After just over 2.5 years, the time has officially come: the AFBN meets all the requirements - and not just the Minimum Quality Requirements - that the NOC*NSF sets for sports associations. We are now fully and officially in category 'Green'!

It began in late 2022, during a meeting in which the NOC*NSF indicated that the AFBN, as one of the few sports associations ever, was about to be placed in the black category. It also indicated that the first steps would be taken to terminate membership.

That termination would have had disastrous consequences. Without the annual subsidies, the AFBN simply could not survive.

We then submitted a rescue plan, with an ambitious but necessary timetable, full of deadlines. And - more importantly - we got the green light from the ALV to do what was necessary. From then on, we started working very hard.

With the result: we have achieved what previously seemed impossible. A solid and well-functioning structure now stands as a solid foundation on which to build the sport.

It did not go without a hitch, and it was far from flawless. But the foundation is in place. And that means we can now focus fully on the sport itself - and on improving the level on the fields.

There are an awful lot of people who have contributed to this process - too many to mention. To everyone: thank you!

As I said, we are far from there. There are still plenty of challenges ahead. But if we hold this line together, the future of our sport looks bright!