International Hockey Federation : Burning Desire

Giles Bonnet has led the Belgium team for the last five years and has a burning desire to get them to the BDO Hockey World Cup later this year. Their recent run of form indicates they have a great chance of doing just that.

However the South Africa-born former international is under no illusions as to how difficult it will be. He talks to Cathy Harris about his philosophies and methods and life away from the pitch.

Giles Bonnet was born in Durban and went to primary school at Highbury before attending high school at Michaelhouse. He studied further at the University of Natal in Durban.

He played provincial hockey, winning eight titles in a 10-year period and also played for South Africa between 1985 and 1995.

Bonnet, now aged 41, left South Africa to join his partner Gabrielle van Doorn who was living and working in Holland.

What are you doing now and what have you achieved in Europe?
I am currently coaching the Amsterdam Dames 1 (my fourth and final season with this team) In the national championship previously we finished third and second twice and are hoping to compete again this year for the championship title.

I started coaching the Belgium men’s national team in September 2001. Last year we finished third at the Champions Challenge event and fourth at the European Championship. We are now preparing for the WCQ in Changzhou.

I am also the Academy manager at Amsterdam Hockey Club which involves managing the top youth teams, its players and their coaches and trainers.

My greatest fear is...
Not having enough time to be involved in projects or experiences that are exciting and challenging

From my parents I learnt...
Too many small and major things to list, however, a key learning they passed on to me was a passion for sport, and in particular hockey.

I handle disappointment...
As long as there is perspective, then setbacks or disappointments are able to be viewed and positioned as part of the process, and correctly used can help to fast track the process. I attempt to use disappointments as a means of creating a stronger environment.

My favourite moment in hockey...
Not a hockey moment, but a sporting moment was the drop kick by Joel Stransky in the final moments of the final to help South Africa win the World Cup Rugby title in 1995, and the post match award ceremony when Madiba (Nelson Mandela) handed out the Web Ellis trophy wearing a Springbok jersey.

The one rule I would change...
The lifted ball, it is poorly judged, is difficult to manage consistently and often prevents great skills being exhibited and a new dimension to the game developing

The player or coach (or both!) I most admire...
There are too many coaches whose qualities and approach to the game I find inspirational and motivating. At the moment however, one cannot but admire the way that (Australian coach) Barry Dancer and his staff are setting new standards for our sport. As a result of this and other innovations by other leading teams, I expect that over the course of the next 12-18 months, one will see significant changes to many areas that we have previously considered the norm.

I regret...
In coaching one always has regrets, hindsight is always able to shed a clearer light on most decisions. In a team context I attempt to ensure that if there are any regrets, that these are kept to the minor and not the major category.

The one sporting event I would pay money to watch...
The Ryder Cup golf, it incorporates individual quality and excellence within a team endeavour, and in this makes for a special sporting event.

I'd like to be remembered...
As a young sportsman, I once had a school rugby coach, Gordon Paterson, who shared a vision of what is the importance of team sport and what ultimately would make the difference between winning and just participating. This conversation impacted on me, and has sub consciously affected the way I have approached sport, both as a player and a coach. I hope that similarly I would be able to generate a spark in athletes’ minds which can help them in realising some aspects of their potential.

How would your friends describe you...
Most probably not often present, due to a busy work schedule. In the coaching world it is rarely possible to also manage a social schedule.

And your players...
I would hope that I am able to deliver on certain core competencies and that these are also matched by the players’ perspective. My expectation is that these would be attention to detail, being well prepared, having a strong content base and being able to communicate on tasks and expectations to players.

What book are you reading at the moment...
I tend to read a few books at one time. A reason is that in coaching one is always searching for new ideas and influences, whilst another is that there is not the time to become absorbed by one book. So at the moment I am paging Jim Collins Good to Great, Mindgames by Roland Lazenby and Freeze Frame by Sean Wisedale.

When I put my feet up...
I attempt to read a few pages and to spend time with my family. The best break for me from coaching is to spend time with my four-year-old daughter and eight- month-old son. In these encounters the social hierarchy of age and experience is turned totally upside down.

Which teams will qualify for the World Cup...
I expect from the WCQ the traditionally ranked teams of Korea and Pakistan to make it through. The last three places I expect to be extremely competitive, with many countries being realistically able to stake a claim. Countries who would expect to be in this close competition would be New Zealand, England and Malaysia. Besides these countries I would not bet against Belgium being a candidate.

Most countries have invested in very costly preparation programmes and I expect that the gap between all the teams will be small, with final honours going to the teams who convert and defend their set pieces, are able to cope with the challenges the venue provides as well as how certain teams deal with the proximity of the Commonwealth Games to this event.

What would you eat and which three people, dead alive, would you invite for dinner?
Venue would be Doyles on Watson’s Bay in Sydney, the meal would be seafood with a few bottles of chilled Chardonnay. People would be coaches, Phil Jackson (Chicago Bulls), Sir Clive Woodward (England rugby) and Vince Lombardi (American football)

The best country to play hockey in…
No hesitation in this being Holland for the club competition, and I would have to say that in terms of international events the Netherlands would also get my vote, due to their ability to organise the total environment around the matches. In terms of the crowd participation , both India and Pakistan offer special experiences.