Despite the promising poster, it was quite a task for the match secretary to assemble a team. With many experienced midweek players finally succumbing to the allure of the Saturday league, it was crucial to inject fresh blood into the midweek team. This, however, proved more challenging than expected. Alongside midweek veterans Jurren and Bart M, coach/substitute Reinier, the returning Inge (who also joined the first match of the season on the field), and first-year korfball enthusiast Lotte, the team was bolstered with weekend team talents Tom, Willemijn, and Deen. We departed from Haarweg in two well-traveled Débaldérin cars, which had previously accompanied us to Prague, Budapest, Nitra, Brno, and Dresden. Surely, these cars would also make it to Duiven—or so we thought. However, this turned out to be irrelevant since, for unexplained reasons, the match was held in Giesbeek.
Giesbeek is a village not located in the municipality of Duiven nor in Westervoort. It is, in fact, part of the municipality of Zevenaar, but in terms of korfball clubs, it is closest to Doesburg. Interestingly, further research revealed that both Duko (Duiven) and Wesstar (Westervoort) regularly play matches in Sporthal De Panoven in Giesbeek. According to Wikipedia, this village along the IJssel (the real one, not the fake Dutch one) has a rustic charm. We’ll take their word for it, but fortunately, visiting the sports hall doesn’t require venturing deep into the village. Upon arrival, the entrance to the sports hall was surrounded by a group of middle-aged smokers. These smokers turned out to be tonight’s opponents. Unfortunately, the sports hall itself was still closed, and we were only allowed to enter 20 minutes before the match started.
Sporthal De Panoven features a canteen and four triangular dressing rooms that form a square in pairs—an interesting architectural concept. For three ladies, the dressing rooms were very spacious. Quickly changing and trying to warm up, coach Reinier had some final words before the match. He announced that Jurren would start as a female attacker alongside fellow “Friesian” Lotte, Deen, and Tom. The others began in defense. Oh, and Reinier also pointed out that the opponents’ fitness couldn’t be great, as their pre-match preparations mainly involved smoking.
The short preparation time didn’t faze Débaldérin, as under Lotte’s leadership, the students sprinted out of the starting blocks to a 0-2 lead. Soon after, Jelmer G made his mark, and only then did Duko manage to respond. WSKV extended their lead to 1-6, and from there, the game was relatively even until halftime, which ended with a score of 5-10. According to sources, Reinier did give a halftime talk, but the details remain unknown.
After the break, Duko briefly attempted to turn the game around, but Débaldérin soon hit the gas. Duko’s fitness indeed left much to be desired, as despite their strong start in the second half, they struggled to keep up with Débaldérin. At 9-21, the referee called it a day, and there were still two midweek teams waiting to play at the rustic Giesbeek venue. After the match, there were showers and, for some, a beer in the cozy brown café that doubles as the canteen of De Panoven—a definite recommendation for anyone finding themselves in Giesbeek.
Below the score report, you’ll find interviews with midweek captain Bart Merks and coach Reinier Schreuder, reflecting on this match and the rest of the season.
Scores
Lotte (7), Bart M (4), Jelmer G (3), Jurren (3), Willemijn (2), Tom, Deen.
Interviews with Coach Reinier and Captain Bart Merks
Interview with Reinier
How do you reflect on this match as a coach?
I’m proud of the team. We agreed on a clear plan before the match, and “the boys” executed it perfectly from the start. A lot of effort was put in, and I saw many positive things.
What is the goal for the midweek team this indoor season?
Nothing less than winning the championship. If we don’t win, I’ll be out of here quickly!
How do you feel about so many players being recruited by the weekend team? How will you handle this?
It’s terrible, but we’ll have to deal with it. These things happen in korfball. We have to make do with what we have and rely on young talents.
Interview with Bart
How should the departure of many loyal midweek players to Saturday be addressed?
It’s a challenge, especially for the men—we don’t have that many new male players. But maybe Niels and other first-years will want to join more often. As for the women, there should be enough candidates, and perhaps they could even play as men if necessary. We need to be creative.
What would you say to people who (still) aren’t playing midweek?
The midweek league is a fun, social competition. It’s perfect for anyone looking to gain match experience, stay in game rhythm, or enjoy the camaraderie of evening matches (with possibly a post-match drink). There are too many reasons to name—just give it a try!
Which midweek away game would you recommend?
On December 11, we play against ECKA in Arnhem. We remember them from last season—they were great opponents. Jelmer also highly recommends the special trolleybus there. For those who couldn’t join this time but want to visit Giesbeek, good news: we play against Wesstar there on March 5—mark your calendar!
~Your on the scene reporter