Hanover Park FC’s head coach Anwar Gallant (pictufred back) and his former colleague Andrew Pequeno from Vasco da Gama are two of the most passionate coaches in the local game.
Needless to say, they had great success together during the latter’s time as head coach with die ‘Brasse Vannie Park’, as Hanover Park is called – so, they were kind of like the ‘master’ and ‘student’ during their time together.
Furthermore, they know how each other’s thought processes work till a certain extent, so there is very little both can hide from each other – which is why Pequeno has described their match-up like a “game of chess.”
Pequeno explained No Bones with Jones: “it’s going to be weird in a way, looking across the dugout and seeing him standing that side you know. He was a coach who worked under me in the past and now he is taking me on – but I;m not really fazed you know. But I think it will be like a game of chess, you know
Pequeno highlighted that Gallant.is doing very well for himself on his return to HP e after a stint with Rygersdal FC.
“I;m very proud of him,” Pequeno said to No Bones with Jones. ” I think we both changed a bit since the time we were together so it’s going to be intersting.,” he added.
Rest assured sparks can fly when Hanover Park welcomes back their former coach in Pequeno to the Downberg Sport Complex in Hanover Park for an ABC Motsepe League clash on Friday – so one can expect these two friends will become ‘frenemies’ as both will be gunning for maximum points.
“Look it will just be for 90 minutes,” Gallant said jokingly to No Bones with Jones. “But on a serious note, I have the utmost respect for coach Andrew and I learnt a lot from him during our time together at HP,” Gallant added.
The fortunes of Gallant and Pequeno thus far in the league is also contrasting. While Hanover Park FC sits solidly placed in the fourth position with 18 points from 10 games, Vasco on the other is hovering just above the relegation zone with 10 points from eight matches – so, it more than just bragging rights especially for Pequeno who can expect a hostile reception.
So, too can former coaches like Barry Petersen, Grant Scholtz as well as players like Tariq Dien, Luther Jacob’s, Niyaaz Josephs, Moegamat Samsodien May, Kiyaam Bull, Caleb and Craig Joemath expect that no love will be lost.
