For a bit over 4 o’clock Sunday afternoon, he was for a second the king of The Hague. Together with his capital objective, HDM striker Mats Dicke (21) performed an enormous half in his crew’s 2-1 victory over rival SCHC. HDM, now in ninth place, took an infinite step in direction of survival. And that due to a participant who was initially not thought of adequate.
His nerves had been working by means of his physique when SCHC bought a nook 13 seconds earlier than the tip, when the rating was 2-1. On the bench, Dicke endured the stress. Nearly put his stick in his mouth. Jumped up when that final probability was killed. And flew into the arms of his coach Pieter Pieterse proper after. For a second it was as in the event that they had been celebrating a championship in The Hague. Gamers in all places had been falling into one another’s arms.
Spaniard Marc Bolto might barely get up from the cramp and was hoisted up by teammate Chris Taberima. The beautiful people track “Wipe them off the mat” by the unsurpassed Hague singer Chicco – price trying up on Spotify – echoed throughout the sun-drenched Theo Mann Bouwmeesterlaan, the place the outside bar was working extra time. In brief, it was thick enjoyable in The Hague.
In that pleasant ambiance, Dicke took a second to mirror on his objective, the 2-0 on the finish of quarter three. A flat shot from about six meters, which was too highly effective for the outgoing SCHC goalkeeper Fritz Schnoeckel. ‘My all-important objective for HDM. I do know that for certain,’ the striker beamed on the pitch. ‘And meaning rather a lot to me. I can hardly describe it. I’ve a particular bond with plenty of guys on this crew. Jelte Kaptein I knew as a child. Cédric de Gier and Sander Groenheijde coached me. Ruben Versteeg has develop into buddy of mine. It’s an honor to be within the massive league with them. After which additionally to attain in such a sport.’
In the summertime that I misplaced weight, I ran my shuttles right here. With the objective of being adequate sometime. To return again. And I succeeded. Mats Dicke
The distinction for Dicke with three years in the past might hardly be higher. Then, too, he walked round within the blue-striped shirt of HDM, the place he performed subject hockey his total youth. After A1, the striker hoped to advance to Males’s 1. However that dream was cruelly disrupted. ‘They didn’t select me, they selected different guys,’ Dicke remembers. ‘A painful second. I had a very exhausting time with that. But it surely additionally motivated me much more. The summer season I misplaced weight, I ran my shuttles right here. With the objective of being adequate sometime. To return again. And I succeeded. HDM has at all times remained my residence.
As a result of after three years with promotion class Cartouche, the place Dicke manifested himself as a feared shooter, he joined once more this summer season. ‘I wasn’t actually shocked,’ says the striker. ‘Additionally as a result of there was additionally contact a 12 months earlier than. That by no means actually went away. My feeling then stated, I nonetheless needed to wait. Now there have been extra alternatives up entrance and a brand new coach got here in. This felt like the best time.
As a fan within the stands in The Hague: Jip Dicke (middle, in blue). Photograph: Willem Vernes
However his comeback at his previous love was not simple. Dicke began the season with a tendon damage. ‘That left me unable to do something for a couple of months. I missed half the video games earlier than the winter break. That was a false begin.’ However Dicke battled again and is already on 4 targets. ‘I actually gained’t say I’m the easiest. However I’m displaying that I can sustain at this degree. I feel.
Following within the footsteps of his nieces
In doing so, Dicke is following within the footsteps of his well-known nieces from SCHC. Certainly, internationals Pien and Jip Dicke. Particularly Jip sees the Hagenaar usually. ‘We each dwell in The Hague. However as a subject hockey participant I’m extra like Pien. We’re each particularly good near the objective. Jip is just too, however may play as an attacking midfielder. Is a little more artistic. And other than that, all of us shoot after we get an opportunity. I feel they’re each improbable strikers. If we are able to, we’ll come and watch one another.’ Laughs: ‘And sure, I’m usually requested if they’re my sisters. That’s high quality with me. I’m used to it.
Dicke with teammate Sander Groenheijde, as soon as his coach within the youth of HDM. Photograph: Willem Vernes
If appearances usually are not deceiving, Mats will play subsequent season within the massive league, similar to his nieces. With HDM (ninth) he’s since Sunday three factors forward of quantity ten SCHC. The Bilthoveners nonetheless play high groups Kampong and Rotterdam.
HDM additionally has a troublesome schedule with neighbor Klein Zwitserland and Oranje-Rood, additionally a high crew. Dicke isn’t counting himself wealthy. We now have to take factors within the subsequent two video games. Then we’ve it in our personal arms. And this happiness won’t have been in useless.
