THE HAGUE - There was a fear that the Dutch three cushion league would lose strength after Caudron and Leppens will leave for Korea, but the opposite is the case. Eddy Merckx has signed a contract as the leading player of the champion team SIS Schoonmaak in The Hague and earlier this week, Torbjörn Blomdahl reached an agreement with HCR Prinsen in Haarlo. The replacement of Hofman with Merckx and Leppens with Blomdahl undoubtedly makes The Hague and Haarlo teams even stronger. Furthermore, Dallinga.com has strengthened itself with Peter De Backer, after the loss of Frédérick Caudron. Moreover, it looks like Dion Nelin is coming to Sluiskil for a number of matches.
Eddy Merckx was very pleased with his new team in the Netherlands. The Belgian star player signed a contract with La Baule in France earlier this week and now with SIS Schoonmaak in The Hague. Both teams are the reigning champions in their country. Merckx: 'I couldn't have wished for better than to receive these great offers so quickly. It looks great for me in the coming season.'
Torbjörn Blomdahl was delighted with the offer in Holland. 'I'm pleased to play in one team with Dick Jaspers again." The Swede is not asked by the Korean organization PBA for a contract. 'But sure, I would never play in tournaments that are not approved by the UMB.'
Cor Trampe, team leader of the Dutch champion SIS Schoonmaak, said on the day of Merckx' transfer, 'We were not so happy when Glenn Hofman told us he is to leave, because we had an agreement for another year, but we seem even stronger now with this big fish Eddy Merckx, a two fold world champion and world class player.' SIS Schoonmaak, the main sponsor, has extended the three-year contract by one year and will remain at least two years more at The Hague.'
The Dutch league will be at full speed again next year with top guns like Jaspers, Merckx, Coklu, Blomdahl, Horn, Martinez, Forthomme, Nelin and Ceulemans.
Torbjörn Blomdahl returns to the Dutch league