Ties Kruize: “I have belief in Terry Walsh”.

“Australian coach Terry Walsh is a great coach, he will deliver, but India have to give him sufficient time to deliver”.

Thus spake Ties Kruize in a quick chat with this writer on the eve of opening ceremony of the The Hague World Cup, organized in World Forum amidst a high profile gathering of about 1500 plus.

Ties Kruize does not need any introduction. The legendary Dutch player, who holds the unique record of playing in half a dozen World Cups, with many incidental records to his cap, was the focus today, as he accompanied King of Holland in the opening ceremony at World Forum.

Even as he was surrounded by many, with the constant company of the King in a closed circuit enclosure after the Opening Ceremony was over, he took time away to share his thoughts on hockey and especially the one that has just declared open by FIH President Leodro Negre.

“India perhaps expects quick results. They have to be patient to come up, and I am sure with such great coach as Terry Walsh, who is also my good friend, results will start coming”, he asserted.

“Terry works hard, will deliver”.

“Don’t take my view negatively, but it is better wait for results rather than expecting within months (after appointing coaches)”.

Ties Kruize, now an Insurance Broker, doesn’t hide his views on contemporary hockey, and is forthright.

For him the new change in the playing time is something whose result or impact can be assessed only after experiment.

“The first reaction from players are why is this needed?”.
Perhaps the thinking is that hockey sport has to remain in the Olympics sphere, and need to bring more and more people into to it”.

One good thing about the 4-quarter format is that substitution was not there in the past, players have to perforce take rest during the match, now they can do that after each quarter, game’s actual playing time will increase”

Ties was the manager of the Dutch team that won the bronze at the last World Cup in India.

“I like India and Pakistan hockey. They are needed for the world hockey. Its sad to see Pakistan is not here.

“Whatever I said of India is equally applicable to Pakistan too, they too need coaches but results won’t come in months”.

“It’s a big pity Pakistan is not here”

“I will be personally happy, and the world will stand to benefit if both India and Pak bounce back to centre stage”.

“I learnt a lot from these two countries, as I entered international hockey at my age of 17”.