The Netherlands:

It was perhaps the five most difficult minutes of his field hockey career. In the three hundred points in which he had to look from the penalty spot on Saturday, his team Oranje-Rood gave away a 4-2 victory The top match against Amsterdam. When newcomer Florian Gosselink had served his penalty, there was a 4-4 final score on the board. “I’m going to hear this a few more times from my under14 team.”

A bit like a farmer with a toothache, Gosselink walked over the field on Saturday afternoon. Together with his teammates, he thanked the home crowd, which came out en masse in the beautiful autumn sun. He clapped and waved. But everything didn’t go smoothly. The head of the 23-year-old midfielder was still at that time, six minutes before time.

Shortly thereafter, Gosselink is not too shy to look back on it. On his mistake, which gave such a determining turn to the wonderful topper. His second pass since he exchanged Nijmegen for or in the summer. He remembers the images sharply. Still sees itself standing in its 23-meter area, just before the head of the circle.

‘I see Floris Middendorp cutting in from the left. I try to close the inside. I’m low. And he comes against me. So I catch him. Yes, that’s a mistake. That is why I understand that it is a corner. ‘

‘I emphasize the team’

He thinks for a moment. “But I wouldn’t give a card for this. It went back and forth very bright. I saw no reason why this situation ‘suddenly’ had to be a card. It is a pity and sucks. Sorry, I can’t think of any other words for it. This situation throws the entire game. I now emphasize the team and let the victory glide out of our hands. I feel guilty about that. I blame myself for what happened. ‘

Along the sidelines, Gosselink had hardly gone on the fold-out chair, or the 4-3 went inside. From the corner that was given because of his mistake. Then five very long minutes on the sidelines followed. In which either became more difficult and harder to defend the leadership. Too difficult. Because with ten men the home team also scored 4-4.

Maybe Oranje-Rood was a bit too hard for itself in, especially the first half. Because in that first half they were much better than title holder Amsterdam, who ran 3-0 behind. That makes it a pity that it ended that way. Later you could say that it is good that you get a point against the national champion. But if you are in such a good shape, it doesn’t feel that way.

The buffet vacuum cleaner

Gosselink also had a role in building that lead. While he fell, he gave a nice pass to Struan Walker, who made 3-0 after 23 minutes 3-0. Haha, I often lie on the floor. I am someone who almost always has open knees and fingers. ‘He looks at the many semi -open wounds and scars on his hands. “Today it’s not that bad,” he notes. ‘I was also known here in Nijmegen. I am a little vacuum cleaner, which always continues. ‘

A hockey player of character, in other words. And if we forget his unfortunate mistake – he is highly appreciated in Eindhoven. It was precisely that buffet, the Rotshard fighting, was one of the pillars in Oranje Zwart, who won three championships between 2014 and 2016. A period that they wanted in the city of Light. And so Gosselink fits beautifully in that desired DNA.

‘I was surprised in the beginning that they would call me. I had only played in the main class for one year. Was I good enough? Can I handle it? I think so I say after a few months. I really enjoy this opportunity. Try to hitch a ride with the level and to have a good time in the group. ‘

Photo: Rob Römer

His own under 14 team

Nijmegen returned to the big league after a nice but difficult year. His old club still follows their old star with pride. ‘I am still there often, because I coach boys under 14-1. I was on the field with them this morning. They won 8-0 above Zwolle. It was a little hurry to be on time everywhere, but it fitted exactly today. ‘

A smile breaks through. “Those guys are very sympathetic. That’s why I’m going to hear this for a while. Maybe also justified. But then I will also ask if they saw that help. ‘