Defender Bram van Battum (23) is known at Kampong mainly as a calf-biter. But to force a spot in the Dutch national team, he needs to make his mark offensively more and also become top fit, concludes the former player of the Dutch Junior Team, who recently played two of four international matches in Australia. ‘There is work to be done.‘
Varied defender Van Battum suddenly showed a different side two weeks ago in the Pro League match against Spain (4-2 win). When he was played on at the height of Spain’s 23-yard line, he did not look for a safe pass, but decided to take a risk and make an action. By subtly lifting the ball, he cleverly played past his opponent, something normally outside his comfort zone. Van Battum is not a ball wizard like Jorrit Croon or Floris Middendorp. He usually feels most in his element when tasked with shutting down an attacker.
Van Battum strives to become a more complete player. He realizes that more is required of him at the international level than just his defensive qualities. He must improve his running ability and handling speed, he must contribute more offensively and he must become top fit if he is to have a chance of participating in major tournaments, he believes.
‘A conclusion I have drawn myself in recent months,’ says Van Battum, who played his first two international matches in two and a half years last December at Wagener Stadium. ‘I realize I have to step up a gear to play myself into the selection. But I know exactly what I have to work on. I’m positive about it.’
Bram van Battum at an Orange training session at Wagener Stadium. Photo: Willem Vernes
‘I do and leave everything for it now. I want to see where my bar is. Bram van Battum
Until now, Van Battum’s marriage to the Orange has been a blinkered relationship. In 2022, he first reported to Jeroen Delmée’s training group and his development was rewarded with his first two internationals, at Union against Argentina. After that, he disappeared from the picture again. When Delmée wanted to call on him in the Pro League in the summer of 2023, he did honestly indicate to Van Battum that he had no chance of being selected for the Paris Olympics, to which the Kampong defender kindly thanked and opted for his bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering at TU Delft. For ten weeks during the summer, he worked full-time on his thesis.
In the current post-Olympic season, the time has come for Van Battum to definitely go for his chances. He went through the national youth selections and played the 2021 World Cup-21 in India with the Dutch Junior Team. Last April, Van Battum completed his bachelor’s degree, after which he began his master’s degree. Field hockey is now first, his studies second. It is a sacrifice he had to make to qualify for the Dutch national team, he realizes. ‘I do and leave everything for it now. I want to see where my bar is set.’
With Kampong, Van Battum captured the national title last season. ‘Last season was relatively quiet for me in terms of studying. I only had to complete five courses. That worked positively for me. Instead of experiencing the stress of deadlines and exams, I could fully focus on field hockey and develop as a player. I soon noticed that I was really progressing. That’s how I think I played my way into the spotlight, both in the big league and the Euro Hockey League.
With Jip Janssen, Bram van Battum celebrates winning the national title with Kampong last May. Photo: Willem Vernes
Second chance with Orange
After the Paris Olympics, Van Battum hoped for a new chance with the Orange. Eventually that phone call from Delmée came, after which he smelled his chance for playing minutes due to the absence of Lars Balk, Jip Janssen and Floris Wortelboer (Hockey India League). ‘It was great to be able to join again after Paris. I was happy and proud to get another chance after being in the waiting room for a year. It feels good to be part of the cycle toward Los Angeles.’
Whether he will rejoin the training group in March Van Battum has not yet heard from Delmée. Balk, Janssen and Wortelboer will rejoin then. With six international matches to his name, Van Battum knows exactly what he needs to work on. Physically I have to get stronger and I will keep training on the offensive aspect. I’m going full steam ahead and doing everything I can to further develop myself. Hopefully that will be enough to be selected again in March.’
by Hockey.nl
