Hans Vonk (footballer)

Johannes Adrianus "Hans" Vonk (Afrikaans pronunciation: [ˈɦans ˈfɔŋk]; born 30 January 1970) is a retired South African professional football goalkeeper of Dutch parentage who last played for Ajax Cape Town FC.

This article is about the goalkeeper. For the Dutch conductor, see Hans Vonk (conductor).

Hans Vonk
Personal information
Full name Johannes Adrianus Vonk
Date of birth (1970-01-30) 30 January 1970
Place of birth Alberton, South Africa
Height 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1991 RKC Waalwijk 25 (0)
1991–1992 Wageningen 33 (0)
1992–1993 Den Bosch 34 (0)
1993–1996 RKC Waalwijk 80 (0)
1996–2004 Heerenveen 263 (0)
2004–2006 Ajax 26 (0)
2006–2008 Ajax Cape Town 51 (0)
2008–2009 Ajax 0 (0)
2009 Heerenveen 4 (0)
2009–2011 Ajax Cape Town 59 (0)
Total 575 (0)
National team
1989 Netherlands U-20[1] 1 (0)
1997–2005 South Africa 43 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Netherlands

Vonk began his career at RKC Waalwijk where he made 25 appearances in 3 seasons. He became first-choice goal keeper for FC Wageningen, but was forced to leave after just one season, when the club went bankrupt and ceased to exist. Vonk returned to Noord-Brabant where he played for FC Den Bosch, before joining his first club RKC, this time as their first keeper. His breakthrough came with his transfer to sc Heerenveen, a club on the rise. They reached a domestic cup final in 96/97 and finished second in the league in 99/00, resulting in Champions League football the next season. After 8 years, Vonk was approaching the autumn of his career. He left sc Heerenveen to become third-choice goalkeeper for Ajax behind Maarten Stekelenburg and Bogdan Lobonț. In a surprising turn of events, Vonk managed to play 26 games in 2 seasons.

First stint at South Africa

After 18 years of professional playing Vonk left the Netherlands to return to his country of birth, and played 2 seasons for Ajax' satellite club, Ajax Cape Town. He was terminated from his contract after a conflict with the coach of Ajax Cape Town, which made him a free agent.

Return to Netherlands

Ajax signed him due to injury problems with their current goalkeepers Maarten Stekelenburg and Dennis Gentenaar, leaving the Amsterdam club with only 1 professional goalkeeper left: Kenneth Vermeer. In the winter transfer window of '08/'09, with the regular Ajax keepers back in shape, he once again moved to an old club, sc Heerenveen to become second-choice goalkeeper behind Brian Vandenbussche. He soon took over Vandenbussche's spot and played several league games, and another cup final, which sc Heerenveen won.

Second spell at Ajax Cape Town

Continuing his tour amongst clubs he'd already played for, Vonk once again moved, this time back to his homeland South Africa, to play for Ajax Cape Town, citing family reasons, as well as sensing an opportunity to make the Bafana Bafana World Cup 2010 squad.

International

Vonk played once for the Netherlands national under-20 football team[2] in a 3-1 win against Denmark. He played the second half coming on as a substitute for John Karelse.[3]

Vonk made his debut for the South African national team in May 1998 and was first choice goalkeeper for the 1998 FIFA World Cup [4] as well as an unused substitute for Andre Arendse at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Vonk announced his retirement for Bafana Bafana in 2005 after South Africa failed to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, after earning a total of 43 caps.[5]

Honours

Club
Ajax
2006
Ajax Cape Town
2008
2007
2007, 2008
SC Heerenveen
2009

International
South Africa
2000

References
  1. Auf der Heyde, Peter (2002). Has anybody got a whistle? : a football reporter in Africa. Manchester: Parrs Wood. p. 179. ISBN 1903158311.
  2. https://www.onsoranje.nl/teams/185185/speler/12730
  3. https://www.onsoranje.nl/teams/185185/uitslagen/wedstrijd/11074
  4. 1998 FIFA World Cup – South Africa Squad
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