DeetosSnel back in the Korfbal League after seven years and aiming for 8th place
DeetosSnel were national champions five times, most recently in 1995. After seven years, the club from Dordrecht is back in the Korfbal League. The goal is clear: survival. It starts today in Gorredijk, away to LDODK.
Automatically translated from Dutch. Read the Dutch original.
- DeetosSnel are back after seven years and want to finish 8th.
- According to Van Vloten, Shane Buckland is a key piece.
- The podcast expects DeetosSnel near the bottom; it starts today away to LDODK.
Richard van Vloten, the coach, does not need long to think about it, he tells KORFBALINC: "Survival, 8th place, and otherwise via the playdowns."
The return came on 11 April in the Maaspoort in Den Bosch. DeetosSnel trailed Blauw-Wit 9‑4 in the first half, but won 20‑18. Before that, the team beat HKC in the semi-final of the play-offs, after losing the first match. "This is the best thing there is", Van Vloten told RTV Dordrecht afterwards. "We've been away from the highest level for a long time, but we're back."
Janse and Kraaijeveld added
The team largely stayed together. New are Jurgen Janse, who came to Dordrecht after twelve seasons in the first team of TOP Arnemuiden, and Zoë Kraaijeveld, who comes from PKC. Mees Oppe on Janse, to KORFBALINC: "With his speed he is truly impossible to follow at certain moments. On top of that he can also defend, so that's of course great too."
Read more: LDODK after the blow of April: "It is D-day now"
Van Vloten calls Shane Buckland a key piece. The England international was named Beste Speler (Best Player) of the Korfbal League 2 last season. "He has developed enormously over the past year. He clearly showed himself at the European Championship as well. He is a key piece for us", Van Vloten tells KORFBALINC. Buckland himself to RTV Dordrecht: "The Korfbal League is the NBA of korfball."
Van Vloten also mentions Jinthe Kraaijeveld, who is back after a year's absence and is now part of Talent TeamNL. "So yes, I do expect something from my team."
For many players it will be their first time at the highest level, including captain Quinty de Kroon. "Exciting, but great fun", she told RTV Dordrecht. Oppe sees a group that is looking forward to it, he tells KORFBALINC: "As we get closer and closer, you can see that we're really very eager." On how it must be done, he is matter-of-fact: "In principle we simply have to stay up. And whether that's with really nice play or with slightly less nice play, that doesn't matter all that much."
According to Oppe, the danger can come from anywhere: "Everyone can be dangerous. And so it can actually be someone different every week who takes on the scoring."
Rated low
Outside the club, expectations are low. In the first episode of De Korfbal Podcast this season, Wilco van den Bos is pleased with the return: "And Deetos, with its great history, I think it's really fantastic that they're back in the Korfbal League." But he is also firm: "Yes, I think they'll really finish last."
John Jonker expects it to be "very difficult", but points to the coaches. Van Vloten and Marc Verberk previously led DVO at the highest level: "they can turn a team into a fighting team." Lise van Maldeghem: "But I do think they can sometimes surprise."
On the field this autumn, DeetosSnel showed that they can keep up. Of the six matches in the Ereklasse, the team won four, including 18‑23 away to champion DVO, and qualified for the championship pool in the spring.
First to Gorredijk
Today at 17:00 the season starts away to LDODK. "But we're not sitting in the car for 2.5 hours to lose, we're going there to play for the win", Van Vloten told RTV Dordrecht this week.
After that come TOP at home, the other promoted side, DVO away and Fortuna at home. Oppe is most looking forward to DOS '46 away: "I just always like that hall. It has something." The derby against PKC is on 9 January in Papendrecht.
