Dutch duo plotting China’s hockey rise

Michel van den Heuvel has been around long enough to know both the highs of success and the lows of being sacked. Having headed the coaching units of teams as diverse as Holland, Belgium and Pakistan, besides being around in the Dutch league with some of the top clubs, Heuvel is among the most respected coaches in world hockey.

Now working with the Chinese men’s team, officially as as assistant coach, Heuvel is happy to be back in the continent. His previous stint with Pakistan ended on a sour note but China is different. “I am really impressed by the potential of the country and the team. I love to be in Asia as much as in Holland and, as long as we have a team that wants to progress and we can help a programme go up to a higher level, I am there to help them,” Heuvel told The Hindu after his team’s opening game here on Friday.

Asked about the difference in experience between Pakistan and China, Heuvel preferred to focus on the present. “I found out that China is, right now, the most beautiful country in the world if you look at the infrastructure, the possibilities, the power of unity – I am really impressed with that – and also athletes who want to improve. They have the possibilities to start growing but just playing one ok game is not playing consistent on a higher level. I am just here with this team for 3-4 weeks, it’s just a starting point of hopefully a beautiful journey,” he insisted.

The Dutchman has been joined by compatriot Roelant Oltmans here for the Asia Cup – another world-level coach with huge experience and knowledge of most Asian sides – but Heuvel, while optimistic, is also realistic about his team’s chances, both in long and short term.

“I just asked Roelant to be here for this tournament and helping me in scouting a little bit, he wasn’t there in China. He’s a good friend of hockey. I am also really happy with the Australian coach Anthony Farry, who was already in Inner Mongolia, working with the team there. But I am also very happy with the Chinese coaching staff.

“But you have to be realistic, we are 22 in the world. We have to start growing and in the end, we try to go to LA28. But this, in short term at the Asian Games, I don’t think it’s possible but you never know in sport. In the longer term, couple of years working with a good staff, I do think it is possible. But it’s a long journey, playing an ok game here is nice but Japan is a much bigger opponent for us right now,” he signed off.