Former Eastwood learner appointed as a coach at Nelson Mandela Bay University

Another former Eastwood Primary School and Eastwood Secondary School product is making waves in his career in the Eastern Cape.

Last week, Eastwood residents, celebrated through different platforms on social media when local lad Glen Minnie (pictured with his wife Marlene) was officially appointed as one of the coaches of the Nelson Mandela Bay University soccer team.

The former Eastwood's Chelsea junior and Real Taj player is now the head coach of the NMMU Under 21 team, the development project head and also an assistant to the senior team competing in the popular Varsity Cup.

Minnie told Public Eye from his "new stable" in Gqeberha that he was honoured to be appointed by NMMU management as one of the technical staff members and was looking forward and excited for "new challenges". He also strongly indicated that as a former Eastwood lad he will always remember his early childhood "guiders and parents" from around the neighbourhood, the Chelsea owner/coach Ronnie "Bally" Petersen and former Eastwood Ward 34 councillor Mike Amod.

"Uncle Ronnie and his wife Aunty Jullie were like our parents and we all grew up around their house. Uncle Ronnie did not only teach us to play soccer but also administration of our lives, on and off the field. I can proudly say today I am a man through them and I'm very grateful,"said Minnie.

Minnie said Amod was one of the best youth leaders many years ago because of his youth sport programmes during the school holidays. "Uncle Mike's youth activities during the holidays kept us busy and we stayed away from the streets and social ills through him. You can imagine how many lives he saved. We played all the codes of sport around the Eastwood Civic Centre and Eastwood grounds."said Minnie.

Petersen told Public Eye that he was proud of "His Son" for going far in his career because he came from humble beginnings. "I recruited Glen when he was about 13 years-old and when he turned 15, I promoted him to the senior side. I was also teaching him the administration side of things. He was so disciplined, hard working and very quick to learn," said Peterson.

Amod said he was not surprised that Minnie has gone far in his career because he was "well-focused" and had a "vision" for his life.