Precisely eleven days in the past Danique van der Veerdonk turned nationwide champion. On that very same day she was instructed she may be a part of the Dutch nationwide crew and Sunday afternoon she made her debut within the Dutch crew. The world of the defender from Limburg has been fully the other way up the previous two weeks.
‘I’ve loved it a lot. Take a look at all this crowd. It’s not regular, is it? Everybody within the Orange. I’ve by no means performed in entrance of such a crowd. I believe it’s actually great to expertise.’
These are the very first phrases of Danique van der Veerdonk (24), as she simply completed her first worldwide sport. One other spotlight. They only hold following one another with the defender, who proves that even for late bloomers issues can all of the sudden go very quick. On Monday she joined Orange’s coaching for the primary time, and 6 days later she was singing the nationwide anthem on the prime of her voice.
‘Actually weird huh,’ she stammered. She is the primary to confess that she had by no means reckoned with this situation. When she gained the ultimate of the nationwide title with Den Bosch on Ascension Day, she acquired an additional prize proper after that. Nationwide coach Raoul Ehren invited her to the Professional League group. ‘I didn’t know what I used to be experiencing. I believed it was so particular to listen to,’ she says.
The beaming Danique van der Veerdonk within the lineup. Picture: Willem Vernes
Her little eyes on the clapper
Whereas all her Bossche teammates had a time without work after the ultimate, to refuel and possibly additionally recuperate from the large occasion, Van der Veerdonk acquired into the automotive. She needed to report back to the Wagener Stadium. ‘They needed to have one other image of me, for on the clapper. I stood there, with these little eyes. The image is de facto not my greatest,’ she laughs.
They needed to have one other picture of me for the clapper. I used to be standing there, with these little eyes. The picture actually isn’t my greatest. Van der Veerdonk on the day after the nationwide championship
On Monday, she reported for actual. Took half in her very first Orange coaching. In fact, she already skilled so much internationally. Gained World Cup gold with the Dutch Junior Crew and grabbed that very same title with area hockey 5s. However these awards couldn’t match this second. As a result of though she needed to wait some time for it, final weekend her dream got here true.
The hug between Jip Dicke and Danique van der Veerdonk, two Orange debutants. Picture: Willem Vernes
‘I’ve been itching at occasions. That I wasn’t one in all them. I didn’t simply transfer up from the Junior Crew to the Dutch Crew. However I additionally knew then: I’m simply not there but,’ she says. You may name me a late bloomer. It additionally took me longer to seek out my toes at Den Bosch. I’m 24 now, however even when I used to be 28. It doesn’t matter to me. I believe it’s tremendous good that I succeeded.
From South Limburg to Orange
Van der Veerdonk began as just a little woman at HC Kerkrade (now Nova). When she was twelve years previous, she left for Oranje Zwart. She stayed in Eindhoven for 3 years, when she switched to Den Bosch. Much more kilometers from South Limburg. However distance doesn’t matter, when you’ve got expertise and a aim.
I’ve actually been working with myself this previous yr. What can I do, to essentially get observed. A type of now or by no means.
As a result of Van der Veerdonk dreamed of creating the Dutch crew. However she needed to wait some time for it. “Whether or not I nonetheless anticipated it?” the defender repeats aloud. After which she then stays silent for a second. ‘Properly, let me say that I hadn’t put it out of my system but,’ is her trustworthy reply. ‘I all the time saved just a little little bit of hope, I assume. I’ve additionally been actually working with myself over the previous yr. What can I do, to essentially get observed. A type of now or by no means. It was type of make or break this yr.’
Picture: Willem Vernes
She made a plan for herself. She needed to get extra into attacking. ‘However defensively it additionally needed to be higher,’ she provides. ‘Offensively you simply stand out just a little extra. I needed a mix of all the time having the ability to play for a seven, however sometimes getting increased. Eager to play for a 9 extra usually, that was type of the intention final yr,’ she explains.
Racing from Landgraaf to Amsterdam
Her little plan succeeded. Together with her debut consequently. ‘My mother and father, sister, grandparents, great-aunt and roommates had been all within the stands right now. Within the pouring rain. However they didn’t care,” she beamed. Her household was near being late. ‘Raoul instructed me at breakfast this morning that I used to be going to play. I instantly texted my mother and father on the breakfast desk,’ she laughs. ‘I needed to, as a result of it’s greater than a two-hour drive from Landgraaf to right here.’ Her household was on edge. They most likely had their stuff prepared, as a result of they didn’t miss a minute of their youngest, whom they drove in every single place for years.
‘I actually acquired on a thunderous practice these previous few days. Really, it’s very unusual. It helps that I do know lots of people from Den Bosch. And I performed with a few of them within the Dutch Junior Crew. That helped,’ she displays on her weird week. I performed effectively. Gave some scoops, performed some duels. It’s a bit extra bodily, I like that,’ she grins.
Picture: Willem Vernes
‘Bought much more self-confidence’
‘I actually tried my greatest this yr. Bought much more self-confidence. I like that my plan ended up figuring out like this,’ she says proudly. And rightly so. Does she have already got a plan for taking part in an EC, too? She has to snigger. ‘I’m undoubtedly not making any statements about that. It’s already tremendous cool that I simply acquired to play right here. And I hope I get to play in a number of extra matches. After which we’ll see. I’m doing my greatest, that’s all I can do.
The Orange play six extra video games within the Professional League, loads of time for further minutes. For her supporters from Landgraaf, it’s to be hoped that the freeway will then be as quiet because it was on this Sunday afternoon.
