With the European Championship in our own country, attention is focused more than ever on futsal. With Hovocubo and HV Veerhuys in the Eredivisie, Hoorn is the futsal capital of the Netherlands. Why is futsal so popular in West Friesland?
These are busy times for Maarten Frankfort (45), because de Hoogwouder is an analyst at the NOS during the European Championship. He remembers it well. “When we played in youth, the best players from North Holland were allowed to go to the Dutch championship. We always won that.”
It was the starting point of a glittering career in the hall, in which he became national champion four times as a player for ‘t Hoornsche Veerhuys (predecessor of HV Veerhuys, ed.) and FC Marlene from Heerhugowaard. He also came to 87 international matches for the Orange.
Unique and proud
Certainly in the 1990s, ‘t Veerhuys from Hoorn was a leading club in the Netherlands. With – in addition to Frankfort – also in the ranks: Sander van Dijk. At the same time, they made their debut for the Dutch team in 1997. “The fact that the ‘small’ Hoorn has two clubs at the highest level is unique. That certainly makes me proud,” says Van Dijk.
According to Frankfort, a rich past in West Friesland contributes to the popularity of the sport. “When I was 12 years old, I started at the indoor football club Schipper Kozijnen. At that time there was already a broad youth competition in the ‘Kop van Noord-Holland’. The level quickly rises and the sport gains popularity.”
Hovocubo and HV Veerhuys have a rich history and have been performing at the highest level for many years. Van Dijk from Hoorn, good for 25 international matches in Orange, has been at the helm as a trainer for 15 years at Hovocubo – which has a number of internationals. In the last ten years he has won the national championship three times.
“The history with youth competitions has given our region a head start in knowledge. On the other hand, you have to keep developing. Otherwise you will be overtaken.”
Hoorn city center
Van Dijk: “At Hovocubo we choose to practice top sport. Unfortunately, this is currently not possible with all boys from the city center of Hoorn, or from West Friesland. So the players come from further away. But we do invest in the youth and hope that more players from West Friesland will break through.”
‘Healthy rivalry’ between HV Veerhuys and Hovocubo only boosts performance, thinks Van Dijk. “You also need each other, just like Ajax and Feyenoord need each other. People look forward to the mutual matches, which are always sold out. It only reinforces each other and ensures that the level remains high.”
European Championship (European Championship)
The European Championship will be held in Amsterdam and Groningen until 6 February. The Dutch team will play its third group match against Serbia on Friday evening and has every chance to qualify for the next round. Previously, Ukraine was beaten 3-2, after which world champion Portugal turned out to be too strong: 4-1. The Orange squad has four players from Hoornse Hovocubo.
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