Dutch in seventh heaven after dream return to top flight
The Dutch served up a treat on their return to the Premier League yesterday and poor defending champions, Hong Kong Football Club, couldn't handle the extravagant delights as they went down to a resounding 7-4 defeat at Happy Valley.
Dutch Olympic gold medallist Jaap Derk Buma led the goal spree with a hat-trick - two sublime field goals and one nonchalant penalty conversion - and showed that, although he was getting on in age at 35, he would still be a thorn in the side of any defence in the local league.
'I might not move around a lot because I am not all that fit,' Buma said. 'But I play smart hockey. You have to be smart at this age. If I get 10 balls and score three times, that is more than enough.'
The 2000 Sydney Olympics champion has a point. And Football Club found out the hard way that Buma, who mostly stood around his opponent's 'D' waiting for his teammates to deliver the goods, still has the instincts of a predator. The experience of winning 143 caps for the Netherlands showed in his classy touches.
'With him [Buma] up there, it was always going to be difficult for us. He is a huge threat,' said Club captain Pietro Attala. 'We haven't conceded so many goals in a long time. Not since being beaten by Shaheen many seasons ago.'
With a player of Buma's calibre in their midst, the Dutch, who last played in the top grade back in 1999, will be a threat to any team in the league.
'We wanted our first game to be against the defending champions. We were not expecting to win, but throughout the game we felt very confident,' said Dutch Hockey Club captain Steven Zwaan, who like Buma has played in the Dutch Premier League.
Last season the Dutch were in the First Division, one tier below Premier, and they won it. They chose to accept the invitation to field a team in the top competition. With plenty of technical ability, and cool heads, they look serious contenders for the title.
'It is a great start for us and a very encouraging one. The rest of the league better watch out for us,' added an ecstatic Zwaan after his team completed the victory in front of a large crowd, including Henk Brandt, the 93-year-old former chairman of the club.
Brandt and a number of other personages from the club's past have returned to Hong Kong, not only to celebrate the club's return to the Premier League, but also to witness yesterday's signing ceremony with Dutch bankers Rabobank, who will be the title sponsors of the Holland Cup - the season-ending knockout tournament.
Much to the delight of the visitors, the current crop of Dutchmen turned on the style to produce a gilt-edged performance.
Apart from Buma, the other goals were scored by Martijn Hoogerwerf, who grabbed a brace, while Zwaan and Koen de Waardt got one each. They led 3-2 at half-time.
'This is beyond our expectations,' said happy Dutch Hockey Club chairman Marcel de Bruijckere, one of the many Dutch fans sporting orange caps yesterday. 'It is a fantastic start for us and a real surprise as we didn't think we would beat Football Club.'
Football Club, who always trailed, got on the scoresheet thanks to goals from Fraser Hern, Rob Todd, Tom Moore and Attala, the latter's effort from a penalty stroke. Attala had the chance to make it a brace, but he pulled his second penalty attempt wide with the score at 5-4. That miss perhaps cost Club, as they lost a bit of momentum.
Then Buma, who had a hand in five of his side's goals, sealed the result at the other end. First he delightfully dribbled around two defenders before coolly slotting the ball past Football Club goalie Martin Wong. Then he completed his hat-trick with the penalty stroke, a dismissive flick into the top corner.
'He might not be fully fit. But he is always a danger to the opposition - like Ruud van Nistelrooy,' said Zwaan, comparing Buma to the Dutch football striker.
Club defenders will surely agree.
