LDODK after the blow of April: "It is D-day now"

It was 14 April and Kortezwaag was sold out. In the third game of the semi-final against DVO, Ran Faber made it 22‑18 for LDODK, but in the final minutes the match turned and DVO won 22‑23. "We have never been this close", head coach Jan Niebeek says on the club's website. Niebeek was suspended for those last two play-off games; Friso Boode was on the sideline.

"And that hit pretty hard in the group, you know", says Niebeek. The Thursday after, the squad got together, and it became a spontaneous barbecue at the home of Ran Faber, whose birthday it was that day. After that the switch was flipped. "Over all three games we were perhaps the best team", says Niebeek. "But we let it slip in that final phase because we did not stay sharp enough in our tasks."

That is where the work lies for him. "We have already taken many steps in recent years, now just that last step." The goal is the final and the title. "We may not be the favourite. That is Fortuna. But that does not mean they will become champion", says Niebeek. "It is D-day now."

Second, and never in the final

Last season LDODK finished 2nd in the regular competition, with twelve wins, two draws and four defeats. Only Fortuna scored more goals than LDODK. Harjan Visscher (111) and Ran Faber (102) were the top scorers over the whole season, including the play-offs. LDODK has never won a national indoor title, and the club has not yet played in a Korfbal League final.

Four players left. Terrenc Griemink returned to Groen-Geel after three seasons, Nynke Bouma went to Blauw-Wit, Nils Postma to Mid-Fryslân and Stefan ten Hoeve to WKS. Nobody joined from outside.

Champions from the club's own U19

The additions come from the club's own youth. In April the LDODK U19 became Dutch champion for the first time, with 10‑26 against Groen-Geel in Ahoy. Josse Scheenstra scored ten goals in that final. He, Noud Faber, Laura Jonker, Rimmer Houwing and Corné Hoogeveen are now in the first-team squad. "A number of juniors have come over. They are doing well", says Niebeek.

"We now have an even younger squad, with a lot of homegrown youth", says the coach. "Harjan is the oldest, but next comes Marlou. And she is only 26." According to Niebeek, the team must learn to hold its focus by itself. "Sometimes it is so loud in the hall that we can no longer reach the players from the sideline."

Two players are still missing. Marije Visser and Esmee van Veen are recovering from serious knee injuries. In September the club said they will not be match fit before January. Niebeek also expects Amber Klaren to return "in the course of the season".

A lot is changing off the court too. LDODK already trains during the day and is continuing its professionalisation. "Including paying players", says Niebeek. In return, players take on tasks in the club, such as coaching or commercial work.

The summer and autumn brought medals. Ran Faber, Sabine Verhoef and Harjan Visscher became European champion with Oranje in October. Amber Klaren, Danique Klaren and Tieme Eppinga became U21 world champion in August. On the field, LDODK lost the national title final to DOS '46 (14‑18) in June. This autumn the team won all six games in the Ereklasse.

Not in the final again?

In the first episode of De Korfbal Podcast this season, Wilco van den Bos and Lise van Maldeghem count LDODK among the best four. Van den Bos does doubt the last step: "But well, I think LDODK will in the end not reach the final again." He does have a player to watch: Scheenstra. "He is really going to break through."

John Jonker is hoping for Visser: "I also hope that Marije Visser will join in again very soon, because we have actually never really seen her shine in the Korfbal League either". For the first round he picks LDODK.

This afternoon at 17:00 DeetosSnel visit Kortezwaag. The team from Dordrecht is back in the Korfbal League after seven years. After that LDODK play away at KZ, at home against PKC and at home against TOP.