The Netherlands:

Huizen was the only team that left the Tulip Women’s main class last year. After the year at the highest level, there are no fewer than fourteen new faces in the team from De Gooi region. This weekend the Degels was still looking for the Promotion League Cup, where houses only finished seventh and won only one match. A return to the big league is therefore still far away. And actually not the goal of this year.

‘It is too short -sighted to think that it will be easier for the degrader. We are not last year’s team, nor the team that promoted the year before, “said the new coach Joep van der Coelen, the successor of Donald Drost near Huizen. That is clear: only five of his players were also on the players list of Huizen last year, fourteen are new. “That’s a lot. I understand that people keep an eye on us and that there are expectations, but you also have to know that most of them did not even know each other four weeks ago. ‘

Beyond his facial plants such as Captain Myrthe van Kesteren, top talent Sam Luttmer, rock in the surf Daphne Koolhaas and Dribbler Lynn Vasterink. They will be active at the highest level next season. Van Kesteren and Koolhaas are going to Rotterdam, Luttmer has now left with Pinoké, Vasterink for Oranje-Rood. Their old team did not have a soft landing on Saturday, on field 3 of Victoria, during the practice tournament against promoter HBS. After a draw, the underdog won 1-0.

‘Talk, talk a lot. That is where the secret is now, “says Van der Coelen. But it remains quiet, the players realize too. On the same Saturday, Huizen also played Ring Pass, which completely overwhelmed the degraded team. A Wirwarde goal scored 1-0 and although the ladies of Delft also held fines and opportunities afterwards, houses managed to equalize the second half of a well-excited backhand by Nina Copal. Just like Van der Coelen, she was active at TI last season.

With depressive faces and their eyes focused on the ground, the ladies are in a circle at the end of the day one. “But I think we immediately took a step,” Van der Coelen analyzed. “I thought we were better for that second game, for what it is worth. This tournament … they are not even glorified practice games, they are practice games and we are happy with that. You may not plan them otherwise, just because it is so close to the start of the competition. Now you can take a look.

I feel that people expect a lot from us. Houses Newcomer Amina Addou

This also applies to Amina Addou (19). The timid teenager came from Amsterdam. ‘It’s a bit a step back, but a good step for me. I didn’t play much in the big league. I want to become more confident and for that I just need the experience. ‘It helps that she is not the only newcomer. ‘I feel that people expect a lot from us, other teams from the Promotion League for example. You soon have that when you are the relegated club, but we all still have to find our feet a bit. ‘

Amina Addou came from Amsterdam. Photo: Rob Römer

Van der Coelen is not there to protect young people like Addou, he says. ‘We immediately throw them out in the deep. Yes, she comes from Amsterdam, but actually from the youth. Now she really goes into Big-Man Veldhockey. That’s difficult. You can circle a lot, but that does not help anyone. I am sure she will develop very quickly. ‘

Newcomers from South Africa, Namibia and Chile

Houses has gained more experience in the form of Jess Lardant. The South African played three world cups with the National Indoor Team and also has a Belgian passport, so the step could be made without too much paperwork. “Of course the level of field hockey is many times higher here,” says Lardant. She plays in the middle of the back, right next to the left back, “I have lived all my life in South Africa, but my friend plays in Amsterdam (Mustapha Cassiem, etc.) and I am 27, so I thought, if I don’t do the step now, I will never do that.”

She reported to the open training sessions of Huizen and insured her place immediately. ‘It took somewhat shifting. When I came to that training, I heard from almost everyone: “This is my last time here.” Then I thought: Oh, God. But it is refreshing to have such a new group together.

South African Jess Lardant plays back for houses. Photo: Rob Römer

Those open prospects is exactly what Van der Coelen was looking for. ‘Indeed, she came in a bit of a blow, but immediately let herself be a positivo. She can sometimes grumble or put someone in place, but she is also a bit of the team’s clown, and we need that. ‘Thanks to Larderant, Eliza Westland (Australia), Kiana Cormack (Namibia) and Josefina Martines Mardones (Chile) Coach Huizenweerlager. Larderant: “I understand the most conditions that he now mentions from the side. I also speak a little African, which is very similar to Dutch. But every now and then we have to remind the staff to discuss certain things in English.”

‘Nothing to look for in the main class’ now’

On Sunday a 3-1 win over Victoria. ‘I understand that’ having a nice year ‘is coach talk,’ Van der Coelen grins, early next season to the goal of his team. ‘We have not really formulated it yet, but it is certainly not promotion. There is no reason for this preparation. The main class is also not necessarily fun, right? We currently have nothing to look for. I want to build a stable team with players who do not all fly away after a year.

The main goal is to set an example for the club. ‘We can sit on an ivory tower, but we are part of the club just like everyone else. We all started playing field hockey because it is fun. It must stay that way. Suppose you are a six -year -old girl, and your idols of Ladies 1 come in week and week with a long face, do you want to play field hockey in Ladies 1 if you grow up? ‘