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Denial and disbelief are often recurrent reflexes when there is cultural confusion of languages. The KNVB and national coach Andries Jonker are also responding to criticism the Dutch women’s team is receiving from New Zealand over what has come to be known as the “Haka video”. If it appeared that traditional Maori dancing was being mocked, that was certainly not the intention, according to the association.
The Netherlands will play their first World Cup match in New Zealand on July 23, but the video was uploaded a few weeks ago while they were still in the Netherlands. In six seconds, you can see how Sherida Spitse and Merel van Dongen adopt a combative attitude while laughing. Van Dongen yells, “Haka! New Zealand.’
Basic exercise
It is therefore not surprising that in New Zealand the association was made with the ceremonial dance of the Maori, the first inhabitants. The prevailing view is that the dance can be performed by non-Maori, provided it is performed respectfully. It is certainly not the intention to ridicule the tradition.
According to the KNVB, this was also not the case. According to the union, it was an exercise “aimed at evoking the inner strength of the core of the body”. The exercise was in no way related to the Haka or imitating it.
About the Author
Dirk Jacob Nieuwboer is a sports journalist for by Volkskrant and writes about football and handball. He was previously a correspondent for Turkey and a political journalist.
The KNVB took the video offline ‘out of respect’, but at the same time national coach Jonker reacted to it ADVERTISEMENT stimulated. “To me, it’s nothing at all. If there’s one thing we still excel at as a country, it’s respect for other countries and cultures. The Netherlands is open to other countries and takes the lead in the fight against countries that do not. So I think we’re one of the last countries to be criticized for that.
Known to the rugby team
The Haka is best known in the world of sport by the New Zealand rugby team which performs the Ka Mate, the best known version, before competitions. Other sports teams in the country also regularly dance the Haka, due to Fifa rules it occurs in football after matches.
The Dutch team is not the only one to run into the lamp. A video of four Spanish soccer players in which they appear to imitate a laughing Haka has also been taken offline. If it were up to the famous New Zealand actor Jay Laga’aia (among others star wars), it does not stop there. “Your parents must be proud that you chose this international stage to show how stupid and insensitive you are. Go home.
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