Ties Wouters (15) wouldn’t have performed a single minute throughout the JO16 ultimate between Tilburg and Push. The Tilburger – from Oisterwijk – broke his leg in two locations on the finish of final yr. Solely within the quarterfinals did he play totally once more. ‘That is 100% the perfect day of my life.’
With the gold medal of honor round his neck, Ties Wouters nearly instantly factors to his left leg. He places his sock down somewhat and exhibits his scar. ‘You’ll be able to nonetheless see it somewhat,’ he says. Just under his knee is a scar of at the very least 5 inches, tucked immediately below his stocking. ‘There’s a pin in it. If I had been to fly now, the detection gates would go off,’ he laughs.
He can smile once more, with the steel in his leg, however principally due to the steel round his neck. That was so completely different on the finish of November. That’s when issues went all unsuitable for {the teenager}. Throughout an indoor observe together with his workforce, he tripped after which a teammate fell on his leg. Nothing loopy, can occur, Wouters thought. ‘It was very bizarre. I truly obtained again up instantly, however then collapsed. My bone didn’t really feel prefer it was imagined to, or one thing.’
Partying Tilburgers. With Ties Wouters on the far proper. Photograph: Rob Romer
Foul luck, that was clear. Not just for him, however for all his teammates. “I used to be very shocked and in quite a lot of ache,” he recollects. He was finally taken away by ambulance. ‘It had hassle attending to our bladder corridor. It’s somewhat additional away from the clubhouse. I used to be in weird ache for an hour.’
A double leg fracture
On the hospital, his tibia and fibula had been discovered to be damaged. Particularly the one in his tibia was severe. The teenager underwent surgical procedure and commenced rehabilitation. No subject hockey in the interim, that was additionally clear to him. Not in Tilburg, however not with the Dutch Underneath-16 both. ‘The physician instructed me it could take at the very least six months. Then I instantly began calculating.’
He calculated that he might play subject hockey once more in Might. That would simply be the perfect month of the yr. That gave him hope. ‘I hated not with the ability to play subject hockey. Sitting there, first in a wheelchair and later with crutches. Watching from the bench is actually the worst factor there’s. However my teammates did properly, very properly even.’
Ties Wouters and Captain Thijme Groels. Photograph: Rob Romer
So properly that by mid-Might it was sort of clear that their nationwide journey would last more than ten video games. That after the common competitors it wasn’t completed for the Brabant abilities. ‘I used to be very completely happy about that,’ grins Wouters. In Might he was again on the sector – precisely as his physician predicted. ‘I needed to construct it up slowly. I participated within the final three video games of the league. However only some minutes every time.’
Solely from the finals on was {the teenager} totally deployed once more. He rewarded his rehabilitation with a objective within the quarterfinals towards Gooische (6-2). ‘That was already a dream. However I actually didn’t dare dream that it turned a lot extra stunning,’ he says. Tilburg beat Cartouche within the semifinals (2-1) and topped its high season Saturday afternoon with the NK victory over Push (3-1).
‘100% the perfect day of my life’
‘That is actually fairly sick,’ he realizes. ‘That is actually 100% the perfect day of my life,’ he continued. Along with his total household within the stands. ‘Everybody was there. And I actually couldn’t sleep for 3 toes final night time. I used to be so nervous. I saved waking up. Not regular. By now he can chuckle about it. Even after such a damaged night time he proved his value.
‘I’d have favored to attain one other objective, although,’ {the teenager} concludes. ‘He nearly hit it, proper? It was actually simply picked off the objective line,’ he appears to be like again. However he received’t lose sleep over that tonight. ‘I’m actually completely happy to be again to my outdated self for a very long time. We’re about to take the bus again dwelling. This medal received’t come off once more immediately. We’re going to occasion laborious.’
Watch a replay of the ultimate between Tilburg JO16-1 and Push JO16-1 beneath:
