Devin Plank Received a heartfelt guard of honour despite a 9-0 loss against Ajax on Thursday night, Ajax advanced to the quarter-finals of the KNVB Cup after beating Excelsior Maassluis.
The third-tier team was thrashed at the Johan Cruyff Arena, with Danilo scoring a hat-trick and Nicolás Tagliafico, Youri Regeer, Kristian Hlynsson, and Mohamed Daramy all scoring.
There was, however, much for Excelsior to be proud of during their journey to Amsterdam, particularly when it came to one of their second-half substitutions, Devin Plank.
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Plank’s fight against cancerPlank had been diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his fibula over a year ago, according to the Daily Mail, and hadn’t played since October 2020, with the Ajax game marking his comeback.
The Excelsior forward was diagnosed with a malignant tumor after going to the hospital with leg problems. He has apparently been undergoing chemotherapy since then.
Nonetheless, when Excelsior was drawn out of the hat in the Dutch Cup by European champions Ajax, the club viewed it as the ideal occasion to reintroduce Plank to the beautiful game.
Plank’s Moving Guard Off Honour By Players
Doctors recommended that the 20-year-old play no more than two minutes to avoid interfering with his recuperation, and he was properly welcomed back into the fold in the 89th minute.
The fact that the Ajax and Excelsior players joined forces to welcome him back onto the field with a guard of honour added to the moment’s significance.
Footage of all 22 players standing up along the touchline in the midst of the game to commemorate his return to the sport he loves brings a tear to your eye, and you can see it below:
What a fantastic gesture to commemorate something far more than football.
An Unforgettable Moment for Plank
With the Mail reporting that Plank is still fighting cancer, it’s heartwarming to see both his colleagues and opponents who may not even know him expressing their appreciation.
And it couldn’t have been clearer what it meant to Plank, who was reported as stating in a touching post-match interview that it was the “greatest moment of his life.”
According to the Mail, Plank expressed his gratitude for his comeback by telling ESPN: “Even if it was only for a short period, I am delighted to have returned on the field.”
It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We’d already made four adjustments, and I wasn’t sure I was going to show up. Thankfully, the coach did not forget about me.
Every day, I’m putting in the effort to return.”I’m hoping to get a lot of minutes back as soon as possible.
“Plank’s dramatic comeback against Ajax is a reminder that life’s problems may make football seem inconsequential, but it also shows that the beautiful game can at least aid along the way.
Devin, get well soon.
