TOTO Dart Kings team enlists help from former footballer: "Dirk Marcellis is going to give our players mental support"

On Tuesday, the TOTO Dart Kings team, which includes the best Dutch darters, held its team day. One of the new faces is former soccer player Dirk Marcellis, who played for PSV and AZ, among others, during his career.

Founded in 2022, the TOTO Dart Kings brings the best Dutch darters under one roof. The team currently includes Michael van Gerwen, Danny Noppert, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Raymond van Barneveld, Gian van Veen and Vincent van der Voort. They can count on the help of a press spokesperson and a nutritionist, among others. And recently ex-soccer player Dirk Marcellis joined the team, he will provide mental coaching.

For Marcellis, who after his football career gave mental support to players at Feyenoord and is also active with the gymnastics federation, it is already an introduction to a new sport. "Whether I already had much with darts? Apart from being a fan and watching everything, I'm not very good at it," he laughs to NOS.

Still, Marcellis already has a clear plan in mind. "It's always very personal. There are a lot of variables with players. I help them where their needs are, where they want to develop and grow."

Members of the TOTO Dart Kings team will have access to a house close to the playing venue at Alexandra Palace during the World Darts Championship, where all training facilities are also available.

"Whether I'm going to use Dirk's services? I have yet to find that out" says Van Barneveld. "In our sport of course it depends on very small details, it will have to be seen if his help can help with that."

Michael van Gerwen is also still in doubt. "I don't know yet if I will ever call on his services," said the three-time world champion. "At the moment I feel particularly good and I have no reason to look for mental help. I also only saw Dirk for the first time today, so it's far too early to say anything about that."