Carom
KAPELLEN – The Belgian cup winner, in a country with so many world class players, has a new challenge tomorrow (thursday). Davy van Havere meets a friend and teammate in the main draw of the three cushion tournament: Steven van Acker.
He looks driven and ambitious, even if after his cup win in a final against Eddy Merckx, the successes have been few and far between. ,,But I am confident to play the Belgian Nationals'', he says. ,,I feel up to it and I have practiced a little extra these past weeks. My form is improving, which resulted in a few good matches in the Belgian and Dutch leagues.''
An interview, just before the Multi’s in Blankenberge, with Davy van Havere.
Portrait:
Davy van Havere, born: 29/10/1982
P.O.B.: Temse
Residence: Kapellen
Married to: Nadine Feyaerts
Kids: 1 son, Wout van Havere, 3,5 y.o.
Teams in the Netherlands and Belgium, since when:
Belgium : BC Deurne, 3 years
Netherlands : FDV Jacoby/Schuler Cues, 4 years
Occupation: Salary administrator, Claims Department at Transport firm De Bock
Full-Time
Frits Bakker: I presume the Belgian Cup win was the high point of your career. How was the aftermath? Did you enjoy your walk on cloud nine?
Davy van Havere: ,,It was obviously the pinnacle for me, so far. A complete surprise for me and for everyone, but I have enjoyed it immensely. It was good to see years of practice being rewarded with a title. And it was confirmation that when everything clicks in my game, I can be a match for the Belgian top players.''
FB: How did your friends and family respond?
DvH: ,,They were as shocked as I was, but very proud of my performance. There were many congratulations from others in the billiards world. It felt really good to know that there is respect and appreciation for what I have done.''
FB: How long have you enjoyed it?
DvH: ,,I was in high spirits for weeks, I admit. It is no small feat to win a title in a country with so many world class players.''
FB: You have not been in that form since, or at least not for a longer period.
DvH: ,,Yes, I did have a troubled start to the league season and played a few lesser matches. You can get into a vicious circle, you lose a few close matches, opponents rise above themselves sometimes… you lose confidence and it becomes an uphill battle. There is added pressure to perform in the two leagues, and I had trouble coping with that.''
FB: What is the difference between the Davy van Havere in the Cup tournament, and the one after that?
DvH: ,,Not a big difference. My form and focus were exceptional back then. Every player goes through spells where they cannot do wrong, and then periods where every point is a struggle… I am down to earth and I know that with hard work and self belief, things will work out.''
FB: What do you do, in order to get back to those glory days?
DvH: ,,There is really only one answer, and that is practice. I have also talked with Eddy Leppens a few times, about how to climb out of a slump, and it helped.''
FB: Have you ever thought: what a weird game this is, one moment you can move mountains, the next weekend you can’t tie your own shoes. Or did you – as many players do – already know that?
DvH: ,,Every player knows that billiards is all about details. Just make or just miss a point, it can turn a whole match. You either gain or lose confidence. That is why it is so important to be strong mentally. You have to be prepared, and know how to respond.''
FB: Your plans for the coming season have changed, at least in Holland. Tell us about that.
DvH: ,,I have played for FDV/Jacoby Schuler Cues for 4 years, twice we won the title in the 1st division, and twice we relegated from the division of honor. I have always played my heart out there, but I can feel that the motivation and the swing are out of it. It is time for a new challenge.
FB: What are you looking for?
DvH: ,,I need an ambitious team, with team spirit and passion, those are important to me. If those conditions are met, it does not matter to me if it’s division of honor, or 1st.''
FB: What will Steven van Acker do, you are best buddies.
DvH: ,,Steven is indeed a good friend, we’ve played together for years, both in Holland and in Belgium. I think he stays with FDV/Jacoby Schuler Cues, and they will look for someone to replace me.''
FB: Will there come a moment when you say: this is a good time to turn pro?
DvH: ,,It’s every player’s dream to turn their hobby into a profession. I must be realistic though, at this point I am not at the level that would make that possible. In these difficult times, it is hard enough even for the very best, let alone for the second echelon. I focus on my job, and try to do the best I can in the time that I have left, for my family and for billiards!''
FB: Will you still play for the same team in Belgium?
DvH: ,,We are only halfway with the season in Belgium, but as far as I know, the team will stay like this next year. It is great for me that I can rub shoulders with great players like Jaspers, Merckx and De Bruijn every week. You learn automatically, and the atmospere in the team is very pleasant. I see no reason to change teams there.''
FB: How does it feel to be in such a star-studded ensemble, with a rotating schedule?
DvH: ,,You want to play as much as you can of course, but with this line-up it is normal to rotate. When I am at the table, I give it 100 %, and try to better myself. Seeing what Jaspers, Merckx and De Bruijn can do is a reality check sometimes, but also an incentive to keep practising.''
FB: You must be the overwhelming title favorite?
DvH: ,,We were the favorite at the start of the season, and we still are, halfway. De Ploeg is our main rival, we will have to stay on top of our game until the final round, to win the title.''
FB: Are you in the line-up, this Monday against De Ploeg?
DvH: ,,We will play against De Ploeg with the same four players as in the first half: Jaspers-Merckx-De Bruijn-Dielis. I will be there of course, cheering my teammates on and hopefully taking the two points back to Deurne.''