In Wormer, a new wind of fresh air should blow through the Groen Geel hall next season. The korfball club recently presented the new trainer duo, but is facing major challenges. Almost nothing remains of the regular group of players. “It is an empty run,” says chairman Rick de Wit, who does not want to speak of a transition year, but of a turnaround.
Several strong holders have left Groen Geel in recent weeks. Kevin Dik, Carlo de Vries, Terrenc Griemink, Lisanne de Bruin, Fenna Jagtman, Scott De Decker and Lindsy Krop all leave the club after years of loyal service. “It’s a deflation at the top,” says De Wit. “We’ve had a very tight-knit and talented group over the last few years. We always had good expectations and some of that has come true with the performance. For the outside world and the individuals, I think the expectations were a bit higher. I think that has helped them decide to see if they can move up the sporting ladder at another club.”
New faces
With Pjotr Kim from ZKV and Kiko Weenink from KZ, Groen Geel has now received the first reinforcements for next season. The majority of the departed players will be accommodated with players from the second team, which performed well last year. “Once again, the objective remains just survival in the Korfball League. We want to play at the highest level in the coming years.”
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Interim coach Dico Dik will also make way for a new trainer duo. Mady Tims and Chris Beuk will shape the new Green Yellow. “We are entering a multi-year trajectory. You need people with top korfball knowledge for that. With Mady Tims, we also have a nice appearance as the first female head coach at the association.”
Headwind
Groen Geel barely stayed in the Korfball League last season. The team survived the play-down games with Dalto and will therefore be active again at the highest level next season. “The situation we have come into hurts a bit here and there. We just have seen a headwind at the moment.”
“It makes no sense to point to everything that is or is not good,” says De Wit, who, despite the sporting stagnation, hopes that Groen Geel will have a slightly easier season. “It is now about looking at what we can improve. We have played bottom in recent years and there is a good chance that this will be the case again next season. That is not new to us. The challenge for us is to get through it as best you can.”