Former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Hans Vonk sings Kaizer Chiefs' praises on Netherlands tour
Former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Hans Vonk was impressed by several Kaizer Chiefs players after observing their performance during a midweek match on their Netherlands tour.
Since arriving in the Netherlands, Chiefs have captivated the hearts of local fans, signalling the growing interest in South African football outside its borders. The tour proved to be an essential platform for Chiefs, who embraced the warm reception by Dutch supporters.
Vonk, who bagged 43 international caps while playing for Ajax Cape Town, was on hand to watch the match against Dutch Eredivisie side PEC Zwolle, who lost 1-0 in Meppel.
Before kick-off, he was greeted by several former Ajax players, including current squad members Brandon Petersen, Dillan Solomons, Tashreeq Morris, and Rushwin Dortley, highlighting the strong sense of community and camaraderie that exists in South African football.
Reflecting on the Chiefs' performance, Vonk said that the South Africans faced challenges adapting to the playing conditions after their initial 15 minutes. 'I can imagine that the players would need to adjust to the pitches in their first few friendly matches in Holland,' he said to Kaizerchiefs.com.
'The fields here are softer compared to what they are used to in South Africa. The ball circulation is also quicker, especially when facing quality Eredivisie sides. It's something the players needed to adapt to.'
Despite a shaky start, Chiefs composed themselves, with Vonk praising their organisational strength. He particularly noted the skills of players such as Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, Nkanyiso Shinga, and Sibongiseni Mthethwa, suggesting that each showed promise during the match.
Vonk remained unconcerned about the team's three losses before this game.
"I am not interested in those losses," he remarked, reflecting on the purpose of pre-season games. 'It's all about getting ready for the season. Besides that, the players had to adapt to the different circumstances in Holland and the strong Dutch opponents they played against.'
Looking back on his career, Vonk noted: 'For sure, as a goalkeeper I hated conceding a goal and losing, even in pre-season.
However, it's all about the new experiences in Holland, about playing matches against competitive sides, getting the rhythm right, and building a team… that's what a coach is looking at during pre-season.'
He expressed confidence that the pre-season camp would be beneficial for the entire squad. "I am sure they will all have learnt a lot," he added.
Vonk also took a moment to reminisce about the support he received from Kaizer Chiefs fans during his time in Cape Town: 'I always had the greatest admiration for the Chiefs supporters.
"They were always very sympathetic, and I never saw them in a fight or something like that. It was really about Love & Peace!'
The highlight of the evening for Vonk came when Naledi Hlongwane netted the winner, prompting him to engage excitedly with Amakhosi fans as they celebrated together.
As the new season looms on the horizon, Vonk remains optimistic about the future of the Kaizer Chiefs. 'I hope that Chiefs will be able to return to the level where they belong, being competitive and challenging for trophies,' he concluded, encapsulating the aspirations shared by countless fans of the club.
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