Netherlands: Training trip: with these 26 ladies, the Dutch will travel to Valencia

The Orange Ladies are going on a training trip to Valencia with a selection of 26 names. National coach Raoul Ehren chose to use his complete training group, but cannot yet call on Freeke Moes, Yibbi Jansen and Josine Koning. The Dutch team will stay in the Spanish coastal city from January 18 through 25.

Freeke Moes and Yibbi Jansen are currently in India where they are participating in the Hockey India League. Josine Koning is recovering from surgery; she will rejoin when the group returns from Spain. The Orange careers of Maria Verschoor and Xan de Waard are still on hold. For Babette Backers, Sofie ter Kuile and Mikki Roberts, it will be the first training trip with the Orange.

The selection will leave for Valencia on Saturday, where the group will do a lot of training hours. With double training, gym sessions and mutual matches. They will also practice against the national teams of Ireland and Spain.

‘Such weeks are important moments’

The national coach is looking forward to it. ‘The first training week in the Netherlands could not take place due to the cold. It is nice that we will not be bothered by that later,’ Ehren said. He is also pleased that the ladies who were missing during the Pro League trip to Argentina due to injury can now join the team. ‘Stella van Gils, Marijn Veen, Marleen Jochems and Felice Albers are fit again and I am happy with that. Such weeks are important moments. We got to know each other for the first time in Argentina, we can now build on that.’

Raoul Ehren speaking. Photo: Worldsportpics

Youngsters Mette Winter, Imke Verstraeten, Noor van den Nieuwenhof, Emma Reijnen, Eline Jansen and Trijntje Beljaars are also boarding the plane to the Spanish city this weekend. They made their debut in the Orange last month. ‘They did that well. So there was no doubt about taking them along now. I am satisfied with their performances.’

The Orange is preparing for the trip to India, where the selection will play the first official matches of 2025 – Feb. 21 to 25, against England and India – for the Pro League. The group will leave for Bhubaneswar in mid-February. It is still unclear what composition will be played then.

The 26-member group: