SV Kampong summoned an emotional week to remember to win the EHL Men’s title for the second time, 10 years on from their debut success, a crowning moment for a series of departing heroes.
It comes amid a turbulent Hoofdklasse season, ravaged by injury and one which will see them miss out on the playoffs.
Sander de Wijn is one of those stepping away in storybook fashion. He is retiring after a glittering spell in blue; in the lead-up to the competition, he said that while they have struggled for consistency, their highs remain very high and so they proved to devastating effect.
They won a gripping GRAND FINAL 3-2 over reigning champions Gantoise in a final that lurched between control and chaos,
The Utrecht club’s sharpness and intent was obvious from the opening minutes of the final. Kampong burst out of the blocks, punishing early Gantoise errors with ruthless efficiency.
Duco Telgenkamp – who moves to AH&BC Amsterdam in the summer – struck first, spinning onto a loose ball and cracking a backhand high into the corner.
Moments later, Finn van Bijnen doubled the advantage with an almost carbon‑copy finish, again exploiting hesitation at the back.
At 2–0 inside the first quarter, Kampong had seized control of the biggest match on the calendar.
Jip Janssen, only recently back from injury, slammed in a penalty corner to make it 3–0 before the third break and the defending champions looked stunned.
Kampong, so often punished this season for failing to capitalise on dominance, appeared poised for a statement win.
But finals rarely allow comfort. Gantoise responded with the resilience that carried them to last year’s title, pressing higher and forcing errors.
Goals from Alexander Hendrickx and Mathis Lauwers dragged the Belgians back into contention, while a flurry of cards left Kampong scrambling through a nerve‑shredding finale, at one stage defending with just nine players on the pitch.
The final minutes were raw survival. Blocks were thrown, passes delayed, seconds bled away. When the hooter finally sounded, relief swept across the Kampong players – relief, and then overwhelming emotion.
No moment captured that emotion more clearly than the presentation. Rather than lifting the trophy himself, captain Jonas de Geus stepped aside, insisting that de Wijn receive the cup.
The 35‑year‑old defender, completing his final European campaign after 18 seasons in Kampong colours, raised the trophy with tears in his eyes.
“It touched me enormously,” De Wijn said later. “That my teammates wanted this moment for me says everything about this group. I’ve always given everything for the club, but I’ve received so much more in return. To finish like this… it’s almost unreal.”
His farewell became a unifying force throughout the tournament. Even after missing a shoot‑out in the quarter‑finals, De Wijn remained central, steady in defence, vocal in the huddles, symbolic of the mentality Kampong rediscovered at exactly the right time.
Head coach Tim Oudenaller, also departing at season’s end, summed it up simply: this team needed something tangible to reward its work. European gold delivered that – and more.
For De Wijn, it was the perfect goodbye. For Kampong, it was salvation, validation and silverware all rolled into one unforgettable Easter weekend.
Earlier in the day, AH&BC Amsterdam won their fifth EHL Men’s medal as they defeated Real Club de Campo de Madrid in a shoot-out after normal time ended 2-2. Lee Morton’s audacious dummied effort completed the win 4-3 after a high quality set of one-on-ones.
Manuel Rodríquez had given Campo the lead and then sent the game to the shoot-out without second after Amsterdam goals from Karst Timmer and Luke Dommershuijzen.
ABN AMRO EHL Men – final rankings
SV Kampong (NED)
Gantoise HC (BEL)
AH&BC Amsterdam (NED)
Real Club de Campo Villa de Madrid (ESP)5= Hamburger Polo Club (GER)5= Old Georgians HC (ENG)7= Crefelder HTC (GER)7= Surbiton HC (ENG)
