On Tuesday this week, two teams from the school ventured down to the International School Eindhoven to face off against the best that the ISE could throw at us! A girls’ team, comprised of a mix of MYP and DP students, as well as the boys’ DP team (still undefeated) had spent the past week training and strategizing how best to take on what we all believed to be a real test – ISE teams train weekly and attend numerous school tournaments. They also have some super outdoor facilities (two football pitches!) BUT – we remained positive and focused on the job to come.
The girls, led by Skye Mulder as captain, and coached by Mieke van Zonneveld (herself a spicy footballer) were magnificent. Right from the off, they peppered the ISE’s goal, moving the ball through the lines and between the ISE defence like a hot knife through butter. It was relentless. By the end, Josephine Hausson had blasted in 2 blistering shots (before tragically breaking her arm in a freak fall) and Skye had used her skills, and her head, to bury the ball the twice more. In the end: 0-4 to ISH. Special mention should also be made of our brilliant grade 7s, Valerie, Mosse and Manon who shone during the match, taking on girls that towered above them with aplomb.
For the boys, it was really a game of two halves. The ISE were strong in the opening 45 minutes and, even though it appeared like we were the more dangerous of two teams, they posed us some problems. Captained by Lenny Sehn and coached by Michael van Brummelen (himself a footballer but tragically struck down by dodgy knees), the boys kept calm and tried to work the ball across the pitch, seemingly able to use a sixth sense to know where each other were. At half time, with the score at 0-0, and before having to take Josephine off to the hospital, Michael and the boys assessed the situation and made the necessary changes. In the second half, with the indomitable engine room of Manuel and Coen in the midfield, alternating as two number 10s, we pressed on and secured the advantage. In the space of 30 minutes, we had scored 7 goals. Lenny himself had a hat trick. In the dying moments, the team remained galvanised to ensure we crossed the line victorious, sweeping the ball around and controlling the game. It remained 0-7 when the ref blew for full time.
We were all so proud of the students. They were incredibly positive and well-behaved throughout – an absolute joy to spend time with. And we march on. Still undefeated!