Just a few weeks ago she faced Orange in the European Championship final with the German national team, this weekend Nathalie Kubalski was goalkeeper as usual at Nijmegen. A prominent international, but in the Promotion League. ‘Yes, I could also play in the big league, I would definitely like that too.’
There was special attention for ‘their’ international at the start of the season in Nijmegen. Kubalski received flowers and a pair of bathing slippers with the club logo on them. The goalie almost missed those presents. She initially walked stiffly through the lineup, until she was stopped by the board. ‘That was a surprise, I didn’t know they had organized anything. I walked onto the field totally focused and then they yelled for me to stand for a moment. I also missed those slips for a moment, I was already going back into concentration.’
The interest there is for her at her club often passes Kubalski by, she says. ‘I don’t really know sometimes, especially with the youth players. That is also because of the language barrier; I have done very little to learn Dutch. It would be nice if that works out better next year, but I think for most kids here I’m ‘just’ a player of Ladies 1.
Kubalski and her flowers. Photo: Jan-Willem de Venster
The difficult start against Groningen
The opening match against Groningen went off to a difficult start for Nijmegen. The home team could be found on the Groninger half most of the time, but it hardly produced any danger. Groningen was more effective and took the lead. Kubalski blamed himself: “A rebound, a good goal, but I was disappointed. And immediately told myself I had to calm down again, because I want to be able to keep coaching the girls in front of me.’
Not until the fourth quarter did Nijmegen manage to equalize and, moments later, win. Newcomer Anna Nguyen made it 2-1 seven minutes before time. Kubalski: ‘It took longer than I would have liked. They left us on the ball and lurked on the counter themselves. After those goals, my role changed. More talking and coaching, less moving.’
The match is initially difficult for Nijmegen. Photo: Jan Willem de Venster.
Not a sure thing, through her ankle
That Kubalski participated Sunday was not a sure thing. ‘I wasn’t sure until this morning if I could participate. Even before the European Championships I had an ankle ligament injury. That’s why I didn’t play the first game there either. But the medical staff found a way to make sure I could at least play pain-free and pretend nothing was wrong.’ Between games and also after the EC, rest was the motto. But then I came back here, three weeks later than everyone else, and I couldn’t train because of the injury. That wasn’t easy, to then be here and watch.’
With Noemi Nieveen Nijmegen got a second goalkeeper, who was under the crossbar the whole preparation. Coach Martin van de Rakt: ‘She did that well, so we had to see how she and Nathalie relate to each other, with that injury in mind. It’s not that we’re guaranteed to draft Nathalie because she’s a German international, she has to be able to perform. She certainly did that today.’
Van de Rakt sat in the stands at the EC. ‘We are proud of her. Almost everyone on the team went there. That’s nice, huh.’ Not all promotion classes have such a top goalie, he realizes. ‘She’s really very good, makes a difference with her calmness, experience and coaching, you definitely pick up points with that in this league.’
Kubalski celebrates the 2-1 victory with teammate Elena Vos. Photo: Jan Willem de Venster.
Yes, and then you are back on the field in Nijmegen after the European Championship final. Kubalski: ‘It is like coming home here in Nijmegen, even though the EC was in my own country. I am grateful for that, not everyone gets the chance to play a home tournament. Those Danas are my second team, we had a good party. And yes, international field hockey is really different from club field hockey, but I was also looking forward to being back here.’
It will be Kubalski’s third season for Nijmegen and the club love already runs deep. ‘We have gone through a development since then and are not done with it yet. I have talked to other clubs, but I’m not really looking for that.’ That has mainly to do with the travel time from her hometown of Düsseldorf and her full-time job there. ‘Yes, maybe with my stature I should play in the big league. I could certainly do it and I would enjoy it, but in the big league you also have to train during the day and sometimes several times a day. I can’t combine that with my work.’
Maybe with my stature I should play in the big league. I could certainly do it and I would like it, but in the big league you also have to train during the day and sometimes several times a day. I can’t combine that with my work Nathalie Kubalski
And a possible switch would cause even more practical problems, because her friend Emma-Sophie Hessler also plays for Nijmegen. ‘Because we both work so much, we don’t see each other very often. Then it’s nice that we still have some kind of quality-time in the car and on the field.’
But the two are not a package deal, Kubalski grins. ‘If something arises, we’ll talk about it. Right now, I’m glad we can do this together. I am a loyal player, before this I played for Düsseldorf for more than ten years. I’m not the type who wants to make the most of everything and chase opportunities. I want to feel in place and develop something together. If you’re happy here, why would you want to go anywhere else?’
by Hockey.nl
