Casper van der Veen Is Flying Again — and Oranje Have Come Calling
A year ago Casper van der Veen was watching hockey from a sofa. On Sunday he scored twice against Den Bosch, and this week the Netherlands came calling again.
That’s the short version of a wild twelve months for Bloemendaal’s 22-year-old striker. The longer version starts with a knee. Five games into last season he overstretched his right knee, and suddenly it was a race against the clock to make the Junior World Cup in India. He made it. And then some.
Ten goals. Player of the tournament. FIH World Talent of the Year. For a kid from Heemstede who started out at Alliance, it was the kind of winter that changes everything. Jong Oranje lost their quarter-final, but Van der Veen came home with the individual honours and a senior call-up.
Then it all fell apart again. Second game after the winter break, away at Schaerweijde, eighth minute. He felt a stab in his shoulder, played on for another minute, then realised he couldn’t hold his stick any more. Dislocated shoulder, torn cartilage round it. Season over. He ruled himself out of the World Cup himself.
Two injuries, one sofa
The rehab was lonely, by his own account. He lives in a Bloemendaal house with a few foreign players and Jorrit Croon, and Croon was in the same boat with a serious knee injury at exactly the same time. They went through it together.
“We’re both stubborn and wanted to get back as quickly as possible,” he said. “If one of us had a bad day, the other helped. At one point we were both lying injured on the sofa. That’s the last thing either of you want.”
The long lay-offs changed him, he reckons. He has always been demanding of himself, and he still is. But he is trying to enjoy it more now. Less forced, freer, more on instinct. Growing up, maybe.
It shows. Sunday at a packed ‘t Kopje, his name rang out twice in the 2-2 draw with Den Bosch. A set corner routine in the first half, then a bouncing ball in the circle after the break, controlled so softly and smashed so hard that the net barely moved. He ran off waving a finger in the air and jumped into Wiegert Schut’s arms. Afterwards he was still annoyed with himself. He reckoned he should have had two or three more.
Seven goals in eight games. His personal best for a Hoofdklasse season is nine, and he is nearly there already.
Oranje again
The goals have done their talking. Van der Veen is back in the Netherlands squad, and he is not hiding what he wants from it.
“I’m really happy about it. I’m ready to give everything for my place. Hopefully I can play another international in the Pro League soon. I’m only on four caps. I really want to stay with the group now without running into another injury.”
For our money, he is exactly the kind of player the Pro League squad needs in December. A striker in form, with a point to prove, who knows what it feels like to have it taken away. Bloemendaal sit fourth, five points behind Den Bosch, and they go to SCHC on Sunday. If he keeps scoring like this, the nine-goal record won’t last the month.
