Former Proteas aim to take club cricket to the next level

The involvement of former Protea players in coaching at club level can largely contribute to top-quality players emerging from the amateur structures.

Rory Kleinveldt, former Protea and Cape Cobra star bowler and coach of the English county of Northamptonshire, says the involvement of former Protea players can make a huge contribution to producing quality players.

Since the introduction of the new provincial structures and the abolition of the franchise system, the country's 15 provincial unions are now competing in two divisions. Although the national Clots league has been introduced, the reality is, these teams only play four matches per season, that’s if they are lucky.

Teams such as the Western Province, Boland and the South-Western Districts must now make use of the club system to give players game time or to exploit new talent.

Kleinveldt says he is impressed and believes Farhaan Behardien’s appointment as the coach of Ottoman in the WP Premier League can take club cricket to the next level. Ottoman is back in the WP Premier League this season after a season in the WP’s Division 1A. They have since their return won three out of their six games.

“This is a huge boost for a club like Ottoman and the wider cricket community. You now have someone with international experience who can share his knowledge at a grassroot level. Club players are now coached by someone who has experience of what he has learned in the dressing rooms and team talks at international level. I would encourage this,” Kleinveldt explained.

Kleinveldt, who is set to return to England next month, believes the biggest challenge is money.

“It is about whether clubs can pay the players’ salaries. That is the reality — finances. But I believe, as Ottoman was able to do, such appointments is possible at other clubs” he added

Salieg Nackerdien, head coach of the WP cricket team was recently in a predicament due to injuries and call-ups to the national team, and was forced to call on a few players from the club ranks for his team’s Cricket South Africa 4 Day Series matches.

This has raised the question of whether club cricket is up to standard and whether players are ready to make the step-up.

Nackerdien echoed Kleinveldt sentiments and welcomes ex Proteas involvement in coaching at club level.

“This is great development as it would assist in fast-tracking our development of players. The system we have now has done away with a second-tier provincial competition where players could maintain a competitive level and sometimes the level is not so good. But I must add our teams in the Premier division are competitive. But with ex-Proteas involvement at this level, can improve players techniques. So, yes, I’m delighted for Berhardien’s foresight to become involved at club level. Just check how many kids are now motivated have to be coached by a player who has played for South Africa,” said Nackerdien.