KUALA LUMPUR: Belgian hockey player Louis Depelsenaire wants to follow in the footsteps of his idol, Tom Boon, who is one of the greatest strikers in the world.
Depelsenaire, 21, displayed his talent on Wednesday in scoring a brilliant reverse stick goal in Belgium's 4-0 win over New Zealand in a Junior World Cup
Group D match at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Depelsenaire dribbled past three defenders before scoring the superb goal in the 21st minute.
Also on target for Belgium were Hugo Labouchere (18th), Jack Vloeberghs (18th) and Thomas Crols (34th).
Depelsenaire, who scored two goals in the Junior European Championships in Ghent, Belgium, last year, said he is inspired by Boon, who has scored 124 goals in 304 appearances for his country.
Boon helped Belgium win the 2018 World Cup, 2019 European Championships and 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold.
"I want to be a great player like Boon. Scoring my first goal in my first JWC is a good start for me," said Depelsenaire.
Belgium will face European champions the Netherlands tomorrow in what is set to be an interesting and exciting match.
Belgium coach Jeroen Baart said he is happy to start the tournament without conceding a goal.
"We were a bit nervous and sloppy in the first quarter but our game picked up in the second quarter. Despite the heat we did well to score four goals.
"Playing the Netherlands in our next game is like playing a game of chess.
"We know each other's game very well. We played them twice in summer and won one and lost one.
"I also know the Netherlands coach Jesse Mahieu very well as we are coaching in the same league in the Netherlands," said Baart, who is coach of HC Oranje-Rood Club.