Valencia, February 2025. In the midst of his tenth season in Cartouche Males’s 1, Matthijs van Aken (30) decides to give up throughout their staff journey. A alternative prompted by communication variations between coach Robbert Paul Aalbregt and the central defender. ‘I might have preferred to proceed, however how the employees handled me just isn’t neat.’
Van Aken as soon as began enjoying area hockey at Spijkenisse, however as a ten-year-old he adopted within the footsteps of his older sisters Elselieke and Bernice. They’d later play within the massive league for HGC and Klein Zwitserland, however performed in youth for Rotterdam. So identical to the youngest of the household. He made it to the South Holland staff and was briefly a part of the Dutch shadow staff. But Rotterdam Males’s 1 proved simply too excessive.
‘I used to be on the record for a yr, however made my enjoying minutes with Males’s 2. Sonja Thomann then turned coach of Cartouche and requested if I needed to play there as nicely. Instantly it felt like a heat bathtub. It was an excellent good group consisting primarily of scholars, the place critical area hockey and laughter had been mixed. Thursday nights we went out, however Sundays we had been there.
Earlier this season Timo Goor already informed us about this staff that now performs collectively once more, however in Males’s 4. ‘It was a proficient batch that additionally included Jochem Blok and Jasper Siebert as children. They came visiting from Rotterdam in the identical yr as me.’ Van Aken skilled the sporting spotlight with a lot of this squad in 2019. ‘Then we performed playoffs for a spot within the massive league in opposition to Tilburg. I had been in Brazil for six months that season for my research, however due to an damage to Steven Doorman I used to be out of the blue allowed to play these video games within the middle of protection. A loopy expertise.
Cartouche made it to the playoffs for a premier league ticket within the 2018-2019 season. Picture: Orange Footage / Herman Dingler.
Nearly nationwide champion
Cartouche narrowly missed out on promotion on the time. Nonetheless, Van Aken was near a nationwide championship. A yr earlier he performed the ultimate for the title. It was misplaced to Amsterdam, additionally the perfect within the Netherlands in 2025. The few weeks earlier than such a denouement and naturally the matches themselves are the perfect reminiscences I’ve. Additionally the play-outs, which I performed later. You reside in such a bubble with one another. All the main target is on area hockey, with 22 males with whom you’re employed intensively all yr lengthy in the direction of one thing’.
Of the sturdy lineup again then, solely Sven Westendorp and Joost Meijer stay, along with, till lately, Van Aken himself, in fact. His position has thus modified over time. ‘In case you are in a staff longer, you mechanically turn out to be one of many leaders. You guard the environment. Are you additionally serving to youthful guys.’
Van Aken has been one of many leaders at Cartouche in recent times. Picture: Monique Duran
‘Just a few weeks earlier than the restart of the league I had a dialog with Robbert Paul. He indicated that he additionally needed to present younger gamers the prospect to play at middle again. Truthful sufficient, I mentioned, I had already indicated I used to be quitting on the finish of the season. I perceive that sort of alternative and was wanting to compete for that place and assist the younger guys. However within the weeks that adopted, I didn’t get that likelihood to combat for my spot and wasn’t concerned in something. I needed to keep house at a follow match and felt that the selection had already been made. In Valencia, for me it was full cease. I didn’t really feel a part of the staff and wasn’t informed something. And this whereas selections had been being made about me. Fantastic if I play much less or on a distinct place, however a minimum of talk about it.’
Van Aken tells it over a month after he made his determination, and not using a cost of frustration in his voice.’The staff reacted tremendous. Everybody understood. Even the younger guys with whom I hadn’t talked in regards to the friction with the employees but. Additionally the membership dealt with it properly. In that respect I’ve completely no aftertaste. However after so a few years in Males’s 1, I feel it’s a disgrace that it ends this fashion. There have been so many extra alternatives to finish it nicely. I might have preferred to proceed, however not this fashion.
In response to Van Aken’s phrases, Aalbregt is transient however highly effective. ‘I don’t acknowledge myself on this in any respect. It’s unlucky for Matthijs that he has skilled it this fashion, however there have been a number of conversations with him through which now we have shared our concepts with him, each earlier than and after the winter break.’
Empty agenda
On the finish of this season, Van Aken could be saying goodbye to the primary staff anyway. One thing the employees and his teammates additionally knew about. ‘It’d make it just a little simpler for me to just accept what occurred in my final weeks. I didn’t remorse it for a second. The Monday after the staff journey I did have a loopy feeling. Since I used to be ten years outdated, I had been coaching 3 times every week. Now my schedule was out of the blue empty within the evenings. I used to be not within the group app. It felt like I fell right into a gap.’
For the primary two weeks after, Van Aken didn’t contact his stick. There was time for pals and reflection on the weeks earlier than. However quickly the blood crawled the place it could actually’t go. ‘I’m going to play with Males’s 2. I do know the staff they usually can use me.’ He has already inspired his outdated staff, too. ‘On the house sport in opposition to HCAS I simply stood alongside the road. Ede-out was a bit too far for me, however I’ll undoubtedly maintain following them.’ Uncomfortable in the direction of the employees just isn’t for me. No extra uncomfortable than within the weeks main as much as my determination to give up.’
