Korporaal in EK-podcast: 'Just being nice on the court, that's not how you become champion'
National coach Ard Korporaal calls Daniëlle Boadi one of the three best women in the world. He said so in the first episode of Czech-In, the EK-podcast of Korfbal.nl, in which he also explained why cutting players is the most unpleasant part of his job.
Automatically translated from Dutch. Read the Dutch original.
After the 37‑7 against Poland, Korporaal and Boadi were the first guests of Czech-In. The podcast appears after every match day of TeamNL at the European Championship in the Czech Republic.
Korporaal did not hesitate for a moment about Boadi when putting together the squad. "She is one of the three best women in the world", said the national coach. Boadi herself is more critical. "I just think it can always be better", said the DVO player, who said that Korporaal gives her a lot of confidence.
Korporaal and Boadi previously faced each other, when Korporaal was coach of Fortuna. "We had quite a few arguments", he said. Off the court he calls Boadi one of the sweetest girls he knows, but on the court she changes, and according to the national coach that is necessary to win. "Just being nice on the court, that's not how you become champion."
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Boadi said that she used to be an insecure girl and took two courses to learn to stand up for herself. She says she takes that with her onto the court.
Choosing the squad is quite a puzzle
According to Korporaal, choosing the squad is quite a puzzle. TeamNL started in 2024 with eighteen stipends, nine for the men and nine for the women. Due to cuts in sports funding there are now sixteen. He calls cutting players the most unpleasant thing there is. "It is part of your job, but it is actually the most unpleasant part of your job."
Korporaal is also concerned about the workload at this European Championship, with sixteen countries and seven matches in nine days. The Netherlands can spread the load with seven men and seven women, but not every country has that luxury. According to the national coach, Catalonia came to the Czech Republic with five men, after one man dropped out with an injury at the very last moment.
Korporaal does not expect a surprise from host country the Czech Republic. He calls the Czech Republic an emerging country with a good organisation. "But they can't beat Belgium or us yet."
On Saturday the Netherlands play Catalonia in Prostějov at 15:45.