Sjoerd Marijne will bid adieu to the Indian women’s hockey team, a unit he transformed from also-rans to one to be feared. The Dutchman, who took charge of the team four years ago, said his decision was based on spending time with his family.
“I will miss the girls but I miss my family more. My family is No. 1. I want to be with my son, daughter and wife after being away for three and a half years,” Marijne said.
Marijne, who is writing a book about his experience in India, said, “This is a beautiful way to end this journey.”
He spoke with the media after India went down fighting to Great Britain 3-4 in the bronze medal match at the Oi stadium on Friday.
“I am so proud of the girls,” he said. “They inspired the whole of India.”
“I told them after the match that they may not have won a medal but they’ve won something bigger – the hearts of the Indian people,” Marijne said.
The Dutchman said that the team will be in good hands after he leaves and the reins will be taken over by compatriot Janneke Schopman the current analytical coach.
“She’s good, very good. She knows the system and structure. I gave her a lot of responsibility and have considered her an equal,” he said.“She wants a silver or gold medal for the team.”
The Dutchman said he is happy to leave on a good note and revealed that the team knew of his decision to quit.
He first coached the Indian women’s squad in 2017 after which he coached the men’s team for a year before returning. The team then made the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Cup in London, falling to Ireland in a shootout.
He looks back with great satisfaction at how this team has transformed itself in terms of physical ability and that of changing the complexion of matches.
Marijne also said there was a culture set for the team. “There are rules of what should be and should not be done and newcomers into the team will have to follow that,” he said.
Twelveth and last at Rio 2016, the Indian women started the Tokyo campaign with three defeats – to the Netherlands (1-5), Germany (0-2), GB (1-4) — but fought back from the brink to beat Ireland 1-0 with a late goal and South Africa (4-3) to squeeze into the quarterfinals.
It brought Marijne his most memorable moment of the Games – victory over Australia, 1-0, to book a slot in the semi-finals where they lost narrowly (1-2) to Argentina.
“Yes, it was amazing and that’s the moment I remember most of all,” said the Dutchman.