Former Bafana star joins Durban side

Added: Monday, September 29, 2008 (20:49)

He was regarded as one of the finest shot stoppers during his playing days. Although he lacked the flamboyance of Joseph “Banks” Setlhodi and the showboating that characterised Patson “Sparks” Banda’s approach, he remains one of the most respected goalkeepers this country has ever produced.

And on Monday, Steve Crowley’s career went full circle as he joined First Division side Durban Stars, not as a player mind you, but as goalkeeper coach to impart all the knowledge he has gained through a glittering career to the current generation on the books of the coastal side.

There has been countless players like Gavin Hunt, Gordon Igesund, Trott Moloto, Shakes Mashaba, Thomas Madigage, Augustine Makalakalane who made the transition from player to coach and Crowley has also followed suite and lucky are the Durban Stars players who will benefit from his experience.

Crowley was one of those introverted fellows, a gentleman to the core but changed his attitude like a chameleon changing colors when he entered the field as he commanded his area like a panther prowling his territory which he guarded like a jealous husband.

He was not given to showboating and simply went about his job that seemed to make goalkeeping very easy. There was no flash about him and he merely resorted to the basic principles in goalkeeping -- safety first -- and possessed one of the safest pair of hands in the business.

At the prime of his career, as Wits University clung like a monkey on the shoulders of Kaizer Chiefs, the Naturena outfit made it their intention to pursue the likeable goal minder who ended up exchanging his blue and yellow jersey to the gold of Kaizer Chiefs.

He also represented South Africa countless times before Andre Arendse snatched the number one jersey and was in goals when the country hosted and won the 1996 African Nations Cup tournament.