“Cold, calm and clear… We are loving this process and intend to take it all the way home.”
This is the approach, attitude and intentions of Hout Bay United FC’s coach, Nathan Paulse, ahead of their Bruyns Plate Section Final against fellow local rivals Rygersdal FC at the Athlone Stadium on (Easter) Monday.
The coastal side beat Windhoek Gymnasium and Stanturf United en-route to the final while Rygersdal dispatched Matroosfontein and Virginia Academy to progress to their first ever final at the Bayhill.
Paulse played in the Bayhill as a youngster and knows what is required in pressure moments like this. The former pro player, who has seen and done it all during his professional career which spanned over two decades, is now trying to emulate his successes as a young coach and mentor.
Needless to say, very few know the Athlone Stadium better than Paulse as it was his stomping ground as a youngster – a place where he grew up and learnt the tricks of the trade due to the fact that he also attended the Athlone North Primary school which is situated directly behind the stadium
“More than that I played at Athlone for over 18yrs and know what it’s like,” Paulse told No Bones with Jones. “It’s like a home away from home, you know. So, it’s all about enjoying the moment and sticking to our processes, you know.
“We have the youngest squad in the tournament by far and the only local squad with only two players from outside the Hout Bay area and all the players have been with us for more than two years now. We don’t quick fix recruitments and there are no shortcuts to success in my view,” Paulse concluded.
