Koen Bijen has scored 5 targets on this World Cup up to now, together with an impressive one in opposition to Chile final week. But not way back, the Dutch striker was scoring targets utilizing his ft slightly than a hockey stick.
Bijen, 24, was taking part in for the Excelsior Rotterdam soccer group within the youth Eredivisie, the junior ranks of the highest skilled membership competitors within the Netherlands. Having spent his childhood and teenage years in soccer, the game grew to become his old flame.
Bijen even had affords to hitch Ajax, Feyenoord, ADO Den Haag and Sparta Rotterdam, however a diehard loyalist, he stayed put at Excelsior.
But as he reached his late teenagers, Bijen’s coaches requested him to surrender the sport.
“I was too small or short compared to the other players. They said I was physically not good enough. I quit football as I wasn’t selected for a tournament, citing my short stature,” stated Bijen. “After that, I started playing tennis, my second favourite sport. Like football, I also played tennis at the highest level (in juniors).”
But he quickly stopped tennis too and as an alternative took up hockey, which is a serious sport with a wealthy historical past within the Netherlands. The ahead was instantly influential as he joined HGC – a membership within the prime division of league hockey within the Netherlands. In 2017, he joined Klein Zwitserland earlier than transferring to Den Bosch in 2020.
“I combined the skills learned in football and tennis, for example the footwork, and started using those things in hockey and it worked,” stated Bijen. “I like individual sports, but I like team sports more. Now I am a full-time professional hockey player though I do play a bit of tennis in the summer or during vacation, but not in any competition. For me, tennis and football are in the past.”
Bijen made his debut for the junior Netherlands group in June 2019, taking part in in it for the following two years. A pure striker, Bijen was seen by Dutch coaches for his knack of scoring targets. Netherlands head coach Joroen Delmee lastly gave Bijen his senior debut in November 2021 in opposition to neighbours Belgium. He performed Tests in opposition to many groups and the Pro League in 2022 earlier than lastly getting chosen for the World Cup.
“When I started playing hockey, I realised I had a bit of talent for it. I was not like a typical hockey player who gives good balls (passes) and has tricks up his sleeve but I was a guy who could defend well and also score goals in the striking circle. It was a dream come true when I was selected to play for the national team. It is amazing to play events like the World Cup, representing my country,” stated Bijen, who has performed solely 22 internationals up to now, scoring 11 targets.
In his first World Cup in addition to India go to, Bijen is eager to take Netherlands deep into the event. “India has been amazing. We were one week in Rourkela where we played in this amazing new stadium. Now in Bhubaneswar. From the facilities to the crowd, it has been a really good experience,” he stated.
Bijen nonetheless follows his favorite soccer membership – Barcelona – religiously. “I love Barca. When I was younger, I supported Ajax. But I don’t like the Dutch league anymore. They used to have big players like Luis Suarez and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. But now I only support Barcelona because I am a really big (Lionel) Messi fan. It is sad he left for Paris St Germain. I hope he comes back, maybe in a different role.”
Netherlands beat Korea 5-1 within the quarterfinals on Wednesday. They will play Belgium within the semi-finals.
