Precisely eleven days in the past Danique van der Veerdonk turned nationwide champion. On that very same day she was advised she may be part of the Dutch nationwide group and Sunday afternoon she made her debut within the Dutch group. The world of the defender from Limburg has been utterly the other way up the previous two weeks.
‘I’ve loved it a lot. Have 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 simply hold following one another with the defender, who proves that even for late bloomers issues can immediately 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 high of her voice.
‘Actually weird huh,’ she stammered. She is the primary to confess that she had by no means reckoned with this state of affairs. When she gained the ultimate of the nationwide title with Den Bosch on Ascension Dayshe obtained 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 assumed it was so particular to listen to,’ she says.
The Beanding Danique van der Veerdonk in The Lineup. Photograph: 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 massive social gathering, Van der Veerdonk received 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 basically not my greatest,’ she laughs.
They needed to have one other photograph of me for the clapper. I used to be standing there, with these little eyes. The photograph 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 quite a bit internationally. Received World Cup gold with the Dutch Junior Group 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. Photograph: Willem Vernes
‘I’ve been itching at instances. That I wasn’t one among them. I didn’t simply transfer up from the Junior Group to the Dutch Group. However I additionally knew then: I’m simply not there but,’ she says. You’ll be able to name me a late bloomer. It additionally took me longer to search 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 slightly 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, you probably have expertise and a purpose.
I’ve actually been working with myself this previous 12 months. What can I do, to essentially get seen. A sort of now or by no means.
As a result of Van der Veerdonk dreamed of constructing the Dutch group. 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 sincere reply. ‘I all the time stored slightly little bit of hope, I suppose. I’ve additionally been actually working with myself over the previous 12 months. What can I do, to essentially get seen. A sort of now or by no means. It was sort of make or break this 12 months.’
Photograph: 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 slightly extra. I needed a mixture of all the time having the ability to play for a seven, however often getting increased. Desirous to play for a 9 extra typically, that was sort of the intention final 12 months,’ she explains.
Racing from Landgraaf to Amsterdam
Her little plan succeeded. Along with her debut because of this. ‘My mother and father, sister, grandparents, great-aunt and roommates have 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 advised 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 received on a thunderous prepare these previous few days. Truly, 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 Group. That helped,’ she displays on her weird week. I performed properly. Gave some scoops, performed some duels. It’s a bit extra bodily, I like that,’ she grins.
Photograph: Willem Vernes
‘Bought much more self-confidence’
‘I actually tried my greatest this 12 months. Bought much more self-confidence. I like that my plan ended up understanding 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 received to play right here. And I hope I get to play in just a few 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.
