Savita Punia and Bichu Devi meet late coach’s wife ahead of World Cup match

India goalkeepers Savita Punia and Bichu Devi met Caroline Busch at Amstelveen ahead of their crucial World Cup match against Australia on Sunday. The encounter came as the pair were preparing for training drills and unfolded beside the advertising boards.

Caroline Busch is the wife of the late goalkeeping coach Simon Zijp, who had been training Savita and Bichu since the start of last year and was set to return to India last November before his untimely demise in October. Caroline had travelled from Hague to reconnect with the players because of the strong bond Zijp shared with them. She handed them chocolates, a couple of small wooden shoes — a symbol of Netherlands’ farming history — and a personal note. “In the note, I wrote that Simon always talked very highly of them. I also wished them a lot of luck and success for the future,” said Caroline while wiping away her tears.

For Savita, the unexpected meeting with Caroline became a pleasant memory and a source of strength. She said Zijp’s words through her rehabilitation process during her injury spell allowed her to come back stronger. “He used to talk to me about what is important for a senior player to come back after an injury. And if there is an injury, how many thoughts come to the mind? He used to ask me to write down those thoughts in a diary to keep motivating myself,” said the veteran ’keeper.

Savita said the whole team was shocked to hear of Zijp’s death. “I also realised that we all developed so much attachment over such a short time so I wondered how tough it would be for the family,” said Savita. She had previously spoken to Pirmin Blaak, the current goalkeeping coach of the side, about how special their former coach was for her.

Zijp was a long-time coach of Blaak, the former Netherlands goalkeeper. So Blaak promised that he would arrange for a meeting with Caroline, which he fulfilled. That intervention by the current goalkeeping coach enabled the players to meet Zijp’s widow during training preparations.

Savita said she was grateful for the opportunity to make one final connection to her former coach through his wife. “She took time out to come meet us, despite it being a very tough time for her. She [Caroline] gave us good wishes and blessings, it will be a lifelong memory for us,” added Savita.

The poignant exchange took place by the advertising boards and the two goalkeepers posed for a photograph with Caroline. The meeting coincided with India’s preparations for their World Cup match against Australia on Sunday in Amstelveen.