Two rounds of 5 minutes. That’s how little taking part in time Frédérique Matla made within the EHL remaining. In these 10 minutes, she scored two targets towards Braxgata(5-1 win) and watched quietly after halftime. ‘It’s a miracle that I used to be in a position to take part on this match,’ she stated.
Right here’s the factor: Matla sprained herself in late March throughout an away recreation in Rotterdam. A careless second, with main penalties. A small capsule tore in one of many bones in her foot, placing the striker in a solid for 2 weeks. Solely since every week has she been strolling once more. On Thursday, a day earlier than the EHL, she participated in a full exercise once more for the primary time.
‘It was an eventful week,’ Matla begins her story, having simply had a gold European medal hung round her neck. ‘When it occurred, it actually wasn’t an choice to play the EHL. Simply not,’ she says. So there was a line drawn within the match, which her personal membership organized.
Frédérique Matla stands prepared for her specialty: the nook. Photograph: Bart Scheulderman
The medical miracle on the Oosterplas
However she recovered a lot sooner than anticipated. ‘It’s a miracle that I used to be in a position to take part on this match,’ she says. ‘The few weeks of restoration time went sooner than anticipated. It was simply justified to play. I didn’t must take any dangers for it,’ she says. ‘My physique responded properly.’
In opposition to Stichtsche, she didn’t totally rotate into the substitution roster, however made greater than sufficient minutes. In opposition to Gantoise, too, she substituted properly. Within the remaining, she obtained 5 minutes of taking part in time twice, minutes she final obtained when she was fifteen. ‘Ideally I might have performed all sixty of them,’ she laughed. ‘However which may not have been sensible. I’m not going to take any pointless dangers. I simply wish to play the playoffs later, too.’
The smuggled minute
In these two five-minute rounds, Matla managed to attain as soon as. She flattened the 1-0 into the ropes. Throughout her second purpose – a penalty ball – Matla was already sitting on the reserve bench. She needed to take off her coaching jacket after which push the ball. ‘I sneaked a minute. That was throughout my purpose. Then I actually shouldn’t have been there,’ she laughed. After that I sat on the bench. I used to be nonetheless on standby, in case one thing occurred. Or if there could be one other penalty ball. I used to be really fairly relaxed. At halftime we have been already in fine condition, I hoped for that beforehand.’
Photograph: Bart Scheulderman
First considering it’s a must to miss the EHL and week later scoring two targets within the EHL remaining. Even when your identify is Matla, having already received every thing there may be to win, this gold medal continues to be a particular one. ‘I’m actually tremendous pleased with it. That is actually particular. However I’m additionally pleased with the group. Regardless of all of the circumstances, we’re simply again with a prime prize.’
On Friday, Den Bosch took the largest step towards the EHL title, which was not secured till Monday. However the quarterfinal towards SCHC was actually simply the ultimate match. And there Matla appeared for the primary time like a jack-in-the-box. A medical shock. ‘It was fantastic to get that pot over the road,’ she analyzes. ‘These matches are about particulars. And naturally it was thrilling, however I by no means felt for a second that issues would go unsuitable. We’re good at profitable finals, with or with out ugly area hockey.’
The canceled vocal twine surgical procedure
Truly, she was purported to go below the knife final Monday. She has had polyps on her vocal cords for the reason that Olympics. The hoarseness in her voice betrays that grievance. The timing of the surgical procedure was handy now, since she was within the rag anyway along with her foot. “Once I thought there was a really small likelihood of taking part in, I simply cancelled that surgical procedure immediately.
Again to these received finals. For certainly, one other grand prize has been added to the ram-packed trophy cupboard in Den Bosch. ‘Profitable finals is our secret weapon,’ Matla says. ‘How that comes about, I can put into phrases. However I received’t,’ as a result of Matla needs to win so many extra prizes. ‘Folks have centered loads on us the previous few days, however we’re specializing in ourselves,’ she says. After the Gold Cup title and EHL gold, it’s time for the subsequent spotlight. ‘I’m wanting ahead to the playoffs,’ is her telling closing sentence.
Photograph: Bart Scheulderman
