Planet Field Hockey

KUALA LUMPUR: Goalkeeper Josef Kramer is the odd man out among the seasoned campaigners in the Dutch hockey team for the six-nation tournament, which begins at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil here on Friday.

The second choice goalkeeper of the team has only one international cap to his credit ? from a test match against Belgium last year.


Coach Joost Bellart said yesterday that although the 24-year-old Kramer was short on international experience, they still had faith in his ability.

?I know that he won?t let us down. I was impressed with his performance in the Holland League and I believe that he has the talent to be a good goalkeeper,? said the 50-year-od Bellaart.

?We will see how Kramer performs in the six-nation meet. If he plays well, he will definitely get a place in the team for the World Cup,?? said Bellaart.

The first-choice goalkeeper is Guus Vogels, who has 74 international caps to his credit. Vogel was a member of the team who won the World Cup in Utrecht in 1998 and the gold medal in the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Kramer, who plays for the Oranje Zwart club, said that he would do his best to prove his worth in the team in the six-nation meet.

?This will be my first major assignment and I am looking forward to impress my coach to earn a place in the World Cup team. It?s my dream to play in the World Cup and I will not let my coach down in the six-nation meet?? said the bald-headed Kramer after a training session in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

?My mission is also to be the number one goalkeeper for Holland. It is my aim to take over the number one jersey from Vogels.?

Holland are here with 20 players and coach Bellaart will drop two players after a friendly match against Japan on Wednesday.

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