The 5 Star Club

TEUN DE NOOIJER WHEN Nooijer plays, they say, it is hockey at its best. And he’s exhibited his wares over 240 times in international st...

TEUN DE NOOIJER

WHEN Nooijer plays, they say, it is hockey at its best. And he’s exhibited his wares over 240 times in international stages. Adding to the lore is his appearance — Medusa-like curly locks that has led to Dutch women voting Nooijer as one of the 10 most handsome sportsmen in Holland. On the field, he is known as the ‘Flying Dutchman’ — a sobriquet for his breathtaking speed and strength combined with crafty stickwork. After winning two Olympic gold medals and winning the world’s best player award last year, there’s reason to believe that Nooijer is the single-most important cog in the dangerous Dutch wheel.

SOHAIL ABBAS

SOHAIL is highly-regarded in international circles, mainly because the Pakistani drag-flicker has a 90 per cent success rate in penalty corner conversion. However, that was not good enough for Pak hockey officials, and he faced a ban recently, allegedly for going off to play in Germany without intimating the officials. Pakistan hockey isn’t in good shape and Sohail was needed for the Champions Trophy, which helped the decision to let him off. He has single-handedly pulled them out of trouble on many occasions in the past and Pakistan will need it most on August 22; the India match day.

JORGE LOMBI

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ANOTHER great penalty-corner exponent, the Argentine has a habit of emerging the highest goalscorer in virtually every tournament he plays in. Lombi was the highest scorer in the 2002 Kuala Lumpur World Cup and though the Argentines are yet to climb on to the big stage, Lombi is a proven champion performer. At the four-nation Hamburg Masters which India won, Lombi’s flicks didn’t work, but maybe, just maybe, he was just holding back for the more crucial tournament. The Argentines had to win the qualifying tournament to make it to Amsterdam, and Lombi will be all gun’s blazing to take home some memorabilia.

TAEKE TAEKEMA

THE Dutch Stickwork Factory has a habit of churning out apparently routine players who look ordinary but are manufactured to deceive. Taekema, at 23, lacks flamboyance and is usually tucked away in the left-half region, but has that uncanny habit of bursting upon the scene for a couple of minutes in which he will strike with his accurate drag-flicks. Only to retreat to the backstage. Taekama has joined the ranks of past Dutch masters, who are significant to the game because of their expertise in penalty corners. Remember Floris Bovelander?

JAMIE DWYER

THE 2002 FIH ‘Player of the Year’ is easily the most exciting centre-forward to watch and also the fastest rising player in the world. He scored 24 goals in his first 34 matches and experts are comparing him with Nooijer. Like the veteran Dutch, Dwyer is fast earning a reputation of being the a ‘complete player’. So far, the Australians depended on Brent Livermore for playing the lead role but now Dwyer seems to be sharing the mantle with the veteran. If the Oz are to do well, a spot of wizardry from Dwyer will have to play a part.