Joey van Walstijn can hardly imagine it. The goalkeeper was very near a singular achievement with HDM. On Sunday, the individuals of The Hague misplaced the European Cup Indoor closing in Vienna to Harvestehuder from Hamburg (6-6, after shoot-outs). It was the tip of a weird winter for the goalkeeper, who misplaced the competitors on the sector within the first half of the season.
It’s Monday, late afternoon. Van Walstijn drives together with his dad and mom and spouse on the Austrian freeway. The vacation spot is Salzburg. “I haven’t appeared again at a single second,” says the goalkeeper. ‘That’s not on precept. Furthermore, the photographs are nonetheless in my head. I’ve already performed that film 100 occasions. Continually asking the identical query. What if…?’
‘What if I had waited just a little longer for a Haverstehuder purpose? What if we had made that one likelihood at 7-6? What if I had been just a bit decrease within the first shoot-out? And the final one had simply made the nook just a little smaller? So these sorts of questions.’
After the misplaced closing, the goalkeeper couldn’t hold it dry. This is because of a sense of unhappiness and powerlessness. ‘No offense supposed, however I’m simply good at shoot-outs. I do know that I can add worth to my group on this regard. You then disappoint your self a bit when you don’t cease one. Despite the fact that they have been taken completely. I’d have liked to have performed higher for the boys. That feeling damage.’
From Oman, through the Nationwide Championships, to Vienna
HDM reached the European indoor finals as soon as earlier than – in 2012. However then they misplaced large (7-3) to Der Membership an der Alster, additionally from Hamburg. ‘This was distinctive. I’ve been taking part in with HDM within the corridor for ten years. However we’ve got by no means reached such a excessive stage. We have been nearly as good because the world’s greatest. As a result of sure, these are these guys from Harvestehuder.’
‘That was all as a result of we put every little thing into indoor hockey for 5 days. We performed collectively and have been adults. Allow us to not be distracted by opponents, referees or peripheral issues, as a result of that’s the place issues generally go mistaken for us.’ He heads within the cross himself. ‘Certainly, additionally in opposition to Voordaan within the semi-final of the Nationwide Championship. Issues didn’t work out, we bought pissed off and that meant we couldn’t get into our sport in any respect.’
In Salzburg, Van Walstijn can get better from a particular winter, wherein he additionally performed – and gained – the Hockey 5s World Cup in Oman. Similar to within the European Cup, the goalie was named one of the best goalkeeper. ‘It was rather a lot and weird. However I’m very blissful that I did it that manner. Typically I needed to test whether or not I had the proper footwear or my corridor covers. There have been days once I skilled each within the corridor and with the 5s. Two days after I returned from Oman, I used to be taking part in goalkeeper within the semi-finals of the Nationwide Championships. It’s unbelievable that all of it got here collectively like that.’
Second alternative: shit squared
He liked it, that hectic tempo. The adrenaline, the prizes and in addition the taking part in minutes. As a result of Van Walstijn couldn’t get that on the sector. The goalkeeper, who was first alternative for seven years, needed to accept a reserve function behind Luis Beckmann, the German who came to visit from Cartouche. It was an enormous blow for the kid of the membership, who had already promoted twice with HDM.
“You don’t need to know what that does to an individual,” it sounds sincere. ‘It sucks when you lose your spot. Immediately it now not says, with the group with whom you’ve gotten skilled every little thing. After all, I went by it at occasions within the first months of the season. You begin to surprise all types of issues. Am I nonetheless adequate? Can I actually nonetheless do it?’
Amusing breaks out on the opposite finish of the road. ‘The winter has given me loads of confidence. It’s very good when somebody tells you which you can nonetheless do it, that goalkeeper. So I’m very grateful to my winter coaches for that. These particular person prizes have been a affirmation for me that I’m nonetheless heading in the right direction. So now I dare to say it out loud once more. Sure, I’m adequate. Ok for the massive league, adequate for HDM. With my ardour, motivation and positivity, I’ll do every little thing I can to develop into the primary goalkeeper once more. And I actually imagine it may be performed.’
When he participates in HDM on Sunday, his first apply match will instantly be a particular one. The Hague formation will then play in opposition to Bloemendaal, the group of their corridor rent Wiegert Schut. ‘That looks like an exquisite technique to get again on the sector. Did I point out I can’t wait to get into the battle?’
