Shock as CSA hunt for new coach to start
PROTEAS coach Russell Domingo will spend the next few months nervously looking over his shoulder as Cricket South Africa embarks on the process to identify his successor.
On Saturday, while South Africa were busy thumping Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the opening ODI at St George’s Park, CSA sent out a release which spoke of how it would not increase the size of the six-team franchise system and the restructuring of senior provincial cricket.
Almost as a footnote to that release was a final paragraph which read: “The board of directors also resolved to commence the recruitment process for the appointment of the Proteas head coach to take charge after the tour to the UK until after the 2019 edition of the ICC World Cup.”
In an ideal world, the decision to begin the search for a team’s national coach would be treated as a big deal. But, clearly, CSA wanted this one to slip under the radar without questions being raised.
In fact, requests for former Warriors coach Domingo to attend the after-match media conference were denied by team management.
But that did not stop captain AB de Villiers from speaking his mind. “It is a tough one for the team and I’m speaking on behalf of the guys. It is a bitter pill to swallow.
“It’s really difficult for us to take in and there will certainly be a few sad hours in the changing room now afterwards,” De Villiers said.
“But at the end of the day it’s out of our hands completely, it’s a board decision and we have to respect that.
“So, all I can say is, we have come a long way with Russell . . . he’s like family to us. We will be there to try and support him through this tough time and, the way I know him, he’ll just come out with that smile on his face, as always.”
The “announcement” caused a stir on social media, with former Lions and Titans coach Dave Nosworthy among those to voice their opinion.
“If this is true – this ‘principle’ BOGGLES my mind . . . No man’s position should EVER be advertised whilst he is still in position . . . It’s effectively having a sword hanging over one’s head . . . which is no good for anyone or any team,” Nosworthy wrote on his Facebook account.
This effectively signals the end of Domingo’s four-year tenure as the Proteas head coach. His contract expires at the end of August‚ which coincides with the end of South Africa’s 2½-month tour to England on August 8.
Domingo has enjoyed some success of late, with the team beating New Zealand 1-0 in a two-test series, and whitewashing Australia 5-0 in a home ODI series and 2-1 in an away test series.
CSA spokesman Altaaf Kazi said Domingo would reapply for his current job. – Additional reporting by Khanyiso Tshwaku