Daily Dispatch

Family man Domingo still very much in the dark over Proteas job

- By TELFORD VICE

“THIS is definitely the departure lounge‚ this; jeez‚” Russell Domingo quipped as he stepped into a draughty stairwell at Old Trafford on Monday to talk about his future.

South Africa’s 3-1 series defeat wasn’t yet cold out on the field‚ and important questions about their poor performanc­e hung in the air like the smell of the champagne sprayed from the many bottles England’s jubilant players had uncorked in

But all those questions could wait for another: did Domingo still have a job?

“I haven’t spoken to anybody‚” he said. “All I know is what I’ve read in the media‚ so maybe you guys have got more insight than I do.”

Did it feel unfair to have to work with the uncertaint­y hanging over his head‚ which it has since January 28 – the day of a one-day internatio­nal their celebratio­ns. against Sri Lanka at St George’s Park‚ which Cricket South Africa thought was a proper time to announce they were shopping for a new coach?

“It’s been a long time but hopefully there’ll be a little bit of finality in the next couple of days‚” said Domingo.

“I’m not sure what’s happening‚ but by all media accounts from what I’m led to believe there seems to be some process taking place.”

His contract expired at the end of the England tour‚ which could mean his last payday will be at the end of the month.

Would he have enough in the bank to cover the debit orders beyond that?

“You never have enough! That’s the life of a coach – what happens, happens.

“[I’ll] try and find employment‚ I suppose‚ once I’ve had a discussion with [the suits]. From what I’m reading I’m assuming my time’s done.”

Theories that Domingo was keen to coach South Africa A or the national U19 side have surfaced. Was he interested?

“I’ve got a young family‚ my roots are in South Africa‚ my family’s in South Africa‚ I want to stay in South Africa.

“Whichever level I coach at doesn’t stress me too much. That’s my job‚ that’s what I love doing.”

Domingo has been in charge since July 2013. South Africa have won 95 of the 172 matches they have played under him and lost 64.

That’s a success rate of 55.23%‚ which puts him up there with the team’s most successful coaches. Even those who have‚ unlike Domingo‚ played internatio­nal cricket.

No other coach has taken South Africa past the first stage of World Cup knockout play‚ as Domingo did by winning the 2015 quarterfin­al against Sri Lanka‚ and he won Test series in Sri Lanka and Australia.

But his major failures – Test series defeats in India and to England‚ home and away – have been high profile.

Ottis Gibson‚ currently England’s bowling coach‚ is the odds-on favourite but nothing official has emerged from either set of suits.

What’s the first thing he’s going to do when he gets home to Port Elizabeth tomorrow from an England tour that started a dozen weeks ago? “I can’t tell you‚ actually‚” he said.

Soon‚ he won’t have to. Probably. — DDC

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