After seven years of intensive collaboration, remarkable successes and historic moments, Richard van Vloten and Marc Verberk will be saying goodbye as the coaching duo of DVO/Transus after this season. Their departure marks the end of an era in which the Bennekom club transformed from a relegation candidate to a top club in Dutch korfball.
A decision taken with feeling
The decision to quit was made only a few weeks ago. “The feeling had been there for a while,” says Verberk, “but now it felt like the right time.” For the coaching duo it was important to inform the club quickly. “The club needs time to find successors and the focus is now on the season, not on us,” adds Van Vloten.
Highlights and pride
Van Vloten and Verberk look back on a period full of highlights. The promotion to the top started step by step, with the ultimate result being two indoor finals and the first field title in the club's history in 2024. "The best moment? For me it was the play-offs against Fortuna, in which we reached the finals on mentality and fight," says Verberk. Van Vloten adds: "The moment you are in Ahoy is something you never forget."
The coaches are proud of the change DVO has gone through. “From a team that was just hanging on, to a real top club. That is a process of culture and mentality, and we have worked hard on that,” says Van Vloten.
The future of DVO
With the departure of the coaching duo, a strong foundation remains. “The youth training, internal and external scouting, and the organization are in good shape,” says Van Vloten. However, they emphasize that the step from youth to selection remains a challenge. “It is not just about korfball, but also about mental and physical aspects.”
Although they will no longer be at the helm, the gentlemen will remain involved. “We hope that our successors will build on what is now there,” says Verberk.
One last mission
This season, Van Vloten and Verberk have one goal left: the indoor title. “It would be the ultimate crowning achievement, but nothing is self-evident in sports,” says Verberk. “We focus on every match and see where the ship runs aground.”
What the future holds for the duo remains open for now. “Maybe a sabbatical, maybe something new. The most important thing is that it feels good,” says Van Vloten.
Whatever happens, their time at DVO will be remembered as a period of ambition, growth and achievement that took the club to unprecedented heights. The farewell may be emotional, but it is also a moment of pride and gratitude for everything they have achieved together with the club.
Watch the full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQP0aY0ufdg
