Peter Leeuwenburgh: From The Netherlands to settling right into the Mother City

He's currently Cape Town City's latest recruits making waves on the goalkeeping front

Photo: Peter Leeuwenburgh/ Instagram

Football can be a rollercoaster of sorts as fans alike may know. One moment you are here and the next you are there. That is what sums up the story of The Netherlands native, Peter Leeuwenburgh. 

It's easy to forget that Peter is only 24-years-old standing at 1.96 metres (6 ft 5 in) tall. 

Leeuwenburg who was born in Heinenoord, a town in the Dutch province of South Holland on the Hoekse Waard island, located about 10 km south of Rotterdam speaks fondly of his time at Ajax Amsterdam when asked about his career, from youth until senior and how it has shaped him to be where he is today. "I joined Ajax when I was ten years old and played in every youth team until I made my professional football debut in 2013," he says. He believes he has always been destined to be a goalkeeper, perhaps giving credit to have been the tallest player in his team. Consistency is always a part of being an athlete and he believes that he's consistent but won't go as far as saying that he is extremely good or bad at certain parts but would like to think he is decent all-around. 

Peter Leeuwenburgh/Instagram

Every player has fond memories of their career, some it's from humble beginnings and for some it's being given their first opportunity by a club to showcase their talents and for others, they would say it's being called off the bench for the very first time to come on as a substitute. It differs from player to player. However, for Peter, it was being part of the U17 Dutch national team that became the first European champions, "All the leagues, we won with various teams and being the first European champions is still number one for me. As we are about to carry on he chirps in with "I want to add the penalty shootout of last Sunday to that list, that was such an amazing feeling that really gave me goosebumps. It makes for him to have felt this way because this particular match was a do or die scenario as Mamelodi Sundowns and Cape Town City had to go to penalties in order for either team to qualify for the MTN8 finals and it would be the team to go against current champions, SuperSport United. It was definitely a moment for the club and the players alike when Peter made some incredible heroic saves to deny Sundowns and in the end, it was The Citizens who triumphed. 

But, like so many other players there comes a time when they have to move on when their contract ends or when they get sold to another club, with Leeuwenburg it was the end of the road for him with Ajax when his contract came to an end and he had to make a valuable decision on his next career move. Fortunately for him, his girlfriend had been to Cape Town many times with her family and when the two of them paid the Mother City a visit, something sparked in him and he knew this is where he wanted to ply his trade next. "My girlfriend and I visited Cape Town two years ago on vacation. Her family has been connected to it for many years. So when we were here together for the first time, she showed me all the cool places and I fell in love with the city and the country itself. So when my contract with Ajax ended, I told my agent that play for and living in Cape Town would be an amazing opportunity. We had contact with John Comitis (City chairman) and four days later, I arrived in South Africa."

Peter Leeuwenburgh/Instagram

Leeuwenburgh signed for Cape Town City on July 26 on a three-year deal replacing Shuaib Walters who had a successful spell with the Mother City side. The Dutchman has gone on to make seven appearances and has already earned himself a Man of the Match accolade for his performance against Mamelodi Sundowns (previously mentioned) at Lucas Moripe stadium (September 3). 

He discussed the vast differences he has picked up in South Africa and of those back in The Netherlands. In our interview, he said: "Football is not always as consistent as it is in Europe or back home for that matter. You never know what you can expect from the opponent. One day they play like Barcelona and another day like a lower level team. It is very different for sure, but I do like it here and I think that it suits me."

Cape Town City/Instagram

Moving countries, cities and clubs is a massive change in a player's life but adapting becomes a whole other story in how the player goes forward in their career after they've made the big move. Football fanatics can always see from a mile away if a player is not 'together' with the rest of the team in the way the way they manoeuver when they are playing or just casually in training: "I already feel adapted. Everyone has been very kind and helpful from the day I got here. It feels like I've been here a year already. Of course there always people you talk to more than others, but I have a good connection with everyone."

Like every other job out there, one can study for a certain amount of years and follow a career path they thought was destined for them and years in, they discover that they despise what they do and are at crossroads with what to do. Some would think this can be the case with athletes who go into a chosen sport for various reasons and leave halfway through because it wasn't for them. However, the former Ajax goalkeeper begs to differ and feels like this has always been his destiny, something he does with a smile on his face and never feels like he is going to work because of the passion he has for his sport. "I haven’t. It’s always been my hobby. I don’t see it as a job. I love to play football and I never thought about quitting. Sometimes it’s nice to have a day off, but I always go to training with a smile. I finished school because I think that’s important. My parents and Ajax also insisted that I had to finish school. Because of the fact that football is my hobby and my life, I see myself as a coach after my playing career. Back in the Netherlands, I already coached a U18 team for a few years and that went really well, so I want to keep doing that," he also added about his future aspirations of being a coach after retiring from the game as he has had the taste of leading after his stint with a team back in the Netherlands. 

Cape Town City/Instagram

We also had a chat about the key to balancing football and his personal life which includes family and a social life. It is inevitable to have a life outside of football, however, Leewenburgh believes otherwise: "Well football always comes first. My family and friends knew that and they have always supported me. My friends were going out on the weekend and I was always in bed early because I had to train or play a game the next day. I can understand that it’s not easy for every football player to live like that, but I did not have problems with it. In my opinion, it’s important to give them attention when we have a day off. I would say give the people in your life the attention they need on the day off and let them know that you appreciate their support."

Controversy is no stranger to sports: if success is measured by wins and losses, stats and superlatives; then no possible point of contention goes unnoticed and the discussion of football being an easy career is often a controversial one. Peter believes: "If you look at the hours we are working, then it’s easy. What most people don’t understand is that football never stops. With everything I do, I think about how it affects my performance. I have to eat proper food and I have to sleep on time. Those are simple examples. Two weeks ago, we were away from home for 6 days. Two flights, two bus trips of four hours each. That’s what’s happening in the background that nobody sees. But in the end, I think we are very privileged to do what we love and sometimes it’s very easy, but you always have to be focused." 

Every athlete has a setback or more in the lifetime of their careers; some manage to bounce back and for some, it becomes hard work to make that necessary comeback that will get their fans roaring with cheers. The Dutchman suffered the same feat in his career when his shoulder injury set him back 9 months and he had to overcome the obstacle at some point by putting in the necessary to get him back fitness. "I had a very big setback with a shoulder injury which cost me almost 9 months in total. I think every player has a setback in his career but I think that it actually makes you mentally stronger. I think the key is to accept it and keep working hard, never give up."

In our interview, we also spoke about the pressure around players already and even more so on the goalkeeper. We asked him to fill us in on what the fans might not know about being a goalkeeper that we would not associate with any other regular player on the field. "It’s not always easy to stay focused. Sometimes you don’t touch the ball with your hands for 80 minutes. It’s easy to lose concentration and make a mistake. People always think that goalkeepers can’t be tired after a game, but keeping yourself focused takes a lot of energy," he said. 

Cape Town City/Instagram

In all serious of the conversation, some fun had to come in the form whom he would pick to play in a World Cup if he were to select a team and the passion jumped right out about the Dutch national team back in 2010 and he firmly believes they should have won the cup back. Spoken like a true Dutch-native one might say. "The Dutch national team from 2010; we deserved to win the World Cup back then. I’m looking forward to seeing the stadium that they lost the final later this year. Looking back, The Netherlands team was not short of quality with big names like Arjen Robben, Robin Van Persie, Wesley Sneijder whom by the way recently announced his retirement from national duty; Nigel de Jong and Dirk Kuyt to name a few. This particular team lost to Spain 1-0 at FNB stadium after Andries Iniesta ended their cup dreams in the 116th minute; prior to that John Heitinga had been awarded a second yellow which is an automatic red and the Dutch side was down to ten men. 

As the interview came to a close, we wanted to know the type of training that the goalkeepers go through apart from the rest of the team and how different it really is when they're preparing for a forthcoming game and the advice he would give to the young, up and coming goalkeepers. Peter said: "Everyday we train with the goalkeeper coach separately from the players. It’s a different way of training of course. We do all the specific goalkeeper training and we join the rest of the team when we go into a finishing drill or a game. It all starts with having fun and working hard. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, everybody makes them and don’t let anybody set you down,'' Leewenburgh said in conclusion. 

Till next time. . .