Though Netherlands had been successful 14-0 in opposition to Chile, Jacques Brinkman was anxious, nervously tapping his foot. Despite having skilled the thrills and pleasure of the sport as a participant for 13 years, the Dutch legend nonetheless will get a bit edgy whereas watching his group play on the World Cup, particularly when his son is enjoying.
Thierry Brinkman is the skipper of the Dutch group, vying to win their first World Cup since 1998 when his father guided Netherlands to gold in Utrecht.
“Well, I am not really that nervous but of course the more we go closer to important matches like the quarter-finals, I will start getting a little bit nervous,” laughed Jacques, who additionally gained Olympic gold with Netherlands in 1996 and 2000.
“Earlier, I used to be an analyst for Dutch television and newspapers but when Thierry entered the Netherlands team, I stopped all of that. I am now only a player’s father, a supporter of the team. I’ve been so for many years. I am really proud that he is the captain of the team. He is playing very well, he’s scoring a lot of goals, providing a lot of assists. I am just so proud.”
Jacques along with his spouse travelled to Rourkela to see Netherlands’ matches in opposition to Malaysia and New Zealand earlier than coming to Bhubaneswar for the ultimate Pool C contest in opposition to Chile. The Oranje beat Chile 14-0, the largest margin of victory in World Cup historical past.
Thierry has scored 5 objectives, together with a hat-trick in opposition to Chile, and offered a number of assists on this World Cup. He gained silver with the Dutch on the 2018 World Cup right here.
“We talk during tournaments but I don’t speak about tactics or anything. I just say things like nice goal or good assist or ask him about how his hotel is, how he feels. Sometimes the Dutch hockey association organises sessions with parents and all the players where there is some nice chatter. Besides that, we don’t go to the team hotel,” says Jacques.
This just isn’t the primary time Jacques has come to India to see his son play. The two-time World Cup-winner in 1990 and 1998 got here to New Delhi to observe Thierry play within the 2013 Junior World Cup. “That was the final time. We didn’t come to Bhubaneswar throughout the 2018 World Cup,” mentioned Jacques.
Netherlands ended with a bronze in 2013 with Thierry scoring six objectives. Asked if Thierry is underneath the highlight and underneath stress because the son of a Dutch legend, Jacques mentioned: “He can handle the pressure. He is unperturbed. That is his strength.”
Jacques although has come to India a number of occasions throughout his profession spanning from 1987 to 2000. “My favourite Indian player was Dhanraj Pillay. He used to score a lot of beautiful goals. He was really brilliant. I also met Jagbir Singh in Rourkela, who is now a commentator. We met after 15 years. It was great. We talked about the old times,” concluded Jacques.
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