: "This is the kind of pitch where I learned Dutch"

Professional footballer Lily Yohannes has officially opened a new Cruyff Court in the Holendrecht neighborhood of Amsterdam. The 19-year-old athlete, who earned the honor after winning the Talent of the Year award, engaged with local children and fans during the celebration. Yohannes credited similar neighborhood pitches for helping her integrate and learn the Dutch language after she moved to the Netherlands from the United States at age ten. Having started her professional journey at Ajax before moving to the French club OL Lyon, Yohannes remains a dedicated fan of her former team.

The initiative to build courts named after talented players began with male athletes, but since 2022, the award has expanded to include female talents like Yohannes. Following the opening event, the busy midfielder is preparing for an upcoming Champions League match against Arsenal in London and a World Cup qualifying game in the United States. Local children in the district expressed great excitement about the new facility, viewing it as a valuable space for sport and social interaction with friends.