Former NMU mentor Abrahams appointed SWD Cricket coach

SOUTH Western Districts Cricket have appointed Baakier Abrahams as their new coach, following the resignation of Andy Moles earlier this month.

Moles, a former national coach of Kenya, New Zealand and Afghanistan, who had been at the helm since July last year, accepted a post at the Afghanistan Cricket Board, where he will coach the National A and U19 teams.

Abrahams, 35, completed a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Business Management at the Nelson Mandela University in 2008, majoring in Sociology and Business and Strategic Management.

He obtained his Cricket SA Level 3 coaching certificate in 2010 and was employed at Eastern Province Cricket as an assistant coach to the senior provincial team and academy.

Abrahams had also been Cricket SA’s talent scout for the Talent Acceleration Programme in the Warriors region, overseeing the age group from 16 to 19 years of age.

He was the head coach at NMU’s Madibaz Cricket Club between 2012 and and last year and head coach of the SA Tertiary team in 2014 and 2015.

“One of my personal highlights was my ability to inherit an existing winning team and culture at NMU and continue that winning culture – as evidenced by the number of trophies won during my career,” Abrahams, who will take office at SWD Cricket on October 1, said.

SWD president Rudy Claassen said: “We are delighted to welcome Baakier Abrahams as part of the South Western Districts cricket family.

“We are looking forward to his positive contribution as coach of our flagship team in the SWD.”