They began 2025 as the underside of the Tulip massive league. However a month after the league resumption, SCHC is immediately in a provisional, secure ninth place. Sunday’s win at Nijmegen was a whopping 0-4. Due to hat-trick hero Max Sweering. And to Liverpool coach Arne Slot.
To begin with the latter. The success coach of the Premier League chief was immediately seen within the SCHC dressing room on Friday. And no, that was not as a result of Slot himself got here to have a look in Bilthoven. SCHC coach Jeroen Groenheijde had arrange a video of Slot’s speech.
‘Slot had on condition that speech simply earlier than a Champions League match,’ striker Max Sweering says. ‘It was about coping with stress. That you may’t keep away from it. It’s important to embrace stress, was just about the message. And that’s what we needed to do immediately. Due to course we undoubtedly felt that stress previous to the sport.’
A fraction Groenheijde had not chosen flippantly. As a result of promotional SCHC took few – too few in Bilthoven’s opinion – factors towards rivals. Carefree stunts towards higher groups did occur. However on the backside they solely gained towards HDM (3-1). Till Sunday. As a result of then they flew into one another’s arms after the unbelievable blowout towards Nijmegen. Nijmegen was in final place with 5 factors, one spot under SCHC with seven factors.
Sweering pushed twice from the penalty spot. Photograph: Jan Kruijdenberg
A jug of beer from the board
That makes ten now. SCHC congratulated one another on the bench even earlier than the ultimate whistle. As a result of whether or not the final nook made it 5-0 or not. It made little distinction to their temper on Sunday. They had been delightfully, unabashedly completely happy at Stichtsche. Walked a lap of honor, nearly all of them flew across the necks of acquaintances. Through the interview with Sweering, prime hockey board member Paul-Robert Lankhout arrived with a big jug of beer, which was then drunk in plastic cups close to the dugout. A mini-party with a candy aftertaste.
‘We had completely not counted on this beforehand,’ says Sweering, nonetheless a bit of shocked by that massive win. ‘We confirmed right here that we are able to additionally ship towards a group that’s about pretty much as good. We didn’t assume and doubt an excessive amount of, however largely performed good hockey. Dared to do this in a recreation the place it actually comes right down to the factors.’
SCHC imposed its will on Nijmegen at instances. Particularly the second quarter, during which the rating elevated from 0-0 to 3-0, was painful for the house group, which made many errors. The group from Bilthoven thus continues its swinging line that was began after the winter. Earlier they shocked the sector hockey world with a win over Bloemendaal (4-3) and a draw towards Den Bosch (1-1). However there isn’t any discuss of a turnaround, turning level or main change, in response to Sweering.
Sweering and Sam Figge (left) stroll away completely happy after a objective. Photograph: Jan Kruijdenberg
The Rightness of Michel van den Heuvel
‘What I do discover is that we’re actually getting higher,’ ponders the previous indoor worldwide. ‘We just lately noticed pictures of the best way we had been placing stress earlier than the winter break. That’s actually a lot quicker now, extra explosive. We’re fitter, can stick with it longer. What Michel Van Den Heuvel Mentioned About The High Golf equipment additionally applies to us. The extent is way greater.’
He beams. Is visibly happy with his group. ‘We additionally needed to get used to it once we got here again into the massive league in September. Had performed two years within the Promotion Division. That maybe made us a bit hesitant. However now we’re hooked. Doesn’t matter anymore who we’ve to play towards. We proved that we’ve an opportunity towards everybody.’
Shortly adopted by: ‘Though I additionally know that you simply solely win towards Bloemendaal as soon as each ten years.’
Intense pleasure at SCHC after the victory over Bloemendaal, earlier this month. Photograph: Koen Suyk
How ‘minus three’ introduced the group nearer collectively
Honest is truthful. They had been after all additionally tormented to the intense at SCHC after that disastrous week in November, during which they acquired three penalties for fielding a non-playing participant and the defeat towards rival Hurley.
That introduced us much more collectively as a gaggle. It made us need to show much more that we’re price these factors. That feeling was actually alive after the victory over Bloemendaal. We received the misplaced factors again.
Photograph: Jan Kruijdenberg
Sweering is extraordinarily modest about his personal half in that capital victory over Nijmegen. His two proper penalties and a nick ensured his first hat-trick on the highest degree. And that after a primary half of the season during which he solely performed two video games as a result of an ankle harm.
‘Oh properly, I truly just like the stress of penalty balls,’ stated Sweering, who additionally pushed SCHC to the massive league in June from the spot. ‘It’s good for me that it really works out that means. However I feel it’s extra necessary that we now present that it’s not a coincidence, that we’re doing properly. We belong within the massive league and now we’ve a pleasant ninth spot in our palms. We don’t need to give that away anymore.’
