Gibson is South Africa’s top choice as coach – Du Plessis
CAPE TOWN, (Reuters) - England bowling coach Ottis Gibson is South Africa’s preferred choice as new head coach, the Proteas’ test captain Faf du Plessis said on Thursday.
Du Plessis made the announcement, which followed media speculation in both countries, at a press conference on the team’s return home from England, where Gibson helped mastermind the hosts’ 3-1 test series win.
Incumbent Russell Domingo’s contract will expire next month and although he had reapplied for the job, according to Du Plessis he is not the favourite to get it.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) convened a selection panel including former national team coaches Gary Kirsten and Eric Simons to identify an individual to take the team forward.
“It’s been told to us that the decision has been made by the coaching panel,” Du Plessis told reporters.
“They’ve chosen Ottis Gibson as their recommendation and now ...the board decides whether they want to use that recommendation or not.”
Du Plessis said he had already done extensive homework on his potential new coach.
“For me it was important, because I don’t know Ottis, to try and find something out about him,” he said.
“I spoke to a few of the West Indian players because he was their coach and then I spoke to the English guys about their thoughts on him.
“There were one or two differences in opinion, but the comments were positive.” Barbadian Gibson was coach of West Indies between 2010 and 2014 before rejoining England and taking up his previous role as bowling specialist. The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) has officially selected their 12 member Boys Under-19 roster that will compete at the Inter-Guiana Goodwill School Games in Suriname from August 24th-28th.
The team will be led by Head-coach Abdulla Hamid, consists of Stanton Rose (Kwakwani), Jermaine King (Berbice), Akeem Crandon (Berbice), Timothy Thompson (Georgetown), Kevon Wiggins (Berbice), Shamar France (Berbice), Nigel Bowen (East Coast of Demerara), Jahleel Young (Georgetown), Anton Fileen (Georgetown), Jamal Gilkes (Kwakwani), Akil Vaughn (East Bank Demerara) and Andrew Johnson (East Coast Demerara).
On the management side, Kirk Fraser will act in the capacity of Assistant Coach, while Troy Greene will serve as Team Manager. The team will be encamped from August 16th-23rd at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.
Daily practice sessions are scheduled from 8:00am-11:00am and 3:00pm-6:00pm at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Homestretch Avenue.
The Guyana delegation which will be financed by the National Sports Commission departs for the Dutch nation on the 24 th and returns four days later.