He shone in almost every final he played with Schaerweijde, but was never selected for a youth international. So the focus of Jurre Bunte (18) shifted to the future: medicine in Groningen, field hockey at GCHC. Until the surprise came. At the last minute he was allowed to go to the European U18 Championship.
As Bunte walks toward the interview table in Kampong’s clubhouse, shouts begin from the corner where his teammates are having lunch. Orange U18 has just finished the morning training.
There he goes, the little goldcrest,” he laughs. Bunte has to chuckle himself. That has become a bit my nickname,’ he says. After all, the striker from Zeist managed to score goals in almost every youth final he played. And was once labeled a ‘goldcrest’ on this site. A name that has stuck with his friends. There are worse nicknames. Some people are just born for luck.
Maybe Bunte is one of them. Because in a few days he will play his first tournament in the Orange shirt. Three months ago he joined a national youth squad for the first time. Never before had he been part of the very best of his age, except for a district selection. But now he belongs. While his thoughts were actually already on the future.
Jurre Bunte. Photo: Willem Vernes
‘I got it full in my face’
‘I’ve been fighting it for so long. No one can take this away from me anymore,” is pretty much the first sentence the tall, blond striker utters. He says it with a big grin on his face. After all, a week and a half ago things almost went wrong for Bunte. “And it’s not even a tough story,” he laughs. Bunte got a helmet thrown at his head in a practice match against Germany. ‘One of the defenders threw his mask after a corner kick at the back line. He threw the thing overhead. Exactly where I was standing. I got it full in my face,” Bunte describes in detail.
Everything bled. My nose, my mouth and my lip. Because of the adrenaline I had no idea what hurt. I actually only saw blood,’ he continues. Immediately the Orange physio and Germany’s team doctor came to the rescue. His upper lip turned out to be broken. ‘I was still scared for a while for my teeth. But especially for the European Championship. That immediately shot through my head. Am I finally there, I miss it because of something so stupid. Because of a mask in my face.’
Fortunately, it was limited to an open upper lip. There was no damage to his teeth, jaw or nose. After an hour in the hospital and a handful of stitches, Bunte was back to normal. Almost immediately after the incident, he was back on the field. ‘I immediately started Googling that night with my father. For something like a lip guard. I had no idea if it existed, but we found an American football bit. It has a kind of mouthpiece on it that falls over your lip.’
The specific bit. Photo: Jurre Bunte/Pica4you
He can talk and breathe effortlessly, but it doesn’t win him the beauty prize. ‘I did get quite a laugh,’ says the teenager, who also had every sympathy for that. When I competed again for the first time, I put the bit on in the locker room. Then I guess everyone there could laugh,’ he jokes. ‘After a few jokes it was done, though. Those guys also saw it all go wrong, so they were especially happy that I could play again.’
This season had to work out for the teenager
So it still worked out for the striker, who says once every five minutes how cool he thinks it all is that he is experiencing. This season at Schaerweijde I had resolved to do my best. To finally succeed is really special,’ he says. ‘All my teammates at Schaerweijde were always in such selections. I always had to listen to their stories. Or they said to me: you really belong. But yes, I wasn’t.’
‘I don’t know if Orange was really my dream,’ he then says honestly. ‘But I just wanted to experience it once. To feel it. I already loved the past internships. It gives me such a huge boost when I put on this jersey. I also sing the national anthem at the top of my lungs. I think you are obliged to do that. Once you are in the national team, you have to give your all everywhere.
From goals to doctor’s jacket
After the European Championship, a new phase begins for the talent. One that makes him smile, but also one that causes mixed feelings. After all, Bunte has been accepted to study Medicine in Groningen. ‘That was all before I joined the Orange,’ he says. A great achievement, but above all a very fortunate combination of circumstances. Medicine seemed like fun, but I didn’t want to take an entrance exam. Only Groningen didn’t require that. So I only tried there.’
Jurre Bunte and trainer Jeroen Groenheijde. Photo: Willem Vernes
So the chances of being admitted were nil. Most students enroll in multiple spots for that reason, but the goldcrest lived up to his nickname. Suddenly found himself among the four hundred lucky ones, out of 1600 applications. ‘I had also looked at Engineering Management, because I thought Medicine was actually going to be hopeless,’ he is honest. After the summer, he is turning his life around. He is moving to Groningen, where he will play field hockey in the Overgangsklasse at GCHC. ‘I’ll see how it goes. How it goes with studying and with field hockey. I know this will be my last moment in the Orange. That’s why I really want to give everything.’
That conclusion could just be the truth. Call it a luxury problem, but a hard choice to make for the teenager. ‘I’m just going to enjoy it immensely next week,’ he says. His eyes sparkle with it. You can’t give Bunte better motivation. ‘I do want to score a few goals. We’re not going there for nothing either,’ he grins.
‘Next time against Germany I’ll bow out immediately’
A wonderful conclusion to his junior hockey years, a first tournament with the Dutch national team and a dream study. Whether he wants to or not: Bunte is not yet rid of his nickname. And when he plays against Germany again at the European Championships in Lille? ‘Believe me, I will bend down when another defender passes by,’ he laughs.
The U18 EK-selection. Photo: Koen Suyk
by Hockey.nl
