Germany’s Disveld wins against his home country

“The easiest way to do this sport on a top team for me is in Germany.”

Bas Disveld was easily one of the keys to Germany’s 2-0 win over the Netherlands to open up the 2012 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey B Pool World Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia on Tuesday (13 November).

The veteran player scored the first goal for the winning side and recorded six of the team’s 22 shots on goal.

But all of that was against his own country.

Disveld is actually Dutch, but he has been a part of Germany’s national ice sledge hockey team since 2002, as that is the nation he now resides in.

As long as both country’s programmes are fine with it – which they are – there is no issue with Disveld playing for Germany.

“I know all of them very well,” Disveld said of the Dutch players. “Of course it’s fun to play against them.”

Living in Achim, it is more convenient for Disveld to play for Germany rather than travel the hours it takes to get home to the Netherlands just for a training session.

“The easiest way to do this sport on a top team for me is in Germany,” Disveld said.

“I’ve talked about it with family and friends, and they have told me it’s the best way to do it. They know it, and they’re ok with it.”

Disveld does play with some Dutch clubs in local events, though, when they are in need of players, however he is not allowed to be a part of their national team in any of their tournaments.

As for his time on the international stage, Disveld was a part of Germany’s squad that finished fourth at the Torino 2006 Paralympic Games and that won the 2007 European Championships.

Since he joined the national team six years after being involved in a car accident, he has scored 22 goals and recorded 17 assists for them.

Those are just numbers for him now, with the one future goal being to qualify for Sochi 2014 to make it back to the Paralympic Games.

“We need more practice, and we hope when we go to the A Pool that we can do well and qualify,” Disveld said.

Germany will now face Russia on Wedesday (14 November) at 17:00 in their second pool-play game in Novi Sad.