On 4 October 1997, at the age of sixteen, he made his professional debut in the first team of Veendam in a 4–3 win in the Eerste Divisie over ADO Den Haag.
In his sixteenth year, on 4 October 1997, he entered the professional ranks with Veendam's top squad, leading to a 4–3 triumph over ADO Den Haag in the Eerste Divisie.