After five wonderful seasons in the red and white jersey, HBS Colorno says goodbye Jaco van Tondera South African fullback who arrived in Colorno in 2019.
Full beard and shy look, sober look and feet always firmly on the ground, almost as if he wanted to let the field speak for him. His numbers would be enough to paint the portrait of a timeless champion: 86 attendance total, seasoned by 13 goals in the top flight e 172 points. Irreducible, always among the players with the most playing time and Colornese record holder of MVP, 7 in these five years. For many, one of the best players in the Championship, one of the few to truly make a difference with the oval in hand.
Yet in Colorno we will remember him first of all for what lies behind this fantastic athlete: a man with a solid system of values, always fair with teammates and opponents, capable of dragging the group along like a leader, putting his experience at the service of the team. Never a word out of place, never a delay or an unjustified absence, just a lot of sweat left on the battlefield. A example for young people, a fixed point for all those fans who greeted him last week, applauding him like a king: “Baje dankie Jaco vir alles. Sterkte voorentoe!”
His Italian experience began in Valpolicella, where Van Tonder chose to return to end his playing career, thanking Rugby Colorno for this wonderful experience: “They were five extraordinary years, during which I grew as a player and as a person, putting myself to the test with a top-level championship. I am truly grateful to Rugby Colorno for the opportunity it gave me and I greet with affection all my teammates, coaches and fans who accompanied me on this journey. It was a pleasure and a privilege to wear this shirt and don’t think it’s easy to let go, I now consider Colorno my second home. I think back to the people I met in the Club House, to the managers who have always been available to me, to the friends with whom I shared victories and defeats… I can’t tell you anything other than dankie guys, I’ll see you on the pitches.”
“We greet with great affection a player, but above all a person, who in recent years has represented a great point of reference for Colorno”, comments the Technical Director Stefano Romagnoli. “I have great respect for a boy who I consider a true professional, both for how he has cultivated personal and working relationships here at the club, always behaving in a very serious and precise manner. I would like young people to take inspiration from his attitude on and off the pitch. From a technical point of view I don’t think there is a need to spend too many words, we are faced with a profile of the highest level, a fullback with excellent field coverage and excellent footwork, who has always demonstrated tactical intelligence its strong point. From myself and all of Rugby Colorno, all I can do is wish him good luck for his next goal.”
