The Dutch top player Dick Jaspers will play again in the Dutch Premier League from next season. The Brabander makes the switch from SIS Schoonmaak to the newly promoted Capelle and becomes the new leader for about 20 matches in the competition. “It’s a small change in my calendar, but I’m happy that I will be playing a lot more in the Netherlands again.”
SINT WILLEBRORD – Dick Jaspers will play again in the Dutch Premier League in the coming season. The 58-year-old Brabander is transferring from SIS Schoonmaak to Capelle SPC and has an agreement to play almost all matches for the Kozoom league. “I enjoy playing many matches in the Netherlands again,” Jaspers explains his transition. “Moreover, I received a wonderful offer from Puck van Aart, the team’s sponsor. To be honest, I’ve received a lot of offers from teams in the Netherlands, but this was by far the best. So that’s what I chose.”
In previous years, Dick Jaspers played barely two or three games per season for SIS Schoonmaak, the team with which he played one of his rare games for the competition this Sunday and won against Nikos Polychronopoulos.
Dick Jaspers does not intend to change much in his annual calendar, but has nevertheless made this surprising choice. He will continue to play competitions in France and will play less in Germany, because those matches are also scheduled on weekends. “From now on, my preference is in the Netherlands, also because it is a nice challenge. We will receive reinforcements, probably from one or two players from France. Perhaps Jérémy Bury and Mikaël Devogelaere. I have now been in contact with Dan Breur, the team leader, who is very enthusiastic. They really want to build a team that can compete well in the Premier League.”
Capelle SPC has been promoted from the first division with 37 points, followed by De Veemarkt with 33 points. Jef Philipoom was leader, but is leaving the team. Dick Jaspers takes his place as leader. Puck van Aart, the sponsor, lives in Veenendaal and is the owner of Paperclip, a greeting card company.
Jaspers’ new start in the Netherlands is partly related to the uncertainty on the international calendar. “We have to wait and see what will happen in South Korea and whether the major tournaments will take place there. Furthermore, my priority is of course on the World Cups and the major championships. Fortunately, the Dutch competition takes that calendar into account. I hope to play around 20 matches. My departure from SIS was on good terms. I had a good conversation with Carl Verhoeven, the SIS owner. He wants to change with the team and has lost an expensive boy with me. That might be a relief in his new plans. I keep saying that Carl is a fantastic person with a heart for billiards.”
Jaspers will soon skip the Grand Prix in Rosmalen, because he will play the play-offs in France with Intermarché that weekend. “I know that this puts my ranking at risk,” Jaspers realizes. “That could mean that I could miss the World Cup for teams, but I have been playing for Kozoom with Bernard Baudoin for years and in this case I have to play for my team in France.”
The Dutch number 1 also calculates that it will become more difficult to keep up with the top internationally. “Of course I want to continue to perform in the World Cups and the World Cup, but the competition is getting tougher every year. I was also eliminated by Ruben Legazpi at the last European Championship, because he played better. The influx of great, new talent is so great that scoring high in the World Cups is becoming more difficult. Of course I hope not, because I feel great, but it could also be a year less. That is why I choose to play more competition.”
Text Frits Bakker
Photo Dick Jaspers (Paulus Brekelmans)
Tags: Dick Jaspers Netherlands
