‘During the game it’s war’

• Anne van Eijk

  Editor NOS Sport

Volleyball players Anne Buijs and the Brazilian Ana Carolina da Silva have been sharing joys and sorrows for almost six years. But at the World Cup, the two lovers are competitors on Friday evening. Then the Netherlands and Brazil, fighting for a quarter-final place, will face each other in Ahoy.

“Before the match has started and afterwards we are a couple, but during the match it is war”, Buijs makes no mistake about it.

The spark jumps at the end of 2016 between Buijs and Carol, as the Brazilian is called for short, when they are teammates at Rexona Sesc in Rio de Janeiro. The love for each other is so strong that Buijs was asked to marry him in the summer of 2018.

After a few outings, the two are now teammates in Brazil again, at Dentil Praia Clube. During the summer months, when Buijs and Carol are with the Dutch and Brazilian national teams respectively, they have to miss each other. And now and then they run into each other, like tonight in Rotterdam, when the Netherlands and Brazil meet.

“It is always special to play against each other”, says Buijs, who really wants to see Carol as an opponent in the preparation and during the game. “But we are still in contact, you know. Only that it is not about the game.”

The fact that they will see each other again, although separated by a volleyball net, brings a big smile to Carol’s face. “We’ve played against each other in the past, of course, but it’s always a lot of fun,” she says with a glint in her eye.

Buijs also beams when she talks about her fiancé. “I’m just going to wish her a good game and a lot of fun and the best will win in the end.” Carol says the same in that.

“Of course I want Anne to play her best game, but in the end I just want to win”, the Brazilian said, who will not fail to tell her coach about how Brazil can best defend Buijs.

“But Anne also does that to her coach about me, you know. That’s just part of it,” says the 31-year-old Brazilian middle player. Buijs, who will also turn 31 at the beginning of December, in turn knows the Brazilian team through and through. “I play there in the club season of course, so I know all those players and coaches well. I don’t think there will be many surprises.”

The competition for the Dutch public also has a special touch for Carol. She has visited more than once. “We play together in Brazil, but seize every opportunity to come to the Netherlands. I am therefore looking forward to playing in a packed hall for all our family and friends,” she refers to her Dutch in-laws.

Carol expects an exciting match. “We both need to win to stay in the race for the quarter-finals and the Netherlands has really gotten better during the tournament. So I’m a bit nervous, but I’m also really looking forward to it.”

Buijs sounds especially combative after Thursday’s narrow defeat against strong China (2-3). “The fact that we can achieve this level really gives a lot of confidence for the game against Brazil.”

The focus on the match is not disturbed by anyone at Buijs, not even by her future wife. “No, I’m just focused on volleyball.” After the match there is room for love again.

And according to Carol, it should finally happen after the World Cup. “Yes, we really want to try and get married this season.”