The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : Rich in experience, Nooijer is the toast of Dutch side

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Saturday, Dec 10, 2005

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Sport - Hockey

Rich in experience, Nooijer is the toast of Dutch side

K. Keerthivasan

Chennai: As a midfield striker, he's easily one of the best in contemporary hockey. His dribbling skills, exceptional speed, quick change of direction and trajectory of shots, can hoodwink even the toughest of defenders. The 29-year-old Teun de Nooijer of the Netherlands is the man the national coach, Roelant Oltmans, would be banking up on to provide the team with breakthroughs.

Not only as a striker or linkman but also as a leader of men, who has played in more than 300 International matches.

A man for all seasons, Nooijer has seen it all having been a member of two Olympic gold medals (1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney) and part of the Netherlands team in five Champions Trophy triumphs. Nooijer says his role has changed now. "It's to give the team confidence and let them play well. In 1996 (at the Champions Trophy in Chennai) I did my part and now I'll have to allow the team to play well, and get an overview of things, Nooijer said in a chat with The Hindu.

The golden goal

What most hockey lovers still remember of Nooijer is the golden goal he scored in the 1998 Utrecht World Cup final against Spain. After a 2-2 deadlock, a quick swat by the Dutch sent the ball crashing in to the net. "It'll remain a special moment in my career. In front of 20,000 fans cheering us, it was really special. I have some fond memories," he says.

Unlucky

Even after preparing diligently for the European Nations Cup this year, the Netherlands failed yet another time at Leipzig in September, losing to Spain in the summit clash. Having not won the cup since 1987, Nooijer says "all the finals we lost have been close".

"In 1995, we lost to Germany in Ireland on penalties, and then in 1999 we lost to Germany on penalties and this year to Spain," says the 2003 FIH Player of the Year.

With the next European Cup scheduled in 2007 at the Netherlands, Nooijer says "what better place to set right the record."

With Oltmans back as coach, the Netherlands will be more than keen to do what it achieved in 1996 here. Nooijer wouldn't complain if he were in the party for the sixth time.

The Netherlands meets Pakistan on December 10 in its opening encounter.

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