Morné Odendaal returns to Oranje
C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje has announced the return of Morné Odendaal as the first team head coach and Director of Hockey at the school.
Odendaal, who left Oranje in 2022, remarked that being back at the Bloemfontein school feels like a homecoming.
“I look forward to building on the legacy we created together, working with the next generation, and competing at the highest level again,” he said.
“My focus will remain on principle and value-based coaching, getting the best out of every player, and making Oranje a dominant force in school hockey once more,” Odendaal told SuperSport Schools Plus.
When he left Oranje, Odendaal went to the USA before joining St Anne’s Diocesan College, whom he helped transform into a competitive force. As the director of hockey at the Hilton school, he successfully built a strong culture across all age groups of the hockey programme.
“My time at St Anne’s was incredibly rewarding,” he reflected. “I’ll always treasure the relationships and the values-driven environment that allowed players to enjoy their hockey, develop as people, and express themselves on the field.”
Since Odendaal’s departure, Oranje has remained competitive, but the dominance that they once enjoyed under his leadership has dwindled. Hence, their approach to bring him back to Bloemfontein.
When he was in charge, from 2013 to 2022, Oranje was, beyond a shadow of doubt, the gold standard in the country. They won 36 of 38 tournaments they contested under Odendaal, whose overall record was a staggering 380 matches won from 480 played. That’s a 95 percent win rate!
Odendaal’s mission is not to replicate the incredible statistical successes of his first spell with the school. Instead, it is focused on helping the school to rediscover its greatness.
“I came back because Oranje has always been special to me,” he explained. “It’s a place where excellence is expected, but also where values and culture are deeply rooted.
“After my time at St Anne’s, I felt called to return and contribute to building Oranje back to where it belongs – at the top.”
