SA ‘have what it takes’ to win the World Cup

New Proteas coach Ottis Gibson (above) says there is no reason why the Proteas can’t win the World Cup in 2019.

The West Indian was last week appointed to take over the reins from Russell Domingo as the new national team coach on a two-year contract that expires at the end of the 50-over showpiece in England.

“South Africa has never won one and that’s obviously one of their big things. You look at South Africa, you look at the players that they potentially put on the field and there’s no reason why they can’t win the 50-over World Cup in 2019,” Gibson, who won the World T20 as head coach of the Windies in 2012, said earlier this week.

“Only one team can win the World Cup in 2019 and that’s been a massive part of how CSA pitched the job. Every team wants to win a global tournament,”

The 48-year-old former Test player also spoke openly on the subject of transformation, an issue every national team coach in South Africa has to deal with.

“Transformation was mentioned and it’s a government policy. There’s nothing I can do about it. I have to work with it,” he said.

“I know what it is so I can’t go in and say I want to change that. I know that it is there and I understand why it is there. Whether I like it or not is irrelevant because it’s there and we have to work with it.”

He also added that there is little he can do to prevent South African players from going the Kolpak route and being lost to international cricket.

“My job is to try and work with the players that are there, try and make sure they are ready to win matches for South Africa so if one person leaves then it gives an opportunity to someone else.”

Gibson is still seeing out his contract as England bowling coach before taking the Proteas’ reins for their two-Test series against Bangladesh starting at the end of the month.

Only one team can win the World Cup in 2019 and that’s been a massive part of how CSA pitched the job.

Ottis Gibson