Hockey personality – Stephen Van Huizen

 

The Van Huizens – Joel, Sasha, Clarissa, Isabelle, Catherine and Stephen.

The RSC hockey section has many notable players who represented state and country, including several Olympians and World Cuppers. However, many do not know that we also many members who have contributed significantly to the development and success of hockey in Malaysia, coaching and managing the Malaysian hockey team at the highest level. In this edition, we talk to Stephen Van Huizen, who has been involved in the sport of hockey for 42 years. As a player, he is an Olympian and World Cupper, who transitioned into coaching (very much in the footsteps of his father, the late Lawrence Van Huizen.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family? 

I was born on 1st Sept 1958 in Seremban and the 2nd child, in a family of 7 siblings (4 brothers, 2 sisters). I currently live in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur and will be 63 this September. My elder brother, John and me played together when NS won the MSSM Under 18 for the first time and my Dad was the coach. My younger brother Stanley played together with me at UAB, Selangor and KL where we won a few titles - MHL, Razak Cup etc. My wife Catherine has been a pillar of strength over the years. We got married in 1989, 2 days after winning the Sea Games Gold medal in my last tournament before retiring. She must have thought that it was the end of my hockey, but within a year I was back as a coach. Isabelle, my eldest daughter is a nutritionist who worked with ISN but is now working for her Alumni University of Surrey. She was Captain of her school hockey team. My son, Joel has done well and represented the county in the World Cup, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Sea Games and other tournaments. He is also part of the Junior World Cup team that finished fourth in 2013. He has a degree in Business and Finance is now trying to build his career away from hockey.

Early photo of the Van Huizen family boys. Dad - Lawrence, Brothers – John and Stanley

2. How did you start playing hockey and at what age did you start? Please elaborate any extraordinary moments in your early hockey playing days that you remember. 

I used to follow my Dad to the Negri Sembilan Padang. One day the Hockey Master Mr C Navaratnam whilst coaching the Under-12 team, he asked me to hit some hockey balls. It was quite natural for me even though I haven’t been coached or held a stick before. I just connected a few hits and he was impressed, and asked me to join the school training the next day. Hence, the start of my hockey career playing for my school St Paul’s Institution at Standard 4. Being selected for the Negri Sembilan (NS) Combined schools Under-12 team in Standard 4, I was always playing for teams with players older than me. As I was very small built, I was given the nickname ‘Kichi’. NS won the MSSM combined schools Under-18 for the first time in 1974, and subsequently for 3 consecutive years up till 1976. I was one of only 3 NS players who was part of that 1974-1976 team.

1972 St Paul’s Institution Under-14 team

1974 Negri Sembilan MSSM Combined School Under-18 team : First time NS won the tourney!

1976 Negri Sembilan MSSM Combined School Under-18 team : 3rd consecutive year champions!

3. Do you play other sports? If yes, what are the other sports, and why did you decide to choose hockey as your main sport? 

Yes, I also represented my school in football when in primary school but when it came to the Under-15, we were asked to make a choice because so many players were involved both in football and hockey that was held in the 1st term. I chose hockey. But, because I was very fit due to the hockey training I also represented my school in middle distance. 

4. Which school did you study at and was there a hockey coach that inspired/motivated you at that time? Please tell us any specific occasions that you remember. 

I studied in St Paul’s Institution and we had a good coaching set up that helped us to develop into good hockey players. So, I had the privilege of being inspired by many great coaches. C Navaratnam first coached me, and then I went under William Fidelis, who drilled us in our basic and advance skills besides introducing us to tactics and system of play. This was in lower secondary. After that we went under the late Michael Yen, Brian Sta Maria and S Choudury for the Under- 15 before finally going under my dad, Lawrence Van Huizen when we reached the Under-18 teams. They were all very dedicated and passionate coaches of very high level and experience as they had played at the highest level and they were very strict. There was no compromise on discipline and made sure our feet were always on the ground. Our skills were honed progressively and our fitness level was very high as training was tough. Besides school training, we used to play hockey every evening at NS Padang with players like Franco D Cruz, Brian, Michael and Peter Yen, etc who were current National and State players so we were given guidance and on field advice and picking up finer points of the game

5. Tell us more about your hockey playing career and achievements. 

I started representing the National Juniors when I was in Upper 6, where we finished 2nd in the Junior Asia Cup qualifying tournament to qualify for the Junior World Cup finals in Paris. We finished 4th in the tournament and were very unlucky not to finish on the podium after losing to Pakistan in the semi finals, and losing the 3rd placing to Holland 1-0, playing the whole of the 2nd half with only 10 men. I have represented Malaysia in Los Angeles Olympics, Bombay World Cup, 2 Asian Games winning the bronze in New Delhi and 2 gold medals in Sea Games. Besides these tournaments, I had represented Malaysia in various Intercontinental and major tournaments. I was named as National Hockey player of the year in 1984, and captained of the Malaysian National team at various tournaments from 1985 to 1989

St Paul’s Institution Under-18 team with ‘Kichi’

1977 Malaysian National Juniors Hockey Team

6. How did you venture into the coaching arena and what was the first team that you coached? 

I was already coaching after form 5, assisting to coach Under-12 teams and even when I was playing, I was doing a lot of coaching with the United Asian Bank team. However, my first official coaching assignment was to take the KL Sukma team that emerged Champion in Sarawak in 1990. When the Junior Hockey League was first organized, I was the coach of Yayasan NS who won the double, as well as coaching YNS to win the senior National league in the same year. As I was involved in the national set-up, I wasn’t allowed to coach club sides, but in between when I was not with the national team, I was involved with Sapura team who won the national league and overall title. The Sapura team represented Malaysia twice for the Asian indoor hockey and we finished runners up twice to Iran.

7. What is your motivation to pursue a coaching career and your coaching philosophy? Please elaborate.

 I think it was a natural transition, because I was always taking charge as Captain or senior player to organize and plan training sessions at club and state level. It was a way of giving back to the game and guiding the younger players. I think it went about very smoothly, because after I retired, C Paramalingam asked me to help with the National Juniors. After one phase, Terry Walsh, the then national coach approached me and said he heard a lot about me, and asked if I would like to join the national set up. So, I took up the offer and that started my coaching involvement up to end 2019. My philosophy is that the TEAM is always bigger than any individual, and always comes first. There is no compromise on discipline. HARD WORK BEATS TALENT ALL THE TIME. Just talent alone will not take you far. You need to have the desire, determination, dedication, discipline, commitment, passion etc to succeed and be the best player you can be.

1979 Malaysian National Juniors Hockey Team 

In action in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics

1995 National Juniors Hockey Team

8. What is you coaching qualification(s)? And tell us a bit about your journey as a coach. 

I am one of the first few to complete MHC level 3 sports specific and level 3 sports science, and also the first Malaysian to be accredited as FIH coach in 1994. It has been a very fulfilling journey as a coach, working with some of the best coaches like Terry Walsh, Paul Lissek , Roelant Oltmans, also others like Volker Knapp and other local coaches Yahya, Beng Hai, Saiful, Chow Chuan, Nasihin etc The sacrifices we have to make especially family and career is immense and we can’t quantify them. But the passion and love for the game drives us on. There are many obstacles along the way but this helps you to be a stronger person. You learn to ride the wave and you realize who your real friends are. When you win or succeed, every one is your friend, but in defeat you know who are your true friends and real fans. I always tell my team – “Hero today Zero tomorrow” and vice versa, so we can’t rest on past glories but keep on working to improve ourselves. Likewise we have to be prepared to face the critics and obstacles as it is part of what it takes to be being a national player.

9. When selecting a team, what attributes do you look for in a player? And why are these attributes most important? 

 When we select a team, we try to find a balance and the best players to complement each other within a team. For every player with flair or superstar, there must be someone who is willing to do the dirty work of breaking play down or grinding it out in the battle for possession. Some of the attributes I would consider are : Mental toughness - when the going gets tough the tough gets going. Decision making under pressure - everyone can play when they have time and space, but to make good decision under pressure this is essential at the elite level. Calmness - when things are not going well to remain calm and organised and knowing what to do. Desire to excel and win - they will always want to improve and be better in every training session and game. Every challenge they want to win even if playing 2 sides and small games in training so they hone their competitive edge. Never give up attitude - fight to the end. Playing for the TEAM - team player - willing to sacrifice for the team. Fitness and Strength to meet the challenges of modern hockey. Special skills - penalty corners flicks, deflection, goal... Goal scoring skills and instinct. Utility and ability to play different positions and roles for the team like man marking, tactical awareness and understanding, reading and adjusting to tactical changes within the game, etc Strong Leadership on and off the field.

10. How do you build rapport and respect with the players and fellow coaching staff?

 I think what’s important is everyone knows their roles and always putting the Team first. The core values and beliefs of the team will hold the team together in good and tough games. Man management and also knowing when to show tough love is important. All decisions made is for the good of the individual and the team. Fair and firm decision in maintaining discipline within the group is important.

Individual sessions with players trying to understand them better as a person and also what makes them tick - highlighting their strength and looking for areas of improvement in all aspects ( physical, mental, skill, tactical etc). We need to be clear on what is expected of them within the team. What is clear is that despite the sacrifice and hard work put in, expectations and pressure the team faces, we as the team management must create an environment that the players enjoy and thrive on, create memorable and enjoyable moments so that they always want them to be part of the group. The honesty and trust and camaraderie within the group must be created so that they want to defend each other and fight for each other on the field.

1995 YNS Junior Hockey Team – Double winners!

11. Tell us about the most memorable/proudest moment(s) you have experienced as a coach 

There have been many memorable moments like qualifying for the Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney Olympics and also big disappointments like not qualifying for the Olympics since Sydney. Winning the silver medals in KL Commonwealth Games, Asian Games in Guangzhou and Jakarta, Asia Cup in Dhaka, plus winning the Insep International Tournament in Paris. And all the Sea Games gold that we were expected to win every time. I am proud of the fact that I am the only Malaysian Coach who coached a Malaysian team to qualify for the Olympics and World Cup. Another achievement I am proud of is to win the National Coach of The Year twice. Once jointly with Beng Hai.

1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games – Silver Medalist 

2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games – Gold Medal

Joint Coach of the Year 2010 – with Tai Beng Hai 

Coach and Team of the Year 2010

12. What do you still aspire today to achieve as a coach or mentor? Any regrets as a coach? 

I am open to help in any way but since my contract was not renewed end 2019 and with the pandemic I believe it is God’s will and also good for me to have a break. Currently, I am working with a group of volunteers who want to try and bring back the glory days of St Paul’s by having a long-term development program involving old Paulians like in the old days. However, this has been put on hold because of the pandemic. My biggest regret is that we didn’t win the Asian Games Gold in Jakarta – losing to Japan in a dramatic final. Yes, we have already won the Asian Games Silver medal twice and Asia Cup silver, which no other Malaysian team has achieved, but it would have been great to be the first team to win the gold medal. Also, not being the Head Coach for the 2018 World Cup in Bhubaneshwar after qualifying with the team. Overall, I am grateful for the journey I had taken as a player and Coach for over 42 years that have created many memories good and bad. Praise and thank the Lord for opportunities that have come my way.

13. Any last words for aspiring hockey players and/or coaches? 

There is no short cut to success. You must always be willing to make the sacrifices and go the extra mile to be a better player or coach. “You dream. You plan. You reach. There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, with belief, with confidence and trust in yourself and those around you, there are no limits.” - Michael Phelps Winners never quit and quitters never Win.

2018 Malaysian Hockey Team – Stephen as Team Manager/Asst Coach 

Asian Games 2018 – Photo Credit : NSTP