The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS coach, Hendrik Pieter de Jongh has settled quickly in Bulawayo where he is even driving himself around.
De Jongh, who has been in Bulawayo since the end of September has been spotted driving on his own in the red Nissan X-Trail that was bought for Bosso coaches by Amahlolanyama Golf Club, a grouping of South Africa-based Highlanders supporters.
The Dutchman described Bulawayo as a populated but small city, that is why he has found it easy to move around without guidance from a local. For as long as he can find his way to the club’s offices and Barbourfields Stadium, then he is fine.
“Bulawayo is not so big, the population is big but city not so big. I remember important points, everything is simply to find. Most important is to find the stadium and the office,’’ said De Jongh.
Life seems to be great for De Jongh in Bulawayo, with the only thing the 48-year-old Dutchman complained about being the sweltering heat the city has been experiencing over the last few weeks.
De Jongh is married to a Kenyan woman, with the couple blessed with two children. The Dutchman and his family reside in the East African country.
“It’s very hot, that’s the only difference with the pace where I normally live in, in Kenya because my wife is from Kenya, Nairobi is not so hot. Nice people, I am happy with the place where I am staying, most important is I am happy with my job,’’ he said.
Just how does De Jongh spend his free time? The Dutchman is a teetotaller and spends most of his time at home researching and gearing up for the coming training sessions. He also jogs on certain days to keep himself fit.
“When I am not busy with my work, I am only at home focusing on my job, preparing for training, research on the internet, I walk two to three times a week.”
His favourite place in Bulawayo is Barbourfields Stadium which is packed whenever Highlanders are playing their home matches.
“I like the stadium on Sundays where there’ll be a lot of people in the stadium, home ground we are strong, lots of people in the stadium.”
With the way De Jongh has turned things around Highlanders on the field of play, with Bosso still yet to taste defeat in the matches he has been in charge, all is pointing to the continuation of his stay beyond the four months initially agreed upon. That is if the consortium of businesspeople financing his stay can still afford to provide the funding.
