Of course, Tuesday was Thierry Brinkman’s day. The captain of Orange played his bicentennial international against Austria (5-0). Only 28 others preceded the little striker. ‘Actually, it was terrible field hockey today.’
As one of the last ones on Tuesday, Brinkman walked towards the mixed zone, the meeting place between press and players. There was a reason for that. He first went to visit his parents, who were sitting in the corner of the field. In the shade. The dog loyal Jacques and Jacqueline Brinkman had brought all kinds of things from their hometown Bilthoven to Mönchengladbach. Two Dutch flags. One with ‘Brinkie did it’ on it. The other one read ‘200’. Afterwards they gave their son a framed picture. Of course from the gold Games in Paris. So far the highlight of Brinkman’s rich career.
Images reminiscent of yesterday, when Pien Sanders was honored at her 150th international appearance. The captain of the Orange Ladies told afterwards that she had borrowed her captain’s belt from Brinkman. ‘It’s true what Pien said. I indeed said that she could keep it if she scored twice. I thought it was a safe deal,” Brinkman laughed.
Of course, the striker did not know that Sanders – not normally a goal-scoring machine – would actually be good for two goals. ‘So yes, Pien still has it. Good story, though. Should have been allowed otherwise, though. I had two captain’s armbands with me.’ Jeroen Delmée once taught us that,” he laughs. Bring two of everything, guys.
With his parents and biggest fans, Jacques and Jacqueline. Photo: Willem Vernes
It is one of the wise field hockey lessons Brinkman has learned in the past two hundred international games. He is someone who values milestones. ‘Behind that number there are a lot of stories. For years you put everything aside to get to that number. That actually starts much earlier than your first international. That’s when you step onto the stage, but the road towards it began some twenty years ago. When I started playing field hockey. Which became a bit more serious after just a few years – when I got into the Dutch youth selections. Those twenty years are packed into this number of international matches, behind which there is so much. Above all, they are a lot of beautiful moments. I couldn’t have wished for much else.’
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The involvement of his team touches him most on his holiday. ‘I felt they wanted to make something beautiful for me today. I’m going to look for you, I was told beforehand. To feel that intention is actually enough for me.’ And fair is fair, his teammates made sure Brinkman was in the spotlight in no time.
After 28 seconds, he was the end of the most beautiful attack of the evening, which ended up with Brinkman via Derck de Vilder – genius cross pass – and Floris Middendorp – tight approach, good overview. ‘That was very beautiful. If I look analytically, it wasn’t our best game. We were not top. It was actually terrible field hockey too, with everyone in their 23-meter area and constantly a high ball that often arrived as well.’ Not ideal circumstances for such a milestone. ‘Well, you don’t have that to choose. I had never played an anniversary game at a final tournament. I liked that already.’
Photo: Willem Vernes
In the club of Kruize and Lomans
He ends up in a beautiful row of only 29 internationals who also ticked the two hundred mark. Just above Brinkman are, for example, Ties Kruize (203 caps), Bram Lomans (206) and Taco van den Honert (215). Field hockey icons. That is how Brinkman, as captain of the golden Orange from Paris, may later go down in the books. ‘That’s for others to decide, mind you. I know very few reach this number. That is super nice and very special. This morning I thought about it myself. I thought about my 50th, 100th and 150th. That last one was in the Wagener, at the Pro League against New Zealand.’
He looks into the distance for a moment. Germany and Poland are already coming onto the field for their match. It is already time for new protagonists in the stadium. ‘It’s secretly nice to dwell on this from time to time. It’s often about performing with the team. And that goes at such a fast pace that sometimes you forget how special it is. I often hear it from discontinued players. That they didn’t enjoy it enough. That mode doesn’t work to be top either. You have to be in the tunnel, the regime. You have to be focused. Don’t let it drive you crazy. Enjoying doesn’t always create that mindset. But sometimes it’s allowed. Occasionally.
In early 2015, Brinkman played his first international. In Cape Town, a practice match with South Africa. Not knowing where his journey would end. ‘I would say to that Thierry: brace yourself what’s coming at you. Because you have no idea what’s going to happen.’ He says it with a big smile. ‘I never thought it would be this beautiful. Hopefully it will last a while.’
by Hockey.nl
