Carom
ROSMALEN - The Etikon top team, reigning champion of Europe and the Netherlands, moves from Haarlo to Rosmalen in the next season. Henri Tilleman stops playing billiards and Marco Jansen's AEJ, already the major sponsor for the teams with Frédéric Caudron, Dick Jaspers, Eddy Merckx and Jean Paul de Bruijn in Belgium and the Netherlands, will be the new co-sponsor of Etikon.
That news was officially launched this morning (Saturday) by Etikon's Marietje Breedewoud, who is for the tenth year sponsor of the team with Henri Tilleman, Patrick Niessen and Jean Paul de Bruijn. The youthful talent Gert-Jan Veldhuizen will replace Henri Tilleman.
The main sponsor Etikon is a manufacturer of labels with its office in Geldermalsen, the production in Germany and around two hundred employees.
The top team is still in the race to take its tenth Dutch title this year in a battle with A1/De Veemarkt. Moreover Etikon wants to pick up its fifth European title next week. Then, for the upcoming season, the name will change into Etikon/AEJ Jansen. And Henri Tilleman's substitute is Gert-Jan Veldhuizen.
Marietje Breedewoud: ,,Henri Tilleman had already indicated that he lacked time to practice because of personal circumstances and therefore felt less motivated. The move to De Hazelaar was another reason for him to say: now I'll stop. He told us that he will no longer play individual tournaments as well for the time being, but of course he can change his opinion after two or three years.''
Gert-Jan Veldhuizen is one of the new coming young men in the classic games trained by Patrick Niessen. Marietje Breedewoud says she has chosen for De Hazelaar in Rosmalen, because it is a big club, and because there is more interest from audience.
,,Unfortunately, there was less interest for our matches in Haarlo already for some years. We expect it will be better in Rosmalen, Brabant, which is located more centrally and maybe will give a new impulse. As a result, we certainly have more Belgian fans.''
Furthermore, the introduction of a co-sponsor was important in the decision to proceed. ,,I might have stopped myself, without another main sponsor, because it was a big afford for us to continue on my own after ten years.''
,,I feel sorry for Dinand Prinsen, where we were hosted all these years'', she admits. ,,However, he can focus now on the three cushion team, which almost certainly will play next year in the highest league.''
Etikon defends its European title classics for team in the upcoming week in French Ronchin. There, in a battle with six, the team will show up with Henri Tilleman.
The Etikon top team will also perform in its strong line-up in the last matches for the competition. The cracker against A1/De Veemarkt is on April 19.