copa-del-mundo-fifa

Aunque han pasado ya unas semanas, dentro mi entorno español siguen -y con todo derecho- cantar “campeones, campeones” y hablar de la final y de –su- copa.

ESPAÑA ganador merecido

Siendo holandés, me han visto vestido de naranja, pero también bailar con la bandera española. Si, hablo desde un corazón partido, es decir, antes de la final.

Porque después, y todavía, el juego de Holanda me ha obligado a ofrecer disculpas en nombre del pueblo holandés. Confeso que no es agradable de seguir buscando explicaciones por el tipo de juego y las patadas que están grabados para siempre. Y más porque soy de la generación de Johan Cruyff y gran aficionado de él y su estilo de juego, mundialmente reconocido como el estilo de la naranja mecánica.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldJSAcJ2HuI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyYT6_XXl3g

¿Porque hablo del fútbol en una Web en que tendría que hablar de inmobiliaria?

Uno porque soy humano, dos porque, y la gente que me conocen puedan confirmarlo, soy un verdadero fanático de fútbol. Tres, porque en mi vida dentro el mundo inmobiliario siempre he intentado de quedar fiel a mi lema: en inmobiliaria no se trata de propiedades, pero de personas.

En los días después de la final he leído muchos artículos sobre la final, en la prensa española, la de Holanda y hasta la Americana (mi hija Anna, crecido en Sotogrande, vive ya varios años en California y está casada con un americano; ¿su puede imaginar el lío de aficiones en casa?).

Casi en todos los artículos que he leído he encontrado la misma pregunta: ¿porque jugó Holanda como jugó?

Así se quedó La Naranja

¿Porque Holanda jugó como jugó? Pues la respuesta tendrá que dar su entrenador, el señor Bert van Marwijk. Y quizás el puede dar también una respuesta a otra pregunta: ¿porque ha destruido en solo un partido la marca naranja, la marca establecida en los años setenta y desde entonces admirada y cualificada como la del fútbol total, limpio y más bonito del mundo? Creo que no sería mal cuando tomaría unas clases de marketing.

Bart van Marwijk y sus clases de marketing

AYALA-ESPERANZA-THE WINNER OF THE GOLD CUP 2009 MEDIUM GOAL IN SOTOGRANDE

Yes, “we” did it. Please apologize for this “we”, but I feel so much connected with the winning Ayala-La Esperanza team (read my previous comments in this site) that I felt this Sunday afternoon on the Los Pinos fields of the Santa Maria Polo Club if I had played the final myself.

I do apologize towards Arlette van Oost and her son Mikel Redding of the Scapa-John Smith team, knowing them so well and being their friends for so long and supporting always their team too.

But today it was a final with Kevin Korst playing in Ayala-La Esperanza, playing together with his friend Jake, son of Iñigo Zobel (who lost with his Ayala team in the half final of the high goal from Las Monjitas; las Monjitas lost surprisingly in the final from Dos Lunas, almost a “local” team too and playing with the youngest of the Stirlings as the big revelation of this tournament).

I am sure my friends David and Marcela Stirling will be super proud, and for sure that during the coming weeks Pelón will get to hear some “nice” comments from his little brother.

I told before that I know them well these two since I saw them growing up almost next door.

In the same way as I saw Kevin growing up and becoming almost as a polo son for me.

So I think everyone will understand that I was supporting today “my” team. And of course I feel happy and proud that “we” won.

I am not sure, but I believe that Kevin is the first Dutch polo player who ever won the silver and the gold cup here in Sotogrande. (Does anyone who reads this has perhaps some records on the Dutch polo players, because I wonder if we ever had a Dutch player in polo finals?)

I was glad that I could share this proud and happiness together with Kevins’ father Rinie Korst and his mother Annelies Verhoeven. It was an exciting final up till the last chucker. MarieCris, the mother of Jake Zobel, hardly could cope with her nerves and had to go every now and than for a little walk. And although father Iñigo tried to hide his emotions, also he (which father wouldn’t) was clearly touched by this victory of “his boy”.

Congratulations once again for all the players, the grooms, the friends and their families. I feel grateful that I could pass such an exiting and pleasant tournament with them.

I also would like to thank all my friends of the Santa Maria Polo Club: again they have done it, even in these difficult times of international economics. Thanks guys, thousands have enjoyed a great holiday in our Sotogrande thanks to your tremendous efforts.

I am sure that –again- more and more people cannot imagine anymore a summer in Sotogrande without polo and your bronce, silver and gold cup.

So now we have all to get back to “normal” again. In my case it means with less polo matches next door, but with for example offering the absolute pearl of the polo in Argentina:  a unique polo ranch within the most spectacular landscape, with a total of 83,5 hectares (206 acres) and with a name known all over the world. Do I make you curious? Why not ask me for more details: info@vanloon-partners.com.

Adrian van Loon