Apeldoorn, The Netherlands, June 18, 2009 - The Netherlands' two World League matches against China this weekend are very special to Robert Horstink, as the matches will be played in Apeldoorn, where the most productive Dutch attacker lives.

The 27-year-old Horstink says the World League is very much alive in Apeldoorn. "I see my ugly face on posters and flags at different locations in the city," Horstink says. "Many people approach me on the street saying they have seen me in the newspaper or want to know how they can buy tickets for the World League matches."

Horstink traces his roots to Twello, but spent most of his youth in Apeldoorn. He played for Piet Zoomers/Dynamo for many years before starting his foreign adventure.

"I am really looking forward to it", says the high-jumping attacker about the matches against China. "Last weekend in Rotterdam we found out how great the World League is, especially when you win.

"I think that we can beat the Chinese team but we have to be really focused. The Asians play with many combinations and juggle their positions a lot. We have already seen that in the videos of the matches that China played against Italy. The Italians were much stronger in the first match but lost the second one because they were not concentrated enough. We cannot let that happen to us."