Hockey star De Goede did not see the choice of national coach coming: ‘Rough on my roof’

NOS Sports•today, 4:30 PM

Drummond-De Goede did not see the choice of national coach coming: ‘Rough on my roof’

Eva Drummond-De Goede had to swallow hard after hearing the ominous words of hockey national coach Paul van Ass. Not good enough for the Dutch anymore, was the gist. Away from fifth Olympic participation.

“The decision came as a shock to me. I felt fit and good, so I did not see this coming. That makes the disappointment even greater,” says Drummond-De Goede, named the best hockey player in the Netherlands in 2018 and 2019. world.

“The explanation was that the future does not belong to me and Paul also said that I am not good enough at the moment, that I am not among his first sixteen players. I have to accept it,” she says. “I think I still add value to the team, but if he sees it differently, I have to accept that.”

Better this way, instead of him making me continue training really hard.

The 35-year-old hockey player won three Olympic gold (2008, 2012 and 2021) and one silver (2016). “It is of course a dream to experience another Olympic Games. I am now a veteran. I wanted to go for it one more time.”

The player of HGC from Wassenaar appreciates that Van Ass has already made his decision known. “It’s better this way, instead of him making me continue training really hard. Although I would of course have wanted to continue training until the last minute to show that I do belong.”

Drummond-De Goede has an enormous track record. She played 266 international matches and in addition to the three Olympic titles, she also became world champion three times with the Netherlands (2022, 2018 and 2014) and European champion four times (2021, 2019, 2011 and 2009).

The hockey player was already planning to emigrate to South Africa, where her husband is from, after the Games.

In addition to Drummond-De Goede, 34-year-old Margot van Geffen (265 international matches) was also passed by Van Ass. The national coach already made the choice in January not to call up Lidewij Welten for the Dutch team.