way. Recently we had the fi nale weekend of the ECCC and a week and half later we already played the Champions Trophy. These events were far too close together. As far as I am concerned, the EHL for women should be played in one weekend.” Private business Max Caldas, the Federal coach of the Dutch women’s team and previously the men’s coach for Bloemendaal, has many good memories of the EHL. “The tournament is great. It’s one big party. You need to be perpetually steadfast and besides that it is very nice to get away with the guys.” Caldas emphasizes the philosophy of the EHL. Because you train more often with your club than with the national team, just like in football, you can probably reach a higher level in the EHL, which is “A European women’s league should be seen as a reward rather than a punishment” MAX CALDAS interesting for the spectators and viewers. “A European Women’s league should be seen as a reward rather than a punishment. Thankfully, it is obvious other countries are taking the ECCC more seriously, especially the clubs in England. This is a positive development in hockey.” However, predictability and a lack of funds are threatening to turn the ECCC into a private party for clubs from the Netherlands, Germany and England. That would be disastrous according to Marijke Fleuren. “We’re having diffi culties fi nding hosts. It appears to be very diffi cult to organise a tournament for twelve teams for women’s hockey. Actually only the hockey club in Den Bosch views it as an opportunity because their fans know how well and how attractively women play. Most clubs think: ‘How do I do this, will I sink with the ship?’ As host, if you make a loss you have a real headache explaining that to the members.” Fleuren also points out that there is a danger the ECCC will be virtually exclusively organized within the borders of the Netherlands. “Presently the preliminary rounds of the ECCC are split up into two tournaments with six teams each. One group plays in Belgium while the other plays in Spain. But, it’s clearly not meeting with enthusiasm. The concept as we originally conceived it, doesn’t seem interesting enough for the clubs. That’s why we are now coming up with new proposals.” Whom are we doing this for? Kim Lammers understands the reticence of clubs. “I sometimes ask myself who is going to come to these events too. A while ago the Dutch national team played against Azerbeidzjan. That is not at all interesting to most people. Nobody shows up and there is absolutely no media attention for these kinds of matches. Whom are we doing this for?” “We have to continually think about how we can best sell our sport” MARIJKE FLEUREN Fleuren fully understands her point. “We have to continually think about how we can best sell our sport.” While sitting at her kitchen table Fleuren’s thoughts drift back to Argentina, where in September 2010 the world championships were held. Fleuren recalls how every newspaper featured the photo of Luciana Aymar, Argentina’s star player. “That’s the way it should be. Women play a very attractive game of hockey. They look good and at the moment women’s hockey is more popular than men’s hockey. It is clear to me that a women’s version can only make the EHL more complete. Easter and Pentecost: six days of three top games per day! What more could a fan ask for?” • 20 07 20 12 81 FOTO: SCS/BEN HAECK Pagina 80
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