He was named a rising star of the Tulip big league and made his debut with Bloemendaal’s big men this season. But at the U18 European Championship in Lille, a different feeling prevailed for defender Teun Hogenhout (17). ‘It was quite difficult the last few days.’
The 3-0 victory over Scotland on Wednesday afternoon did not feel like real satisfaction, but rather a confirmation of what the Orange talents already knew: the field play is more than fine, but the return is lacking.
‘Actually today it went a bit like the whole tournament,’ begins defender Teun Hogenhout. ‘We create a lot, often get into the circle… only the last bit is missing. For that reason we rather lose to France and Belgium,’ analyzes the Bloemendaal player. ‘If you look purely at the results, it’s logical that we don’t make the semifinals. But if you saw the matches, you don’t understand anything. All the statistics were better. I personally find that frustrating. People only see the final score. Not how you lose. We are better than the scoreboard shows.’
Teun Hogenhout. Photo: WorldSportPics
Guys from the big league or with NK experience.
Precisely that makes the disappointment extra sour, he thinks. ‘On the other hand, we know very clearly what has to improve: we have to score more. But it keeps not falling. That’s just bummer. We have guys here who played the NK a few weeks ago, guys who compete weekly in the big league. I can’t imagine they feel so much more nerves before this tournament. We just played well, up until the penalty spot. Just not after that,’ he says. ‘It could have fallen our way a long time ago this tournament. Had we been allowed to play a game over, we would have won it. I really know that for sure.’
The elimination came hard. ‘My parents were there on Monday and Tuesday. They helped me deal with the disappointment. They would have come again if we had gone through, but now they are staying home. I understand that. I myself also feel that the tension is a bit off. We still play two nice games, but the tournament feeling is different. It is less alive,” he says honestly. And everyone will understand. ‘It was quite a disappointment. Within two days we were kind of done.’
Laser gaming, toepen and poker
To give everything a place, the team undertook something different than usual on Tuesday (on the rest day). ‘It was pretty tough for a while the past few days. We went laser gaming with the team. Then we played a lot of poker and poker. We made something of it. Processed the disappointment. The atmosphere hasn’t changed. We have a great time together.
Teun Hogenhout. Photo: WorldSportPics
Hogenhout also got some jokes recently. That all had to do with the title ‘Rising Star.’ He was voted talent of the year in the Tulip big league. ‘None of that is necessary for me,’ the teenager says soberly. ‘I’m a little too modest for such things. I like it, but I don’t have much use for it. I’m not into it either. My teammates are. Because they know I don’t like it. They do it on purpose, but I can laugh about it,” he says. Still, what the defender has shown is special. Over a year ago he still played in Bloemendaal O16, started last season in O18 and was quickly moved on to Men’s 1.
Rising star and water carrier
‘I did have a very cool season,’ is his simple conclusion. ‘I joined U21 a few weeks ago, but now I’m back with my peers. I like playing with guys my age. Recently at Bloemendaal I had a completely different role. When you play with your friends again now, it’s just a lot of fun,’ he says. ‘Those guys in Men’s 1 are all a lot older. I notice that I have learned a lot. Normally I listen to guys like Floris Wortelboer and Jorrit Croon, but on this team I apply that a bit myself. They are the leaders at Bloemendaal and I try to apply that a bit at Under-18.’
Photo: WorldSportPics
At Bloemendaal last season, therefore, he was also responsible for the water. Hogenhout has to laugh. ‘But I didn’t mind that,’ he quickly adds. At Oranje U18 the water task is not for him. But to say he got off very well. ‘I am responsible for the bikes. I have to lock them up. That’s not a nice job either,” he laughs.
The Dutch Team will play two more games to show what it has to offer. In the losers’ pool they will meet England on Friday – a serious showdown and on the final day they will play the Czech Republic, which was beaten 19-0 (!) by Germany on Wednesday afternoon. I am looking forward to playing the English. We just want to finish as high as possible now. To finish well. But if that’s sixth instead of fifth, that’s fine by me too. Of course I came here for place one. As long as it’s with good play. We know what needs to be better. You don’t live towards these matches anymore, but I’m looking forward to showing what we can do.’
by Hockey.nl
