Hovocubo ends a very unpleasant period with a smile: “Not fun what happened”

This time it was all a bit stricter. Match tickets had to be ordered in advance and there were only 350 places available in sports hall De Opgang in Zwaag. The community police officers came to watch and extra security guards were walking around in the sports hall.

All as a precaution and it showed during the evening, because there was a relaxed atmosphere in and around the room. Nevertheless, the peripheral phenomena of the past week and a half remained a topic of discussion.

“It’s not nice what happened,” says Appie Marbah of Hovocubo. The interim coach has a bad feeling about the abandoned game against Tigers Roermond in the semi-finals of the play-offs and then the threat that made sure that the first final game could not take place. “We don’t know exactly where the threat comes from, but I do know that the board and staff of Tigers Roermond really renounce this.”

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The match itself between Hovocubo and FC Eindhoven is extremely sporting. The two best teams in the Netherlands are fierce, but above all fair to each other. In the end, the home team is just a bit happier in the completion and therefore leaves the field with a 3-1 victory.

Sander van Dijk was missing at Hovocubo. The success coach served a suspension after a red card in that match against Tigers Roermond. “Indirectly he was there,” said Hovocubo player Oualid Tarifit. “At halftime he sent apps of what could be done better.” On Friday in Eindhoven at the second game for the national title, Van Dijk is welcome again, but the coach, who has had a tough time, decided not to come this season. “He has lost his father and that is too much at the moment,” Marbah says with great understanding afterwards. “He has to give it a place and I think that’s smart of him.”

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The second game is on Friday at 8 p.m. in Eindhoven. “We’re not there yet,” Marbah looks ahead. “Let this all sink in and then recharge for Friday.” If the Hovocubo of interim trainer Appie Marbah also wins this game in Brabant, the current national champion will extend the title. In the event of a loss, there is still a decision game in Eindhoven on Sunday.