Why did you choose to play in Holland Tim? Have you played in Holland before? TD: My girlfriend (Eva de Goede, red.) is Dutch and because I come from South Africa, we can’t exactly get an Uber to see each other, so coming to Holland was an easy decision if I didn’t want to be broke. I have played two seasons for SCHC.

Why did you choose to play for KZ? TD: I found out that KZ was a team and a club who has similar values and morals about life to what I try live by. I am very lucky to be a member of such a special club. I also knew Steven van Rhede van der Kloot who was in the team and he is my hero.

Did you play or still play for the RSA national team? Have you played any tournaments and have you ever won any medals? TD: I still play for the national team. I have played in the London Olympics, World Cup in Den Haag and 3 Commonwealth Games. We have yet to win a medal but hopefully that will change soon.

How is it to play in Holland compared to SA? TD: It is quite different. Hockey is a very small sport in South Africa and we do not have the support with sponsors which you have in Holland. We pay for our own national training camps and we sometimes pay for tournaments we go to. Club hockey is very small and unfortunately we do not get the amount of training time you get here in Holland. We only train twice a week for 1hr30mins each session. But hockey in the schools is very popular and hopefully the sport will grow in to one of the top sports in our country. 

Heren 1 made a quite good start in the Hoofdklasse, what is the goal of the team this year? TD: Our goal is to make our supporters and our Club proud on and off the pitch. We have a great team bond and hopefully we can continue to be role models for the youth of the club. We prepare for each game with the same focus as we know every game is extremely tough for us in the Hoofdklasse. Another goal is to remain in the Hoofdklasse this season.

What type of player are you? TD: Simple player. Run, tackle, pass and run some more.

Some easy dilemmas for you Damy, to start off 😊

Go to a live music concert or watch a live sporting event? DS: I would rather go to a live music concert.

Drink cocktails on the beach or drink hot Choc around fire? DS: Love both, but I think I would go for the hot choc around a fire.

Be able to play musical instrument really well or be really good at singing? DS: Be able to play the piano.

Drive a lap around Monaco in Formula 1 car or Visit one of the best beauty Spa's in the world and get body and face massages? DS: Go to the spa and get massages, for sure, love it!

Eat a curry in India or eat sushi in Japan? DS: Eat sushi in Japan.

What is your favorite food in RSA and what do you like in Holland? TD: Any food on the “Braai”. Favourite Dutch food is Herring.

Do you have a game ritual?  TD: I Make sure I listen to Douwe Steens playing his music in the change room. DJ Douwe knows his music!

How old are you? Are you still studying or do you already have a job? And where? TD: Too old – can we say I’m 21? Bedankt… I have a Business Finance degree and I was doing my Pilots license in South Africa. I am still studying my theory for Commercial Pilots license there in Holland while trying to find a job in Marketing or Real Estate.

If you could describe your team in 3 words, what would it be? TD: Bunch of legends!

What do you like to do in your free time? TD: In South Africa, you will find me at the beach. In Holland, you will find me cycling around Amsterdam with girlfriend looking for awesome eating and drinking places that Amsterdam has everywhere!

And about H1:

• Who is the funniest? Andrea (our conditioning coach). She tries to make us run shuttles after we have had a very tough training session....
• The best dancer? Ben Craig. He used to do salsa and ballroom dancing in competitions in Australia.
• The one who forgets everything? David (Manager). I think we need to review his position as manager and maybe Nico Keenan would be a great manager. 

What do your family and close friends call you Damy? DS: Most call me Deem in Dutch, but in French they say Dam.

How many languages do you speak? DS: I speak 4 languages: French, Dutch, English and some Spanish.

What is the Dames 1 goal for this season? DS: Reach the Play-offs, and if that is reached go for the Hoofdklasse. But we still have some work to do

If tonight was your last dinner, who would you invite besides me? DS: Besides you, I would invite all my close friends and family and my boyfriend of course.

If your house was burning down, which three items would you take out of the house? DS: If at that moment I have time to choose, then I would take my computer, my phone and my souvenir box.

If money was not a problem, what would your dream Job be? DS: If I had enough money to do whatever I want, I would work on a ranch in Texas or have my own beach bar on a paradisiac island.

If had you to do an adrenaline act for charity, would you sky dive, bungy jump or shark cage dive? DS: Not a fan of those things, but I would choose bungy jump.
Despite hockey, what does a typical weekend look like for you? DS: Spending time with my boyfriend, going out for dinner or to the movies, chilling on the couch watching Netflix, study a bit if I must and see some friends.

Who is your sporting Role Model? and why? DS: I don’t specifically have a sporting role model, but my father was always someone inspiring me with regards to sport.

Do you think we could be match makers and set up a KZ Dames 1 player who is single with a KZ Heren 1 player who is single? DS: For sure!!! We have some single girls in the team who would love to meet Heren 1 players. Just tell your boys to be present at TD’s, and let’s organize some things we could do together with Dames 1 and Heren 1.

And finally, please solve the riddle

• "The person who makes it, sells it. 
• The person who buys it never uses it
• and the person who uses it doesn't know they are using it. 
• What is it?"

DS: No clue