A year ago, he celebrated the national championship as a spectator. From the sidelines due to a persistent knee injury. This season the world looks very different for Terrance Pieters. The top fit striker lives with Kampong towards the finals of the playoffs. ‘Lovely how on social media you are bombarded to death with beautiful images.’
He still sees himself standing like this. A year ago at the decisive final between Kampong and Rotterdam at De Klapperboom. Pieters had deliberately chosen a different spot. Not by the dugout like so many injured players, but high up in the stands. Where the view was best. ‘I had a direct line to the staff. Stood there with an earpiece in, to think and support tactically. Walked down occasionally to pass on some information. In my way, I was involved. During that period, I did help with opponents’ analyses quite often.’
Things ended well for Kampong that day. The Utrechters beat Rotterdam over two games and hailed their ninth national title. Pieters celebrated with them. In his Kampong shirt, but wearing regular jeans, he saluted his first championship trophy. ‘I was pretty far along in my recovery at the time. But the playoffs came too soon. I didn’t have to wear my brace anymore. Remember how I jumped over the fence. I competed for a lot of the season. So yeah, it really felt like my championship, too. Although of course I didn’t play a second in the playoffs.’
Photo: Bart Scheulderman
It was all the result of a torn inner ligament of his knee last March. The beginning of a tub of misery. He could draw a line in the Euro Hockey League, which was held right after. So even the playoffs came too soon. The biggest pain, of course, was missing the Olympics. Before the Games, Pieters was fit in time, but his tumultuous run-up obviously did not work in his favor in the final selection.
The optimist who ended up in the pit
Anyone who knows the striker a little knows that Pieters is an open and optimistic personality. In good spirits, with the glass more than half full. There is always room for a laugh or a chat with him. But that cheerful guy ended up in the pit. Not being there in Paris was eating away at him.
‘I had completely lost the fun. I wanted to regain that this season,’ Pieters stated. ‘That was the most important goal for me this season. And I succeeded. Partly thanks to the space and understanding I get at Kampong, from my team. It’s nice when people understand why you’re not feeling your best. And that something like that is okay. During the season I noticed again why I want this. To love this life, to go for field hockey full and with all my devotion. I don’t necessarily get my happiness from winning or briefly peaking. That may sound crazy. But I find what comes before that much more fascinating. Improving or learning something.
While philosophizing, he comes up with an example. ‘I read at one point that Kampong had topper syndrome. In that phase we indeed won few games against direct competitors. I cannot tell now – so close to the finals – how we dealt with that. But we did. Then it’s cool that after such a dip, which also lasted a while at the EHL, you play two of those wonderful semi-finals against Bloemendaal. That road, that development. That makes me happy.
There for the first time all year
He had another goal, also related to last season’s pain. ‘I wanted to finally play all 22 games in the regular season this year. Due to all kinds of injuries, I had never managed that in the 12 years I’ve been playing in the seniors. That still felt like a blemish. It’s great to have had a year without any physical obstacles. Because my rhythm was not interrupted, I also performed more consistently this year. That also does something to your mood.
After a brief silence. ‘So actually I’m mostly very happy now.’
Photo: Rob Römer
The-scheel-tik-goal against Bloemendaal
That joy splashed off Sunday from the most beautiful Kampong goal against Bloemendaal, which was rarely so de-skeel-tapped as in the 3-1 in the second game. Pieters was a vital link in Boet Phijffer’s goal. He looked for space toward Duco Telgenkamp, got a rebound and then served Phijffer with one subtle one-touch pass. ‘There was so much in that. The goal was already beautiful. So was the moment: that made us sure we would go through. And it was also beautiful for Boet. He is of course saying goodbye after this year, which made the goal even more special. On social media you were almost drowned in images. I love it.
So that smile has returned this season. ‘I feel good and am fit. These weeks were special last year, too. But when you participate yourself, of course it’s even nicer. I was walking with Lars Balk during warm-up on Saturday and we looked around together. Those extra banners you see. The full stands. The big blue shirt always hanging in front of the clubhouse. Because of last year’s pain, I’m even more aware of it. Can enjoy it even more. Am extra happy to be here.
To make Pieters’ success story truly a completed fairy tale, one more thing needs to happen, of course. Become champion. And this time on the field.’
by Hockey.nl
