Michel van den Heuvel has been round lengthy sufficient to know each the highs of success and the lows of being sacked. Having headed the teaching models of groups as numerous as Holland, Belgium and Pakistan, moreover being round within the Dutch league with among the prime golf equipment, Heuvel is among the many most revered coaches in world hockey.
Now working with the Chinese males’s group, formally as as assistant coach, Heuvel is pleased to be again within the continent. His earlier stint with Pakistan ended on a bitter notice however China is totally 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 instructed The Hindu after his group’s opening sport right here on Friday.
Asked concerning the distinction in expertise between Pakistan and China, Heuvel most popular to concentrate on the current. “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 right here for the Asia Cup – one other world-level coach with large expertise and information of most Asian sides – however Heuvel, whereas optimistic, can be sensible about his group’s possibilities, each in lengthy and quick time period.
“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.
