13 September 2023
Former hockey captain of South Africa and former national men’s team coach, Giles Bonnet, will be going back to school, or rather he will be returning to his school, Michaelhouse.
Currently, he is the head coach of the South African national women’s team and will be heading up a three-day camp, utilising the beautiful facilities of the Balgowan school, which includes two Astros, from 24 to 26 September, for girls and boys, from under-9 to under-18.
The deadline for registration is Monday, 18 September. Cost per player is R2 500 and any profits go towards the South African women’s team’s preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
During his 36-year coaching career, Bonnet, apart from coaching the two South African national teams, has been head coach of the Belgium men’s and the Canadian women’s teams, and served both the Chinese men’s and women’s national teams. He, furthermore, spent seven years coaching in the Dutch Hoofdklasse, and managed the Amsterdam Hockey Academy for three years. His pedigree as one of the world’s leading coaches is well-established.
A very impressive coaching staff
Bonnet, though, will be far from a one-man band at the Michaelhouse camp. He’ll be backed up by a very impressive coaching staff. It includes:
- Wayne Lombard, an athletic and rehabilitation specialist and the Head of Athletic Performance for SA Women’s Hockey.
- Marcell Keet, assistant SA women’s hockey team coach and SA u21 women’s assistant coach. Also, a South African international in both hockey and water polo.
- Inky Zondi, assistant coach of the SA women’s hockey team, current Tuks Head of Programme and Tuks women’s head coach at Tuks Sport.
- Lynn Abrahamse, the SA women’s hockey manager, with a wealth of experience in coaching, managing and sports’ administration.
- AJ Spieringshoek, the South African women’s indoor hockey coach.
- Nelson Komane-Nel, Technical Director and the Head ladies’ coach at North-West University
They offer a rare opportunity to tap into the cream of South African hockey coaching over an extended period of time.
Accommodation
The three-day event includes two nights of accommodation at Michaelhouse, with five quality sit-down meals. Arrival is by 14:00 on Sunday, 24 September, and departure is at 12:00 on Tuesday, 26 September.
Girls and boys will be accommodated separately according to their age groups in the Michaelhouse boarding houses, and they will be under adult supervision both on and off the field. Qualified medics from Saint Michael’s Ambulance will be on duty every day.
How to secure a place at the Coaching Camp
To secure your schools’ team players, daughters’ and or sons’ participation, please RSVP to Keith your proof of payment of R 2 500 at keithandlindi@gmail.com, with the following information included:
• First name
• Surname
• Age (in September)
• Gender
• School
• Grade
• Position played
• School hockey team
Contact details
• Mother’s Cell phone number:
• Father’s Cell phone number:
• Mother’s Email address:
• Father’s Email address:
Banking Details
SA Women’s Hockey Team
FNB Cheque Account
Account no: 629 296 80925
Ref: Child’s name and surname
Leave a Reply