Kampong qualified for the semifinals of the Euro Hockey League on Wednesday night under the leadership of Ivar Knötschke. The Hagenaar took the honors against England’s Surbiton (3-1) on the bench, where head coach Tim Oudenaller was missing due to sad private circumstances. ‘I am so relieved that we are not in the morning pot on Saturday,’ he said.
‘This one is for Tim,’ Knötschke said at the end of the interview, with a deep sigh. His companion’s absence visibly affects him, after his first game as head coach in a European competition. Normally, he is an assistant at Kampong, where he has been active since the summer. Before that, Knötschke was head coach for many years with the ladies of HDM, the club where he will be in charge of the men in the new season.
‘It was a very crazy day for everyone,’ says the coach. ‘It only became clear early this morning that Tim could not be there. Of course that is especially sad for him and it feels uncomfortable for us. And a first match at a European tournament is not something you experience every day. In that you try, in your way, to do the best for the group.’
That, of course, created a certain pressure. ‘You don’t want to be the factor why things don’t work out. And somewhere it also creates butterflies in yourself, it is also exciting and new. Suddenly there are certain expectations, which you want to live up to. And the boys did that very well.’ With emphasis: ‘Because that’s what it’s all about. About the boys.
Knötsche, with Jip Janssen (left) and David Harte (right). Photo: Willem Vernes
Harte as a staff member, veteran Mars on the bench
Those guys didn’t cause an increased heart rate on the bench, where David Harte also sat as a staff member. The Irish goalie has not yet recovered from his ankle injury and was promoted to assistant coach for the day. ‘It’s very sour for him that the EHL was put through his nose,’ Knötschke said. ‘We aimed to have him play, but due to a setback in his recovery it didn’t work out. You have to hand in a selection of eighteen men, including two goalkeepers, for the whole week. Changing per game is not possible. David was not fit for the quarterfinals. Maybe he could play later in the tournament, but we didn’t want to run the risk of not having a second goalkeeper on the bench today.’
Therefore, 41-year-old Diederik Mars is Kampong’s reserve goalie during the EHL, behind South African Estiaan Kriek. Mars normally goalkeeps in Veterans A of Kampong, where he also used to play in the big league. ‘He trained for the first time on Tuesday,’ Knötschke said. ‘That was also the first time someone took a shoot-out on him, haha. We are very happy to borrow him for a while.
So Harte took a seat next to Knötschke. ‘That’s what David came up with himself,’ his coach says. ‘When he heard that Tim was missing, he immediately asked what he could do. I think it was really great of him. David is working on his last weeks at Kampong, everyone knows that. He was very disappointed that he could not play the EHL. It really wasn’t easy. Then it is special that you fit into this role.’
Estiaan Kriek, Harte’s stand-in under the Kampong batten. Photo: Willem Vernes
Another starring role for Kriek
Harte’s help was grasped with both hands. ‘If there were shoot-outs, he would have stood with the team on the 23-meter line. He can do that much better than I can. What was also nice: now no one on the team felt he had to take on extra responsibility. David did that. For the team.
Harte’s replacement Kriek proved his worth again on Thursday. The South African already made a fine impression in the big league, where he has been under the crossbar for over a month now. ‘I thought he was our best man today. Especially in the fourth quarter. In that quarter he really kept us going. I didn’t think we were good enough in that phase. We were under too much pressure. On the other hand: also cool for Kriek to show himself on this stage. Even when he wasn’t playing he was constantly everywhere, nothing is too crazy for him. So he is to be congratulated.
While his players were already eating pasta in Den Bosch’s clubhouse, Knötschke went back to the stands. ‘Let’s see who our opponent will be. Analyze and make sure there is no extra work. Tomorrow we will discuss everything afterwards at Kampong and then we will go into a hotel near here.’
With a laugh: ‘I am so relieved that we are not in the morning pot on Saturday. That was really the last thing I wanted as a substitute coach. I’m especially happy to leave it well behind.’
by Hockey.nl
