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Loyston Dlenthe in Hong Kong

July 29th, 2008 | By: Jan | 13 Comments »

The Dutch Olympic team has entered a new wonderous world. Surrounded by smiling and bowing strangers, the Dutch athletes are being guided to their new, temporary home.

A lady at the airport sums up the players names for their official documents: Loyston Dlenthe, Elik Pietels and Loy Makaay are all invited to come forward. And good luck with the Olympics.

De Haan wanted to do some aqua jogging in the hotel pool on the roof. But the plans are being changed. It’s much too hot for that activity. So, instead, the group will walk along the Kowloon coastline. De Haan knows how to improvise.

Oranje will have to shield itself against jetlag, high temperatures, high humidity and the smog. The two prep games against Cameroon and Ivory Coast are planned to help the team adjust.

In the evening, the circumstances to train are better. “It looks and feels like Suriname,” knows Drenthe, “although those Chinese letters are a bit weird.”

Foppe de Haan is having fun. “If this is the climate as off now, I think we’ll be fine.” De Haan admits he is a tad nervous. He keeps the training session short. Some warming up, some ball exercises and a couple of sprints. And that’s it.

“We have asked help from specialists and talked to the hockey team, in particular Oltmans and Mark Lammers. We also asked Jim McCarthy of the skating team for advice and their training methods in different circumstances. We think we can benefit from that.”

Roy Makaay has seen a lot of the world already. Still, he is impressed. “It’s great, this vibe. Being in a different culture, helps to realize the whole thing has started.”

De Haan: “The atmosphere in the stadiums will be crucial as well. Will there be a lot of people? Does the public understand the game. Is there a dynamic? That’s all vital to get into the zone. This is a different world altogether. And these things can help to get the team ready for the big games.”

Tags: De Haan, Drenthe, Makaay, Olympic and Young Oranje, Olympics, Oranje

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Comments

By finnster01 | July 29th, 2008 at 6:54 am

Now what on earth are they doing in the picture?

Training on handballs…? Looks like they are all about to steal the ball and tuck it under their shirt.

By Carlos | July 29th, 2008 at 8:41 am

YESSS !!!
ESPN showing the ING Cup Holland v Cameroon “live” 8.30pm Singapore time tomorrow Wednesday…Hope the ESPN network shows it in all your countries too friends !!

Posted from Singapore

By Caleb | July 29th, 2008 at 8:53 am

You’re right finnster, looks like a basketball drill or something…

Posted from Canada

By goose | July 29th, 2008 at 10:27 am

off topic; just read that Uefa has made 700 mln euros out of the Euro08
250 mln euros for the Uefa!! unbelievable
and if one tries to find any vids of Euro08 they are all removed cause they are afraid they miss out on more money
they NEVER think of the fans, just think of their own wallet!!
f fascists

Posted from Netherlands

By finnster01 | July 29th, 2008 at 10:33 am

Does that mean Platini gets a new carpet and desk in his office?

By Bob | July 29th, 2008 at 11:21 am

When I participated in the KNVB seminar several years ago, one of the “drills” we did was this drill. It is an agility drill that leads to using the feet with the ball. Leave it to de Haan to keep these Dutch football traditions. I hope they do well.

Posted from United States

By goose | July 29th, 2008 at 11:28 am

@finnster; i really think its outrages(?) they should realise that its he fans who make football what it is..people like us…but try to get a ticket for an EC or WC match; almost impossible, here in Holland you need to be a member of the ‘Oranje fanclub’(wich ive been for 10 years) than you can take part in a lottry with 45000 others for 1 ticket per person!! guess what;almost 50 percent of all tickets go to Uefa, their relations and their sponsors!! shame on them!!

and im really pissed that they remove all the EC08 videos on the Tube.. whats the problem with 100000 people reliving the enjoyment of the EC??? i really cant figure it out; do we all need to buy the 1 official Uefa DVD (euro 45)??

i thought that Platini knew better but its the smae old story

&*^&%^&%@&**()*)%$#@$#% Uefa (and FIFA)

Posted from Netherlands

By alaa | July 29th, 2008 at 12:38 pm

off topic

i was watching rai sport news(italian tv), they were talking about players news, and they said that ibrahim afellay is very close to move to as roma, do you know anything about this story?

By goose | July 29th, 2008 at 1:13 pm

@alaa; i just checked some dutch sites…nothing about it; certainly dont want Affelay to move to italy, the SerieA is far too physical for him; he would be injured for life!!

Posted from Netherlands

By chatchat | July 29th, 2008 at 2:20 pm

I only notice this blog after the EURO 2008. What a pity!

After reading most of Jan’s writings and other people’s commetns, I think you guys are too harsh on Marco Van Basten. The problems with Oranje are: 1. the lack of fighting spirit and 2. a weak defense line (look the fact that none of your defender playing in a top notch club). Your team won’t go far as long as these two problems ramian resolved, no matter who the coach is.

Marco at least did one good thing for the Oranje: a number of young player have two big tournament experience. If they do well in 2010, I hope the Dutch people will remember to give Marco soem credit. He deserves it!

Posted from United States

By chatchat | July 29th, 2008 at 2:26 pm

Sorry for the typos. Have to repost it:

I only notice this blog after the EURO 2008. What a pity!

After reading most of Jan’s writings and other people’s comments, I think you guys are too harsh on Marco Van Basten. The problems with the Oranje are: 1. the lack of fighting spirit and 2. a weak defense line (just look at the fact that none of your defenders playing in a top notch club). Your team won’t go far as long as these two problems remain unresolved, no matter who the coach is.

Marco at least did one good thing for the Oranje: a number of young player now have two big tournament experience. If they do well in 2010, I hope the Dutch people will remember to give Marco soem credit. He deserves it!

Good luck to the Oranje in the Olympics!

Posted from United States

By Jan | July 30th, 2008 at 12:39 am

Hi there Chatchat, I will post some post-EC analysis stuff in the next weeks. I came across a wonderful analysis I want to share with you. This puts Van Basten’s performance in a different light .