80 league which would allow for a phased integration into the EHL. The EHF wants to reduce the number of participating women’s leagues from twelve to eight. The two leading hockey nations – the “Either disconnect women’s hockey from the EHL or completely integrate it with the existing league” MINKE BOOIJ Netherlands and Germany – would be represented by two teams each while the four subsequent countries send one team each. “My ideal is to invite the four best teams to visit the ‘lesser’ teams sometime in September or October, to save the ‘lesser’ teams travel and housing costs.” That would leave you with four teams that play their semi-fi nals during Easter and two teams who play the fi nal during Whitsun. Fleuren emphasises that in this version women will also play the games during prime time, which would be a clear improvement over previously proposed versions. “We are hoping that with this revised concept we can create something interesting to sponsors of the women’s league. The EHL has turned out to be a fantastic concept. If we are able to involve women in the tournament under the same conditions we will be giving the players what they have a right to expect.” Envy Minke Booij, the former Dutch international who was involved in the fi rst edition of the EHL as the television presenter for NET5 advocates making a clear choice where the women’s league is concerned. “Either you need to disconnect it from the men’s league or make sure it is completely integrated with the existing league”, says Booij. “I have seen how the women had to play their fi nal on Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. (during the ECCC, ed.). They deserve better. In the past, critics claimed women were not as powerful, had less physical ability “As far as I am concerned, the EHL for women should be played in one weekend” KIM LAMMERS and speed which made women’s hockey less attractive to watch. Nowadays, these are dubious assertions at best.” Booij, who stopped playing hockey in 2008 once stated as a TV presenter that she was “envious” of the men’s EHL. “The whole set-up is of course super cool”, she says. “But you know, at the same time I had some doubts as well. Some of the preliminary rounds were so predictable. That wasn’t interesting to watch.” Predictability has become a pitfall to be avoided, especially in the women’s league. Every year Den Bosch is the top favourite. In the men’s league more teams compete seriously for the title. Fleuren: “The new format will make for more exciting games. A team needs to play consistently well.” Kim Lammers, a forward with the Dutch national team and with Laren, has mixed feelings about a new plan for a possible ladies league in the EHL. “Of course it’s great to play this tournament. It’s a bit like the Champions League in football, with extra media attention. Sometimes though, I wonder whether we are not overfi lling the calendar in this Minke Booij, former Dutch international, presented the TV broadcast of the fi rst EHL edition. Pagina 79
Pagina 81Interactieve digi krant, deze uitgave of gebruiksaanwijzing is levensecht online geplaatst met Online Touch en bied het online uitgeven van web cursussen.
EHL Anniversary Book Lees publicatie 10Home