While asking for info on state trials this year i received the lamentable news that Eldo has declined to coach the U16 State Schoolgirls team this year.
Of course, life goes on, and I’m sure his successor will do a sterling job, but it’s always sad when a familiar institution ends. To tell you the truth I don’t even know if he’s taking a year off or passing the torch indefinitely. In either case, it was a good opportunity for a bunch of kids at the club and schools i coached to get taught by one of the best.
Eldo took over the programme from another legend – Sue Dansie. In his tenure, some fanstastic players and athletes went through the programme – Raelee Vick, Jessica Peacock, Anna & Renee Maycock, Fleur & Victoria Holmes, Bea Daly, Mel Hopkins just to name a few. There are decidedly big shoes to fill and an opportunity for the next coach to add themselves to a list of legends.
The U16 programme is still in my opinion an excellent programme – the kids get more time in preparation and training, and more attention at the tournament (one team per state, one age group).
If last year was indeed Eldo’s last, then i consider myself extremely fortunate to have had a chance to watch how we worked and help out. It certainly made me a better coach, and it was well worth getting up early every sunday and missing out on some sleep. One of my favourite anecdotes was when the team discussed which movie they should go watch together in their time off during the tournament. Eldo recalled taking one of his first state teams to see Pretty Woman. For the players listening to the story – made up of kids born no earlier than 1994 – it may as well have been Gone with the Wind. Time flies huh?
