Without taking the limelight or any credit away from Mondale High’s current soccer coach, Valhatiem Raynard, perhaps his mentor and former coach, Nigel Crowie, should make it a priority to attend their Kay Motsepe Schools provincial finals in Saldanha Bay this coming weekend.
Crowie, who retired in 2019, attended Mondale’s district final at Elsbury Park in Matroosfontein two weeks ago and it was quite clear that he was an inspiration to all the players. Mondale beat Bergvliet by 3-1 to walk away with its fourth Western Province title – against all odds.
It was also the first and only game Crowie attended, and boy, was he impressed with what he saw from the sidelines from his protege in Raynard.
“I am thinking of going (to the provincial finals), but I am not sure. Maybe,” Crowie informed No Bones with Jones. “I spoke to mr. Raynard in the week about my availability, let’s see,” he added.
Mondale’s previous successes in this school’s competition came back in 2013, 2014 and 2017 under Crowie’s watch, assisted by Raynard who has now added a fourth title to keep their fantastic winning streak alive.
During their time together at Mondale, the school was unstoppable, dominating every competition they entered and producing Bafana Bafana players such as Lance Davids, Kurt Lentjies and Ashraf Hendricks. These players all became household names in SA football circles and broad.
Just to get a glimpse of this formidable duo’s achievements, in 2013 Mondale went through the whole of this competition without losing a single match – from the district round right through to national. Even the semi-final against SuperSport ended in a stalemate – they succumbed to the lottery of penalties.
Their consolation was a third position when they annihilated an academy team affiliated with Kaizer Chiefs by 6-0. It is also safe to say that Raynard has now fully ‘graduated’ and stepped out of the shadows of Crowie by maintaining their dominance in the school’s championship.
Needless to say, this is very pleasing to Crowie who acknowledged to No Bones with Jones that he is not surprised at all to see what Raynard has accomplished thus far.
“Mr Raynard is a very dedicated person, hey, if he gives something then you must know it will be 100 percent. He gives 100% and he wants 100% in return.
“And I think they are very close to giving that 100% – there’s room for improvement and that is life. In life you must believe that you can always improve. You are not perfect. There is always room for improvement, and they need to realise that. It is not going to be easy. But what I saw at the (district) finals recently, he is definitely getting there.
“He has been there before, and he has the experience to guide them to the nationals. Look, it is definitely going to be difficult but with his experience and some of the experience players in his team that plays for top clubs and tournaments like the Bayhill, I am sure that they will come through the provincials and march on to the nationals,” Crowie confidently stated.
Raynard admitted after their victory in final over coach Theo Hempe’s Bergvliet, that his squad is currently in a building phase and that their success was rather surprising, but all so well deserved.
“Honestly speaking, I knew we had it in us, but I did not expect to win it my first attempt as we are still in a building phase. But I am very pleased and optimistic of what lies ahead for this team,” he concluded.
Needless to say, Raynard has a talented bunch of players which boasts two national players in the under 17 goalkeeper, Genaro Johnson as well as the national under-20 player Siviwe Nkhali.
Added to this duo are two current Bayhill Cup champions in the form of Grassy Park United’s two Matthew’s – Jansen and Du Plessis.
Despite his recent achievements as head coach with Mondale, one cannot help but wonder if Crowie’s presence was the lucky charm that ‘contributed’ to the success of his former school recently at Elsbury Park.
Perhaps Crowie presence, along with Raynard’s hunger for success, will again be the catalyst as Mondale’s success – who knows!
