Sport - Hockey   

Waiting for their baggage

By A. Joseph Antony

HYDERABAD, FEB. 4. Six Dutch players went through the grind on Wednesday, without their own shoes or sticks. Kruize said their baggage had not left Amsterdam along with them. The aircraft they were flying in had too many people on board which forced them to leave some luggage behind. Through the good offices of the team's liaison officer, Narenderpal Singh, and the calls he made, the visitors hoped they'd be fully equipped well in time before the first match on Thursday.

* * *

"Poor guys," says the Netherlands' Manager, Ties Kruize, at the mention of PSV Eindhoven. Why is he so sympathetic to the fancied soccer side? Pointing to his head, he qualifies, "Poor upstairs." Dig deeper and sympathy sinks to scorn. Kruize is an ardent Ajax Amsterdam supporter!

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If you thought astro-turf was the only water pitch played on, come again. Dutch players train also on Desso and Edelgrass in addition to sand, the last-named also an artificial surface. Impressed by the track at the Gachibowli stadium, Kruize, a former Holland great, said the speed 5 turf there was very player-friendly and would be soft on knees and ankles. Enthusiastic hockey fans in India made this series worth waiting for, he said.

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While the Dutch love the game of sticks and wits, it has and will not be all play and no work. From the New Year's day, the team was in South Africa, the sojourn starting off with a week's training in Johannesburg. Not to be impolite, South Africa isn't among the strongest of sides, Kruize said, but it was valuable experience. Two games were played against the Belgians too. It will be back to their picturesque country after this Indian tour. The side will then be in Rome from February 12 for a week to play Germany twice. Then it's back to the homeland again before playing Pakistan three days before the Olympic qualifiers in Madrid.

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