About eight months in the past, she was nonetheless a reserve with the Junior Group and was not allowed to go to the U21 European Championships. A alternative that damage her rather a lot. Now Maud van den Heuvel (19) is abruptly coaching with the large Oranje. A lightning improvement for the proficient SCHC attacker, who has labored her approach up in report time.
We converse to Maud van den Heuvel after the Topper Between Den Bosch and SCHC. After all she needs to speak. She has rather a lot to speak about. Her world was briefly turned the wrong way up final month. But that euphoria doesn’t take away the double feeling of Sunday afternoon. She had a lot needed to win in opposition to the arch-rival.
‘We confirmed good discipline hockey and a preventing mentality at instances. We need to radiate that collectively. And we additionally performed actually good hockey at instances,’ {the teenager} appeared again on the match. Enjoying with ardour is one thing that’s written on Van den Heuvel’s physique. If issues get thrilling, she will get the gang excited or – as is her trademark – throws out a fantastic pirouette. ‘We had some actually massive possibilities on the finish. In that we’ve got to be calmer and kill extra. And then you definately win this pot.’
Maud Van The HEUVEL SUNDAY AFTERNOON HAVE THE BOISH. Picture: Bart Scheduleman
Additionally scoring in high video games for twice gold
Profitable was additionally the objective, in fact. As a result of SCHC has massive ambitions once more this season. Van den Heuvel has a variety of confidence in her group, however is aware of the place there may be nonetheless room for enchancment. Particularly this era, the place SCHC meets Den Bosch, then Amsterdam after which begins the EHL. ‘Usually we rating rather a lot. We scored essentially the most targets within the massive league. However we’ve got to begin doing that in high video games as nicely. Maintain calm within the circle and preserve an summary. We now have sufficient high quality to make them.’
Double gold is the objective. ‘We play the EHL in three weeks. I actually, actually need to win that one. Likelihood is that we are going to play the quarterfinals in opposition to Den Bosch once more. And who is aware of, possibly later in the course of the play-offs as nicely. So we’ve got to win two extra instances. I need to turn out to be champion twice.’
Maud van den Heuvel is in her second season at Stichtsche. Within the ironclad offensive line of SCHC (5 attackers from Bilthoven are within the present coaching group of Oranje) Van den Heuvel was good for 9 targets. That’s already 5 greater than a yr earlier. ‘I play discipline hockey in an excellent group with nice discipline hockey gamers round me. That additionally makes me higher myself. And now that’s being rewarded. I believe that’s actually cool.
She performed her final cap with U18
As a result of final month Van den Heuvel was abruptly referred to as by nationwide coach Raoul Ehren. He needed to ask her to hitch the nationwide group as a trainee. For 4 weeks she was allowed to get a style of the Dutch group in the course of the weekly coaching classes, then the Orange steadiness sheet was drawn up. I discovered the primary week tremendous thrilling. Now I discover it particularly tremendous enjoyable. It’s one thing new. I used to be fully in a daze after Raoul invited me. I actually didn’t count on it. I’m nonetheless younger. I’m nonetheless within the Dutch Junior Group. And I’ve by no means performed a match with that.’
Maud van den Heuvel Length Her First Orange Coaching. Picture: Willem Vernes
So her final ‘cap’ dates again to Dutch U18. And that’s particular. As a result of in the course of the European Junior Championship in Terrassa, Van den Heuvel was not with the group. She was designated as a reserve by coach Kai de Jager and due to this fact didn’t journey to Spain. One thing the expertise discovered arduous to swallow. ‘That was very painful for me,’ she says. ‘I simply thought I had carried out a superb first season at SCHC, however apparently it wasn’t ok.’ After the frustration, she determined one factor. To show to herself that she does belong. ‘I’ve no affect on the alternatives, however I resolved then that this could by no means occur to me once more.’
Nothing is not possible for Van den Heuvel
By no means earlier than has she performed an official minute for the Dutch Junior Group, and now she’s getting a style of the perfect group on the earth. Apparently issues can go that quick in case your identify is Maud van den Heuvel. Secretly the dreaming about tournaments has already begun. As a result of a World Cup with Below 21 awaits on the finish of this yr, however in the summertime the Dutch Group performs the European Championship. A double? Duco Telgenkamp managed that in 2023, for instance.
‘The European Championship could be incredible. However I’m not engaged on it. On the finish of the yr there’s a World Cup with the Dutch Junior Group. Nothing is not possible, but when I’ve discovered something, it’s that you may solely affect arduous work, enjoying good discipline hockey and having fun with your self.’
Maud van den Heuvel Final Performed within the ‘Oranje’ in U18. Picture: Willem Vernes
