With a convincing blow Menno Boeren supplied the choice within the pleasant topper between his Rotterdam and Bloemendaal. 4 minutes earlier than the tip the midfielder smashed the 4-3 into the ropes. A liberating purpose that adopted a tough first half of the season, by which Boeren and Rotterdam confronted loads of headwinds.
It was joyous chaos, Saturday across the clock of eight on Rotterdam’s major pitch. With a giant smile and enthusiastic gestures, Spaniard Marc Recasens defined to his followers – together with his flown-in father – how he gave a gorgeous backhand help for the 3-1. A bit additional on, Joaquin Menini and Guus Jansen handed out autographs to the Rotterdam youth. Pepijn van der Heijden was nonetheless considering aloud about his lovely opening purpose, his first subject purpose within the large league. ‘I didn’t know I may do that myself,’ the worldwide mentioned overjoyed.
And naturally Boeren stood there. The kid of the membership who was the goldcrest of this lovely Saturday. He smiled his enamel out at each interview he needed to give. It was his day. ‘I nearly by no means usually rating,’ Boeren mentioned. ‘By probability final week once we gained 10-0. However right this moment was totally different, after all.’ Amusing of disbelief: ‘I don’t get to the circle fairly often both.’
Boeren walks away completely satisfied after his successful purpose. Photograph: Bart Scheulderman
Justen Blok’s complaints about Boeren’s forehand
And sure, Boeren too had loved that insane recreation of subject hockey, with a incredible first and final quarter. Spectators – and luckily there have been many in Rotterdam on Saturday – had been briefly provide throughout these phases to witness all the wonder. Six minutes earlier than time, there appeared little to fret the house crew, who went into the closing levels with a 3-1 lead. Till Bloemendaal began pounding the Rotterdam gate actually arduous and got here again to 3-3 inside a minute.
‘I, too, thought we’d win it after our 3-1,’ Boeren breathed. ‘If you wish to be nationwide champion, this could’t occur to you. And we all of a sudden had a brake on it. We performed an excessive amount of to not make errors. Now we have to be taught from that.’
As a result of all of the congratulations and interviews, he hadn’t had time to look at his purpose once more. So Boeren was solely too completely satisfied to take a while for that. ‘How properly Steijn (van Heijningen) takes it right here,’ Boeren admires. ‘Good how at velocity he nonetheless retains the overview.’ He seems wide-eyed on the footage, which is lower than half an hour previous. A clip he’ll in all probability watch numerous instances. ‘I’ve house and get it properly. After which with the forehand into the brief nook. I get goose bumps once I see it like this.’ Laughing: ‘I typically get advised by Justen Blok that I don’t have a robust forehand. The previous few weeks I’ve been engaged on that extra. He additionally got here to me immediately after the match. I believed that was good.’
Talks within the winter break
So it was an evening when Rotterdam confirmed the sector hockey world as soon as once more that it could actually play incredible subject hockey. ‘We did it on instinct. Enjoying with conviction. We at the moment are free in our heads.’ These final phrases flawlessly describe Rotterdam’s distinction within the first half of the season and the way the crew is performing after the winter.
Rotterdam often misplaced factors earlier than the winter break. Far too many truly for a title contender. Within the first eleven video games they drew six instances and misplaced one recreation. Consequence: Rotterdam is condemned to a race to catch up and continues to be in fifth place regardless of 4 wins in 2025.
‘It was tough,’ Boeren additionally states. ‘We needed to get used to one another once more. Had new gamers and a brand new coach.’ That coach – Erik van Driel – primarily needed to construct in additional certainties, so Rotterdam could be much less susceptible defensively. Consequence: the crew typically forgot to do what they’re so good at. Attacking arduous and at full velocity. Within the meantime now we have discovered the match. With Erik there, but in addition as a gaggle with one another. That ensures that we do win a prime recreation like right this moment, and in addition from Kampong and Oranje-Rood.’
Pepijn van der Heijden places Rotterdam forward towards Bloemendaal. Photograph: Bart Scheulderman
The sequel in Orange
Not just for Rotterdam was the primary half of the season powerful at instances. Boeren himself additionally needed to swallow a bitter capsule. He performed till the tip of 2023 within the Dutch Junior Crew, the place he was captain. In the summertime of 2022, he and several other different abilities acquired a style of the large Dutch crew. However the continuation in Orange continues to be to return. Boeren didn’t but take that subsequent dream step, which teammates like Pepijn van der Heijden and Olivier Hortensius did, when many new abilities got here by in September.
‘I used to be upset that I wasn’t within the coaching group then,’ the midfielder says actually. ‘I hoped to be included, though I additionally know there’s loads of competitors at my place. However then once more, when your mates go, you naturally need to be there your self. That was a bit painful. I hope I get the prospect sometime.
Then the smile returns. ‘Perhaps it can assist, a goaltending infrequently.’
