Interview with Wout Winters

1. In the launch video, you mentioned that you wanted to bring the championship back to Bocholt. How strong is that belief right now?
The belief is definitely there. As leaders of the competition, we’ve already proven that we belong among the top favorites. It’s up to us to live up to that. The competition is extremely strong.

2. What characterizes this Sezoens Achilles Bocholt team the most this season, both on and off the court?
We have a healthy mix of experience and young talent. Our deep squad allows us to play at a high tempo.
Off the court, there’s strong camaraderie, which is a very important factor for a close-knit team.

3. What was, in your opinion, the best moment of the first half of the season? And what was your personal highlight?
The best moment for the club is also my personal highlight: the away wins against Visé and Volendam with a heavily depleted squad. We had many injuries, but the players who were fit performed excellently. It shows how resilient we are.
The away win in Aalsmeer also stands out. We didn’t play well, but we fought back from a losing position to secure the victory.

4. Which match has been the toughest for you so far this season, and what made it so difficult?
The home match against Pelt. We had a complete off-day, while Pelt was in top form. It was a painful evening, especially in our own Damburg.

5. Which team do you expect will offer you the most resistance this season, and why?
I rate Sporting Pelt the highest. They have a deep squad, lots of quality, and a strong coach. They’ve already shown they can win big games. They’ll be a tough opponent.
I also expect a lot from Aalsmeer. With Donny Vink returning and possibly Benghanem recovering, they’ll have a very complete team.

6. Which young talent from Sezoens Achilles Bocholt should fans keep an extra eye on this season, and why?
Stef Jaeken stepped up after the departure of Tim Claessens. He is still developing and has enormous potential.

7. Which match in the second half of the season do you think will be the most important, and why?
The most important matches are, of course, the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final. Ultimately, that’s where everything is decided, not so much the position in the standings.
In the regular season, I would say the away match against Pelt. The top spot could be at stake there, and that’s very important for morale.