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Ajax Cape Town have announced that Foppe De Haan and Hans Vonk will usher in a new era at the club; with the duo to team up in leading the club’s Youth Academy.
Already bolstering the coaching talent of Stanley Menzo, Mich d’Avray, Duncan Crowie and Vladislav Heric - De Haan and Vonk will complete a coaching team at Ikamva.
Vonk will officially take over as the new Head of Youth with immediate effect - following his arrival in the country this Tuesday - with the former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper to be astutely assisted by his mentor, De Haan. Foppe will arrive in South Africa in August following the conclusion of the 2017 UEFA European Women’s Championship in the Netherlands.
“I am very happy to be back in South Africa, happy to be back in Cape Town,” said Vonk while watching the Under-19’s opening game at the 2017 Bayhill Premier Cup at Erica Park as quoted by the club’s website.
“We are looking forward to improving on the current standard of the Youth Academy at the club; the biggest aim is to improve the level of the coaches which will automatically improve the level of the players.
“Besides that obviously there are many more aspects that need work: helping the scouting department find the right players and looking after the players in terms of life skills - there are a lot of things to do.
“Foppe, his experience and knowledge of the coaches will be key - his involvement is a big boost for Ajax Cape Town,” Vonk continued.
“He will definitely help, give courses to the youth coaches and move into the communities because that is another aim, to build on not only the club, but also our relationships with other clubs in Cape Town.
“I would like to take from what I have learnt from the best coaches in my career, the likes of De Haan and Carlos Alberto Parreira, and transfer that knowledge over to the youth coaches at the club. I want to find the correct blend between the South African way and the Ajax Amsterdam way.
“South Africa has given me a lot of opportunities, both Bafana Bafana and Ajax Cape Town and I am very grateful to be able to now give something back to the club and the country,” the 47-year-old concluded.
