Amelia Katerla experienced the absolute highlight of her career last Sunday in Porec, Croatia. The Huizen player’s goal in the final against Austria (1-0) gave Poland its first-ever world indoor title. By now she is back in the Netherlands. Without a suitcase, but with a gold medal.
The final at the Zatika Sport Centre is only three minutes old when Polish field hockey figurehead Marlena Rybacha sends a splitting pass from behind. Katerla controls the ball in the Austrian circle, sandwiched between two defenders. She spins away to the right, taps the ball twice and lays it perfectly ready for her backhand. The goalkeeper storms towards her, but it is too late. Katerla coolly slides the ball into the goal. Poland is in the lead and it will not be given away.
‘I had no time to think,’ Katerla recalls the situation. ‘There was an opponent in my back, so I couldn’t go to my forehand. I turned to my backhand. It went instinctively. After the goal I didn’t cheer exuberantly because I knew there was still a long time to play.’
Two days after the golden moment, we spoke to Katerla by phone. ‘We celebrated all night. I was actually supposed to work this morning, but sleep took precedence for a while. So I started a little later.’
Jumping and dancing with happiness
Her voice sounds fresh. There is no trace of fatigue, only pure joy. Cheerful and incessant, Katerla tells her story. ‘While making breakfast, I was jumping and dancing with happiness. I can’t describe how I feel. There are so many emotions of joy and happiness.’
The ladies of Poland celebrate the world title in the hall. Photo: private collection Amelia Katerla
That her suitcase did not travel with her on the flight from Croatia to Amsterdam cannot spoil the fun. ‘I currently have my gold medal in my hands. Fortunately, I had put it in my coat along with my house keys.’
In between enjoying herself, Katerla is busy answering the large amount of messages she received on her phone. ‘I did receive hundreds of messages. Even from people I don’t know at all. But I’m going to answer everyone.’
The gold indoor medal is big news in Poland, a country where interest focuses mainly on soccer, tennis and volleyball. It was the first Polish gold team medal since the volleyball men became world champions in 2018. ‘We have been congratulated by our president and this week I am giving a lot of interviews. The success is good for the promotion of field hockey.’
Amelia Katerla cheers after her goal in the World Cup Indoor final against Austria. Photo: private collection Amelia Katerla
Poland finished first in the pool at the tournament after Austria surprisingly lost to Thailand. After wins in the knockout phase over Belgium (2-1) and the Czech Republic (3-1), Austria was the opponent in the final. That team had kept Germany out of the final match. ‘The chance of gold against Austria was more realistic than with Germany as an opponent.’
‘We all formed a big wall that the ball couldn’t get through. Amelia Katerla on Austria’s penalty corners in the closing stages of the World Cup final
The final was not pretty but exciting and above all a tactical joust. Poland was lucky that Austria missed a penalty ball and left two penalty corners unused in the closing stages. ‘We defended with everything we had,’ Katerla describes those final minutes. ‘I sprinted so hard that I went under, which cost us a second penalty corner. We all formed a big wall that the ball couldn’t get through. They fortunately pushed it wide.’
After the final whistle there was a mix of disbelief and euphoria among the Polish ladies. It is an indescribable feeling. One thought: is it really true? The other fell to the ground with the realization: we are world champions. Our first World Cup medal. After all those years of hard work, we did it.’
So she is already back in the Netherlands. Preparation for the second half of the season is in full swing for Huizen, the bottom of the big league. Katerla has only been playing in the Gooi for a year. In the summer she came over from MOP. ‘There I was in midfield and at Huizen I play in attack. That is a different role and I have to get used to it. Because of this I have not yet been able to show my full potential. But hopefully this indoor success will also ensure that things will go better outdoors soon.
Amelia Katerla in action for Poland against Austria in the final of the World Cup Indoors. Photo: private collection Amelia Katerla
by Hockey.nl
