One week Valkenswaard is at the top, then Mierlo-Hout comes back over it. Both East Brabant teams make it a nerve-wracking conclusion in the first division F. And now trainers Maurice Hendriks and Raymond Koenraadt also face each other on a different level: they have been nominated for the best amateur trainer in the Netherlands. Although there is still a privateer lurking on the coast.
Every year, the Dutch Football Practice Masters Union (VVON) nominates three trainers in the six districts. To be eligible for a VVON Award, a head coach must work in amateur football at UEFA A level, i.e. first division or higher. Trainers who are affiliated with the union can then vote, after which the winner per district will be selected on Friday, May 10 during the national trainers’ conference in the PEC Zwolle stadium.
In South II it will be between Maurice Hendriks (Valkenswaard) and Raymond Koenraadt (Mierlo-Hout). Both trainers are no strangers to each other. They are involved in a fierce title battle in the first division F and, due to the disappearance of EHC, they both have 39 points after eighteen games. Mierlo-Hout is currently in the lead due to the better goal difference. They are challenged by the third nominee: Jan Pruijn from fellow competitor Volharding. After a strong start, his team has fallen to fifth place, ten points behind the two leaders.
Clear structure
Koenraadt receives credits from the jury for the course he has completed with Mierlo-Hout. In 2017 he took over from Cees Eekels and immediately became champion in the third division. After missing out on the title for five seasons, he was promoted to the first division via the play-offs last summer. He is once again competing for the top places. “Mierlo-Hout mainly plays from the view that the team has the ball itself and therefore mainly wants to play attacking football,” the jury report continues.
VVON also wrote about Hendriks with full praise. He returned to Valkenswaard last season, where he had previously been active as a player. He immediately became champion in the second class. “Maurice works from a clear structure. Through physical tests, he can not only monitor progress, but every effort is also made to keep players injury-free.”
On May 10 it will be announced who will succeed Wittenhorst coach Sjoerd van der Coelen as the best trainer in South I.
All candidates per district for Trainer of the Year:
South 2: Maurice Hendriks (Valkenswaard), Raymond Koenraadt (Mierlo-Hout)Jan Pruijn (Perseverance).
South 1: Mark Klippel (RBC), Dennis de Nooijer (Goes), Maurice Verbunt (Blauw Geel’38).
West 1: Chris de Graaf (Spakenburg), Jasper Ketting (HBC), Sander Middelbeek (Ajax Saturday).
West 2: Thomas Duivenvoorden (Quick Boys), Leen van Steensel (Barendrecht) and Peter Wubben (Spijkenisse).
East: Jeroen van Haaren (Orion), Stephan Rahantoknam (WHC) and Jos van der Veen (Excelsior’31).
North: Erwin Heerlijn (Oranje Nassau), Arjen Postma (Flevo Boys) and René van der Weij (Genemuiden).
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Tags: competition individual prize trainers Valkenswaard MierloHout nominated award Amateur football
