A tricky away match in Riga. That is the next European challenge for Ajax, which represents a first with the match against RFS: the Amsterdam team has never played against a club from Latvia before and there is a reason for that.
Naast Girts Karlsson (De Graafschap 2008) the Eredivisie has only one other Latvian footballer in its history. Roberts Uldrikis – good for 8 goals – occupied the striker position of SC Cambuur between 2021 and 2024, where the tall striker of 1 meter 98 usually made smart use of his length and heading power. But before his adventure in the Netherlands – in which he mastered the Dutch language quite well – the now 26-year-old Uldrikis could be found with Ajax's current opponent.
The growth of RFS and Latvian football
While ice hockey, basketball and BMX sports predominate in Latvia, football is starting to play an increasingly important role in Latvian society. The Latvian international explains how this is possible:
In 2017, Uldrikis switched from Metta to FK RFS, because of the club's vision. “When I started playing football there, it was a brand new club. I knew at that moment that RFS had great ambitions, just like me.” At the age of twenty, Uldrikis moved to the Swiss league, but he still follows the club from his homeland closely. “I am very happy for the club that they are doing so well. The club's management has also remained very calm, despite periods in which there was a lot of pressure on the club because performance did not always go well. You can see that they have achieved long-term success. I'm glad I was part of it.”
The difference between the Eredivisie and the Latvian Virslīga
The right-footer has now filled his player passport with experience in various competitions and has also been able to speak of experience at the third level of Germany for a week, at Arminia Bielefeld. When the striker is asked about the difference between the Eredivisie and the Virslīga, he knows without any doubt:
A great compliment for the Dutch football competition, which is looked up to, is also evident from the RFS press conference prior to the meeting with Ajax. When RFS top scorer and standout Janis Ikaunieks is asked about his feeling when playing a match against Jordan Henderson, Davy Klaassen, Wout Weghorst and Steven Berghuis, he says the following:
-Janis Ikaunieks: “Of those four names, I actually only know Henderson. I may have heard of the other three at some point, but it's football. In certain situations everyone can be better than the opponent, such as a boy from the street who could also outplay me in certain situations. But overall, Ajax is a very good team with high-class players and that is why it is a privilege and joy to be able to play against those types of teams and to offer them opposition.”
RFS in de Europa League
Three seasons ago, FK RFS entered a European competition for the first time in the Conference League. This season it even plays in the Europa League for the first time and has provided big clubs such as Galatasaray (home: 2-2) and Anderlecht (home: 1-1) with decent opposition.
Uldrikis is proud of his former club's achievements and also sees a positive impact on Latvian football.
Ajax
The difference in value of both selections is considerable. That's how Ajax is Transfer market Worth €209.65 million, while the FK RFS selection has a value of €11.60 million. With their performances against Galatasaray and Anderlecht in particular, the club from the capital has often proven that it is not afraid of selections filled with expensive players. Yet Uldrikis thinks that the big difference will be visible on the field. “I've played for RFS and I've played against Ajax and it's a big difference, especially in individual quality. The field has also been excellently cared for for this match, so I expect that this will not affect the quality of Ajax's standouts in particular.”
