Two rounds of 5 minutes. That’s how little taking part in time Frédérique Matla made within the EHL remaining. In these 10 minutes, she scored two targets towards Braxgata(5-1 win) and watched quietly after halftime. ‘It’s a miracle that I used to be in a position to take part on this match,’ she mentioned.
Right here’s the factor: Matla sprained herself in late March throughout an away recreation in Rotterdam. A slipshod second, with main penalties. A small capsule tore in one of many bones in her foot, placing the striker in a forged for 2 weeks. Solely since per week has she been strolling once more. On Thursday, a day earlier than the EHL, she participated in a full exercise once more for the primary time.
‘It was an eventful week,’ Matla begins her story, having simply had a gold European medal hung round her neck. ‘When it occurred, it actually wasn’t an choice to play the EHL. Simply not,’ she says. So there was a line drawn within the match, which her personal membership organized.
Frédé’s Matla Stands Prepared For Her Specialty: The Nook. Photograph: Bart Scheduleman
The medical miracle on the Oosterplas
However she recovered a lot quicker than anticipated. ‘It’s a miracle that I used to be in a position to take part on this match,’ she says. ‘The few weeks of restoration time went quicker than anticipated. It was simply justified to play. I didn’t should take any dangers for it,’ she says. ‘My physique responded properly.’
Towards Stichtsche, she didn’t absolutely rotate into the substitution roster, however made greater than sufficient minutes. Towards Gantoise, too, she substituted properly. Within the remaining, she acquired 5 minutes of taking part in time twice, minutes she final acquired when she was fifteen. ‘Ideally I’d have performed all sixty of them,’ she laughed. ‘However which may not have been sensible. I’m not going to take any pointless dangers. I simply need to play the playoffs later, too.’
The smuggled minute
In these two five-minute rounds, Matla managed to attain as soon as. She flattened the 1-0 into the ropes. Throughout her second objective – a penalty ball – Matla was already sitting on the reserve bench. She needed to take off her coaching jacket after which push the ball. ‘I sneaked a minute. That was throughout my objective. Then I actually shouldn’t have been there,’ she laughed. After that I sat on the bench. I used to be nonetheless on standby, in case one thing occurred. Or if there could be one other penalty ball. I used to be truly fairly relaxed. At halftime we have been already in fine condition, I hoped for that beforehand.’
Photograph: Bart Scheduleman
First considering it’s important to miss the EHL and week later scoring two targets within the EHL remaining. Even when your identify is Matla, having already received all the things there’s to win, this gold medal continues to be a particular one. ‘I’m actually tremendous proud of it. That is actually particular. However I’m additionally pleased with the staff. Regardless of all of the circumstances, we’re simply again with a high prize.’
On Friday, Den Bosch took the most important step towards the EHL title, which was not secured till Monday. However the quarterfinal towards SCHC was actually simply the ultimate match. And there Matla appeared for the primary time like a jack-in-the-box. A medical shock. ‘It was great to get that pot over the road,’ she analyzes. ‘These matches are about particulars. And naturally it was thrilling, however I by no means felt for a second that issues would go improper. We’re good at profitable finals, with or with out ugly subject hockey.’
The canceled vocal twine surgical procedure
Truly, she was imagined to go underneath the knife final Monday. She has had polyps on her vocal cords for the reason that Olympics. The hoarseness in her voice betrays that criticism. The timing of the surgical procedure was handy now, since she was within the rag anyway along with her foot. “After I thought there was a really small likelihood of taking part in, I simply cancelled that surgical procedure immediately.
Again to these received finals. For certainly, one other grand prize has been added to the ram-packed trophy cupboard in Den Bosch. ‘Profitable finals is our secret weapon,’ Matla says. ‘How that comes about, I can put into phrases. However I received’t,’ as a result of Matla desires to win so many extra prizes. ‘Individuals have targeted quite a bit on us the previous couple of days, however we’re specializing in ourselves,’ she says. After the Gold Cup title and EHL gold, it’s time for the following spotlight. ‘I’m trying ahead to the playoffs,’ is her telling closing sentence.
Photograph: Bart Scheduleman
