His player group didn’t see it coming. The board was surprised by the bombshell that Rob Haantjes dropped on the Nijmegen men’s team early this month. His first season with the Gelderland team, also appears to be his last. ‘I said to the guys: you’re probably going to see me in a completely different role soon.’
He is busy on the Tuesday that we call him. ‘I’m working on the layout of my latest book. The final part of a trilogy,’ says Haantjes, who, in addition to being a field hockey coach, is also working his way up as a fantasy writer. ‘And I still have to pack for the trip to Barcelona. We’re already flying that way tomorrow.’
That “we” is Rooster and his team. So is Nijmegen, where he settled over the summer. Despite the unexpected news they heard two weeks ago, his men still like the fact that he is coming along. ‘Haha yes they do. I haven’t heard any other noises. Of course I’ll make up the guys during the padel tournament that’s scheduled. You get that. Chuckling, “I’m mugshots.
So that smile hasn’t disappeared at Nijmegen. But of course it was a little uncomfortable when Haantjes told on the first training day of the second half of the season that he did not want to extend his expiring contract. ‘Of course there were questions. But fortunately I also had answers. The guys were mostly warm and understanding. They were curious about my motives. I understand that, too.’
Haantjes overjoyed after Nijmegen’s first win. Photo: Willem Vernes
The match made in heaven
For it is – even to the outside world – a match made in heaven between Haantjes and Nijmegen. One that Cupid would envy. The images in November spoke volumes. When Nijmegen finally won its eleventh big league game (4-1 against Hurley), the inspired coach joined the lap of honor. It showed once again that Haantjes is in the middle of his team. ‘I think it’s wonderful, those moments together. That connection with the group and also with the club,’ he said after that historic win.
So the 57-year-old coach seems perfectly at home with the team, which promoted to the big league last year. Haantjes was not on board then. He was given the task to keep the club at the highest level. A mission that is definitely still achievable: Nijmegen is currently eleventh, with a gap of two points to straggler SCHC. ‘I have a click with the boys,’ Haantjes emphasizes. But I notice that I spend a lot of hours coaching. It has almost become a full-time job. That costs me just too much time.’
The Eindhoven native searches for the right words. ‘Look, I love coaching. Secretly have been doing it for forty years. But – and this is a bit my problem – I love a lot of things. And I find that with the current set-up, there’s less time for ‘more.’ In all honesty: I had actually decided to stop coaching years ago. But then the ladies of Oranje-Rood came along at exactly the right time. That felt great again. I was shouting ‘hup’ along the line again. I felt ten years younger and was ten kilos lighter.
Haantjes overjoyed at Oranje-Rood. Photo: Bart Scheulderman
From water polo to Trinidad
That was more than three years ago. I feel that I am at a crossroads again. I feel it’s time for something completely different. That also suits me. In recent years I had the most diverse jobs. I was personal coach to water polo coach Robin van Galen. But I also managed the national team of Trinidad and Tobago for a while, just to name a few. Laughing after that, “The field hockey team, of course.
He sees himself standing in the packed meeting room again, at the bottom of Nijmegen’s clubhouse. ‘I said to the boys: you are probably going to see me in a completely different role soon, within sports. That could be at a club, at a federation, even on the staff. Maybe just a bit more in the background. As a trainer, for example, I would really enjoy working with talents. But continuing as head coach now, that’s at the bottom of my list.’
Perhaps his choice not to continue at Nijmegen offers room to combine his sports love with writing. ‘Ha, that’s not quite my genre right now. But I don’t rule it out. I don’t think it will be autobiographical. But a fantasy book about field hockey? Why not? Are people waiting for that, do you think?’
by Hockey.nl
