As we inch closer to the start of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2025-26 season on December 9, we are pleased to bring you an exclusive pre-season interview series with players and coaches from the best hockey countries in the world participating in the “League of the Best”.
This series delves into the minds of the sport’s best athletes and coaches, revealing their thoughts on the upcoming season, personal goals and the strategies their teams are developing to compete at the highest level. From seasoned veterans to rising stars, these interviews provide unique insight into the passion, preparation and drive that fuel the teams competing for glory.
In today’s interview we speak with Rein van Eijk, coach of the Belgian women’s hockey team…
What are the Red Panthers’ ambitions for this new FI Hockey Pro League season?
We want to compete for the top positions for as long as possible and try to improve our 2024-2025 campaign. We hope to further develop our style of play and gain traction by the summer of 2026, win over fans and build even more excitement within our further ranks for the summer of 2026. “:false,”134233118″:false,”335559738″:240,”335559739”:240}”=””>
What does the FIH Hockey Pro League mean for the team this World Cup year?
The Pro League is more than just the best possible preparation for the upcoming World Cup in your own country, but also a great event to show the growth we are experiencing as a team. Thanks to the Pro League, we can win more fans at home, whose support we also hope to welcome at the World Cup. With the anticipation for the World Cup already very high, we can’t wait to compete internationally again, but we would love to do so even more during our home match in 2026, playing at the World Cup venue for the first time. “:false,”134233118″:false,”335559738″:240,”335559739”:240}”=””>
Are you already looking ahead to qualifying for LA28?
We are very excited about the opportunity to also qualify for LA28 through the Pro League. We hope to be able to compete for the top positions for as long as possible. If we are ultimately able to play for Olympic qualification, we will do everything we can to achieve this as quickly as possible. “:false,”134233118″:false,”335559738″:240,”335559739”:240}”=””>
How has the team prepared for this new season?
After a thorough analysis of the European Championships, we are very consciously working on building a foundation that allows us to perform optimally as a team. We are back to work and focusing on the topics we want to develop after a European Championship without losing regulation, but that was disappointing from a results perspective.“:false,”134233118″:false,”335559738″:240,”335559739”:240}”=””>
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