The FIH Hockey Pro League second season gets underway in January 2020 after a hugely successful first edition. We caught up with the coaches and players from the participating teams as they prepare for the new look FIH Hockey Pro League season to get underway. In the following interview, Netherland’s women’s captain Eva de Goede, talks about the forthcoming season and what the Hockey Pro League means to her and the team.
Netherlands (FIH World ranking: 1) were league champions for the 2019 FIH Hockey Pro League season. They won all except one of their matches to top the league and then beat Australia in the Grand Final. Their 2020 campaign starts with an away fixture against China on 11 January 2020.
What did the side learn from the first season of the FIH Hockey Pro League?
Eva de Goede: We learnt that you really have to be in form every single game and that is especially true for this season because there is no [Grand] Final weekend, so you actually have to win every game. And we learned to play with a really big squad. It was important to us that we had a big group, we changed every game and that was good for us and we learned from it. And I think we will use that again this season.
What are the team’s ambitions for this second season?
Eva de Goede: Our ambitions are actually the same as last season. We really want to win this one, especially as we are coming towards the Olympics. We want to play well as a squad and really get to that point where we are playing at our highest level so, yes, we are going for the gold again.
What are your thoughts on the new FIH Hockey Pro League format that will be introduced in the second season?
Eva de Goede: We will have a little less travelling, which is great. We are not going to Australia and New Zealand this time. Yet again, there still is some travelling and I am really looking forward to the games we are going to play at home because the ambience is always amazing back home.
Which fixture are you most looking forward to?
Eva de Goede: I always love to play Argentina. They are always tight games for us. And I also look forward to all the fixtures that we play at home because I think it is always like a party when we play at home. We get lots of support, which really helps us and it is always amazing, so I am looking really forward to it.
What was your #MyProLeagueMoment from the first season?
Eva de Goede: For me it was the semi-final and final that we played in Amsterdam in front of our home crowd. It was beautiful weather in Holland, which is special! Yes, I love to play those games and I think we played really well as a team. We finally got together and we won gold, so that was special.
What message have you got for the fans to get them along to watch the matches in the second season?
Eva de Goede: I would like to invite all fans, all over the world, so if you live in China or Argentina or America – I know ‘Dutchies' live everywhere – so please be there, all in orange so we can recognise you. Thank you very much for your support. And then to our ‘Dutchies’ back home, come along to our home matches and support us. Join in the fun, it will be a great atmosphere. See you there.
#FIHProLeague
