In de Spotlight:
in deze nieuw reeks geven wij een “kijkje achter de schermen” van onze sponsoren, partners, inspirerende stichtingen en organisaties! Deze keer spraken wij met Leandro Martínez-Zurita, voorzitter van The EHCO (European Hockey Clubs Organization)
Could you elaborate more on EHCO and how this organization came into being?
EHCO, born in 2019, emerged from a collaborative effort among premier hockey clubs from the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Belgium, and Spain. United by a common goal, we sought to safeguard the integrity of our continental domestic hockey leagues, notably the Euro Hockey League, and preserve the traditional 11 v 11 format.
Led by figures such as Madeleine Buise (Netherlands), Dirk Wellen (Germany), Fabrice Rogge (Belgium), Christoph Scharming (Austria), and myself (Spain), EHCO’s inception was prompted by concerns over the direction of the FIH, particularly its emphasis on the Proleague at the expense of domestic hockey and the allocation of resources towards promoting Hockey 5 exacerbated our worries, culminating in financial strains on clubs, families, and sponsors.
What activities does EHCO engage in, and at which locations is the organization active?
In response, EHCO engaged in constructive dialogue with stakeholders like the FIH, Euro Hockey, EHL, and relevant National Associations. Our primary aim was to establish a harmonized calendar, akin to football’s international blocks, to eliminate scheduling conflicts with domestic leagues. Central to our advocacy were principles such as allocating 25 weekends for European leagues, prioritizing indoor hockey over Hockey 5, and fostering opportunities for budding talents through initiatives like the EHCO Trophy.
The subsequent trajectory validated our approach. The Proleague has undergone significant downsizing, resembling the former Champions Trophy and Challenge events. EHCO member leagues now enjoy a standardized 25-weekend schedule, while the shortcomings of Hockey 5 have become apparent in established hockey nations. However, despite these strides, there remains much ground to cover. Regrettably, the sport has squandered both substantial resources and invaluable time along the journey, which cannot be fully reclaimed despite our earnest efforts.
Who are the key figures and elements involved with EHCO?
At this moment, Cedric Deleuze from Belgium, Timo Wess from Germany, Joof Verhees from the Netherlands, and myself, along with Fabrice Rogge and Dirk Wellen, who are still assisting us greatly.
Why did EHCO choose to participate as an overarching organization in a top youth tournament during the EHL 2024, and why isn’t the EHL assuming this role itself?
Lobbying is necessary but we felt we needed to bring something new to the table. We’ve invested many hours and efforts together with Sander van der Weide and Fabrizzio de Marchi in the birth of the EHCO Trophy, which started last year with 8 teams, equally amazing girls and boys. This year, the second edition has witnessed 16 teams gathering the champions and runners-up from Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and England.
Despite succeeding in their respective countries, many of the clubs where these players play do not have ample opportunities to compete at the European level. This is often due to insufficient budgets to qualify for the EHL or not even participating in the first division in their country. Consequently, these players might have limited aspirations to play for their national teams, potentially exacerbated by calendar conflicts.
Between EHL and EHCO, there has been a close collaboration. EHCO has provided over 350 participants including players, staff, referees, and officials. Additionally, around 1500 wristbands have been generated for family members, friends, and followers of our clubs in the shared fanzone between EHL and EHCO. This collaboration has significantly benefited the hospitality, gastronomy, and businesses surrounding both events.
EHL stands as an established competition, representing a benchmark in terms of quality, professionalism and institutional approach. On the other hand, EHCO TROPHY is a competition for talented young individuals who aspire to reach EHL but are still within the circle of family, studies, and training. These are distinct yet complementary approaches that, when well-coordinated, generate significant synergies for our beloved sport.
Wil je meer te weten komen over wat de EHCO doet en waar ze zich mee bezighouden? Bezoek dan hun website of volg één van hun sociale mediakanalen:
- Website: echo.hockey
- Instagram: @ehco_hockey
- Twitter: @EhcoHockey
