With the second half of the FIH Hockey Professional League 2024-25 quick approaching, we’re catching up with gamers and coaches of all 9 males’s and girls’s groups to take the temperature on the primary half of their season and discover their targets for the remaining matches. In at the moment’s interview, we converse with Thierry Brinkman, captain of the reigning Olympic champions, Netherlands males’s hockey crew, as they discover themselves fourth on the factors desk, simply two factors off the lead…
How do you look again on the primary a part of the FIH Hockey Professional League season?
Earlier than the season began, it was already clear to us that after profitable Olympic gold in Paris, a unique interval was coming for us. Some gamers took an prolonged interval of relaxation, and several other gamers have been additionally injured. It’s a post-Olympic 12 months in order that is smart and you retain it in thoughts. This gave some new gamers the prospect to coach and play matches with the Dutch crew.
I didn’t go to Australia for the FIH Professional League matches in Sydney. In actual fact, I participated within the Hockey India League in January. I did play the FIH Professional League matches in opposition to Belgium and Germany within the Netherlands in November and December. It was very particular to step onto the hockey area as an Olympic champion in your individual nation. Hockey within the Netherlands was extra well-liked than ever at the moment and you’re feeling that as a participant.
What are your expectations for the upcoming Professional League matches within the Netherlands and England?
It is going to be an intense however very good month with many nice matches in a brief time period. A big a part of the matches we play within the Wagener Stadium in Amsterdam in entrance of our personal crowd. Enjoying a match in your individual nation in entrance of your individual viewers in a full stadium is at all times a fantastic expertise. But additionally in England hockey lives enormously and the English crew is in good condition, in order that additionally guarantees to be stunning and thrilling matches.
Are you already working for the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026?
We’re comfortable to have certified for the World Cup as a result of that offers us peace of thoughts. As a result of the World Cup shall be performed within the Netherlands and Belgium, we’re routinely certified because the organizing nation. The World Cup is the following large objective we’re working in the direction of. Subsequent summer time we should begin the World Cup prime match, so which means you undoubtedly need to be engaged on it already now.
Do you might have any message to your followers?
We are attempting to get all followers to get pleasure from spectacular hockey. Not solely the followers sitting within the stands of Wagener Stadium in June, but additionally all of the worldwide followers who comply with us in different methods. We hope everybody goes to get pleasure from our method of taking part in.
For extra info and full match schedule go to the FIH Hockey Professional League web site.
