Doc’s memory bank: Coach Ryder never spoke to us

We once played in an Easter tournament in Piet Retief and lost our opening game 2-1 despite controlling the match, on Friday. Coach Ryder never spoke to us as players for the rest of that Friday and even when we went for breakfast and even pre-match meal. He told bro Vincent, “You speak to them, I’m not talking to these boys. Chiefs is not made of players like these. Chiefs win, whether it is a friendly or an official game, so I’m not speaking to them until they get their act together.” Remember, we were so young and didn’t understand that what he was doing was to instill a winning mentality and preparing us for what we will have to deal with in the senior team. I think we beat the next team we played that Saturday morning 10-1 and we went all the way to the final and won it 5-0 on Monday evening. Chiefs supporters could identify talent from that team already and started suggesting their promotion to the senior team. Coach Ryder made us understand what playing for Chiefs meant and how it was going to affect our lives. You bunk school, there’s no place for you in coach Ryder’s team. When it was exams time, they would give us time off to study because they were developing us all-round. The discipline was always on top of the list and that’s why we became who we are eventually. I’m glad I was able to thank coach Ryder in person for his guidance.