For a little over four o’clock Sunday afternoon, he was for a moment the king of The Hague. With his capital goal, HDM striker Mats Dicke (21) played a huge part in his team’s 2-1 victory over rival SCHC. HDM, now in ninth place, took an enormous step towards survival. And that thanks to a player who was initially not considered good enough.
His nerves were running through his body when SCHC got a corner thirteen seconds before the end, when the score was 2-1. On the bench, Dicke endured the tension. Almost put his stick in his mouth. Jumped up when that last chance was killed. And flew into the arms of his coach Pieter Pieterse right after. For a moment it was as if they were celebrating a championship in The Hague. Players everywhere were falling into each other’s arms.
Spaniard Marc Bolto could barely stand up from the cramp and was hoisted up by teammate Chris Taberima. The lovely folk song “Wipe them off the mat” by the unsurpassed Hague singer Chicco – worth looking up on Spotify – echoed across the sun-drenched Theo Mann Bouwmeesterlaan, where the outdoor bar was working overtime. In short, it was thick fun in The Hague.
In that delightful atmosphere, Dicke took a moment to reflect on his goal, the 2-0 at the end of quarter three. A flat shot from about six meters, which was too powerful for the outgoing SCHC goalkeeper Fritz Schnoeckel. ‘My all-important goal for HDM. I know that for sure,’ the striker beamed on the pitch. ‘And that means a lot to me. I can hardly describe it. I have a special bond with a lot of guys on this team. Jelte Kaptein I knew as a baby. Cédric de Gier and Sander Groenheijde coached me. Ruben Versteeg has become a good friend of mine. It’s an honor to be in the big league with them. And then also to score in such a game.’
In the summer that I lost weight, I ran my shuttles here. With the goal of being good enough someday. To come back. And I succeeded. Mats Dicke
The contrast for Dicke with three years ago could hardly be greater. Then, too, he walked around in the blue-striped shirt of HDM, where he played field hockey his entire youth. After A1, the striker hoped to advance to Men’s 1. But that dream was cruelly disrupted. ‘They didn’t choose me, they chose other guys,’ Dicke recalls. ‘A painful moment. I had a really hard time with that. But it also motivated me even more. The summer I lost weight, I ran my shuttles here. With the goal of being good enough someday. To come back. And I succeeded. HDM has always remained my home.
Because after three years with promotion class Cartouche, where Dicke manifested himself as a feared shooter, he joined again this summer. ‘I wasn’t really surprised,’ says the striker. ‘Also because there was also contact a year before. That never really went away. My feeling then said, I still had to wait. Now there were more opportunities up front and a new coach came in. This felt like the right time.
As a fan in the stands in The Hague: Jip Dicke (center, in blue). Photo: Willem Vernes
But his comeback at his old love was not easy. Dicke started the season with a tendon injury. ‘That left me unable to do anything for a few months. I missed half the games before the winter break. That was a false start.’ But Dicke battled back and is already on four goals. ‘I really won’t say I’m the very best. But I’m showing that I can keep up at this level. I think.
Following in the footsteps of his nieces
In doing so, Dicke is following in the footsteps of his famous nieces from SCHC. Indeed, internationals Pien and Jip Dicke. Especially Jip sees the Hagenaar often. ‘We both live in The Hague. But as a field hockey player I am more like Pien. We are both especially good close to the goal. Jip is too, but can also play as an attacking midfielder. Is a bit more creative. And apart from that, we all shoot when we get a chance. I think they are both fantastic strikers. If we can, we’ll come and watch each other.’ Laughs: ‘And yes, I am often asked if they are my sisters. That’s fine with me. I’m used to it.
Dicke with teammate Sander Groenheijde, once his coach in the youth of HDM. Photo: Willem Vernes
If appearances are not deceiving, Mats will play next season in the big league, just like his nieces. With HDM (ninth) he is since Sunday three points ahead of number ten SCHC. The Bilthoveners still play top teams Kampong and Rotterdam.
HDM also has a tough schedule with neighbor Klein Zwitserland and Oranje-Rood, also a top team. Dicke is not counting himself rich. We have to take points in the next two games. Then we have it in our own hands. And this happiness will not have been in vain.
by Hockey.nl
