It may have been the five hardest minutes of his field hockey career. In the three hundred counts in which he had to watch from the penalty spot on Saturday, his team Oranje-Rood gave away a 4-2 victory in the topper against Amsterdam. When newcomer Florian Gosselink had served his penalty there was a 4-4 final score on the board. ‘I’m going to hear this a few more times from my Under14 team.’
A bit like a farmer with a toothache, Gosselink walked across the field Saturday afternoon. Together with his teammates, he thanked the home crowd, which had come out en masse in the nice autumn sunshine. He clapped and waved. But all did not go smoothly. The 23-year-old midfielder’s head was still on that one moment, six minutes before time.
Shortly afterward, Gosselink is not too shy to look back on that. On his foul, which gave such a defining turn to the delightful topper. His second pass since he traded Nijmegen for OR in the summer. He recalls the images sharply. Still sees himself standing like this in his 23-meter area, just in front of the head of the circle.
‘I see Floris Middendorp cutting in from the left side. I try to close up the inside. I’m low. And he comes against me. So I catch him. Yes, that’s a foul. Because of that, I understand it’s a corner.’
‘I’m disadvantaging the team’
He thinks for a moment. ‘But I wouldn’t give a card for this. It went back and forth quite fiercely. I saw no reason why this situation had to be a card ‘suddenly’ then. It’s a shame and sucks. Sorry, I can’t think of any other words for it. This situation throws off the whole game. I am now disadvantaging the team, letting victory slip from our hands. I feel guilty about that. I blame myself for what happened.’
Along the sidelines, Gosselink had barely sat down on the fold-out seat, or the 4-3 went in. From the corner that was given because of his foul. Then followed five very long minutes on the sidelines. In which OR got harder and harder to defend the lead. Too hard. Because with ten men, the home team also scored 4-4.
Maybe Oranje-Rood was a little too hard on themselves in – especially – the first half. Because in that first half they were much better than title holder Amsterdam, which fell behind 3-0. That makes it even more unfortunate that it ended this way. Later you might say that it is good that you get a point against the national champion. But when you’re in such good shape, it doesn’t feel that way.
Gosselink in a ground battle with Amsterdam attacker Dayaan Cassiem. Photo: Rob Römer
The buffeting vacuum cleaner
Gosselink also had a part in building that lead. While falling, he gave a beautiful through pass to Struan Walker, who made it 3-0 after 23 minutes. Haha, I often lie on the ground. I’m someone who almost always has open knees and fingers.’ He looks for a moment at the numerous half-open wounds and scars on his hands. ‘Today it’s not so bad,’ he observes. ‘I was known for this at Nijmegen, too. I am a little vacuum cleaner, who always keeps going.’
A hockey player of character, in other words. And he is – if we forget his unfortunate foul – very much appreciated in Eindhoven. Exactly that buffeting, the rock-hard fighting, was one of the pillars at Oranje Zwart, which won three championships between 2014 and 2016. A period they long for in the City of Light. And so Gosselink fits beautifully into that desired dna.
‘I was surprised at first that they called me, though. I had only played one year in the big league. Was I good enough? Could I handle it? I think so, I say now after a few months. I am enjoying this opportunity immensely. Trying to hitch a ride with the level and having a good time in the group.’
Photo: Rob Römer
His own Under 14 team
Nijmegen returned to the big league after a nice but tough year. His old club still follows their old star with pride. ‘I’m still there often, because I coach Boys Under 14-1 there. I was on the field with them just this morning. They won 8-0 over Zwolle. It was a bit of a rush to be everywhere on time, but it fit exactly today.’
A smile breaks through. ‘Those guys are immensely sympathetic. That’s why I’m going to be hearing this for a while. Might be justified, too. But then I’ll also ask if they saw that assist.’
by Hockey.nl
