3-Cushion
It's actually a coincidence that he ended up in the billiard sport. Jan van Koerkoerle, living in Zundert, was the chairman of a football club, which he led together with his friend Jos Goossens. But after a crisis in the board, he left the club and football. Another hobby was born. Jan and Jos went to Den Hoek, the billiards center of Louis Havermans, on Sunday morning, to play a little game together. ,,We asked our wives to come later in the afternoon and so it could be a little late when we left there.''
Jan van Kerkoerle is now, more than fifteen years later, one of the pacesetters and figureheads of the Kersttoernooi in Zundert and also team leader of Snellen Recycling. He and his organization are at the start of the tournament again, today many of the best players from the Netherlands and Belgium and the Turkish magician Semih Sayginer ensure full houses.
The participation of Semih Sayginer is due to some sponsors who wanted to go deep into their pockets. ,,,Rini van Beers, for a long time one of our major sponsors, has a business relationship with a Rotterdam company, led by two Turkish entrepreneurs. They have said: we'd like to have Semih here in Zundert. We, as the organization, I must be honest, were not able to get the money to contract Semih for our tournament.''
Jan van Kerkoerle, retired now as an account manager of Westland cheese, will sound his heavy, beautiful vocal microphone in the next four days back to the cozy back room of Den Hoek. ,,I was asked, at one moment, to do something for the tournament, but still had little time, because I worked a lot in Germany. But after a few years, I began to like it, took some days free and was doing more and more in the organization. So it actually happened. I became the chairman, speaker, was asked to be team leader of Snellen Recycling, now one of the teams in the top of the league. And I am a real billiard lover now.''
His great talents as a speaker and entertainer were discovered elsewhere. He was also invited as speaker in Barendrecht, did the Superprestige in Belgium and the first World Cup in Sluiskil. ,,But that's enough about me, we start De Kersttoernooi now, let's enjoy it and watch the players...''
The Kersttoernooi for many players the traditional closing of the year. Dick Jaspers is already for years one of the absents, because he prefers to spend these days with his family and children. ,,The Belgians are here with all there top players, every year'', Jan van Kerkoerle says. We play already for years without any seed money, the prize money is the same for years, but we always manage to have a marvellous field of players at the start.''
The tournament starts today with the group matches. Thursday, the semifinals and finals are played.
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