EDE National team coach Arno Havinga has announced thirteen water distillers that will go to the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Including Edese Iris Wolves (archive photo), Simone van de Kraats and Joanne Koenders of Polar Bears. Evangelos Doudis, a resident of Eddy and head coach of the Polar Bears last year, is present as an assistant coach.
At the beginning of this year, the Dutch women’s water polo team managed to qualify for the Games for the first time since 2008 during the Olympic Qualifiers in Trieste (Italy). Thirteen years ago, Team Orange became Olympic champions in Beijing. The Tokyo band Orange will appear in the following line-up: Brigitte Slicking (Widex GZC Donk), Nomi Stomphorst (Widex GZC Donk), Sabrina van der Sloot (CN Sabadell, Spain), Vivian Sevenich (CN Mataro, Spain), Simone van de Kraats ( Polar Bears), Iris Wolves (CE Mediterrani, Spain), Maartje Keuning (CN Sabadell, Spain), Dagmar Genee (UZSC), Maud Megens (USC-USA), Ilse Koolhaas (NC Vouliagmeni, Greece), Kitty Lin Justra (Cal -USA), Joan Koenders (polar bears, goalkeeper) and Debbie Williams (Widex GZC Dunk, goalkeeper).
In addition to Havenga, the staff consists of Evangelos Doudesis (Assistant Coach), Ineke Yperlaan (Team Manager), Mark Smit (Physiotherapist), Tjeerd de Vries (Doctor) and Chris Hendrix (Video Analyst). The women’s water polo team will travel to Tokyo on Tuesday, July 13 for a training camp in Chiba with the United States, and travel to the Olympic Village on Wednesday, July 21. The first match in the group will be against Australia on Monday 26 July. During the games, only twelve names are allowed on the score sheet.
Arno Havinga: I’ve already had the team skeleton in my head for some time, but it took me a long time to decide who would be the best in what positions to fill in the last names. I am fully aware that by choosing I am shattering an Olympic dream for some who have worked hard for years and probably left so much for it. This is also part of the best sports and national coach job. I’m happy for those who come, but also the ladies who don’t partake in Tokyo in the end are just as important in the whole process towards this. I noticed that this is also experienced in our team: there is great solidarity.”
The women of water polo can be entertained twice at their home before leaving for Tokyo. Hofbad FC in The Hague will host the “VASCO Farewell Matches” for Orange vs. Italy on Tuesday 29 June and Thursday 1 July. Both games begin at 6:30 p.m. and will open to the public again. Later in the evening (9pm), the Dutch men will also play against Germany.
Olympic Games Program Pool classification: Group A: the Netherlands, Australia, Spain, South Africa and Canada. Group B: Japan, the United States, China, Russia, Hungary
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