Ngam tipped as Warriors mentor

THE Warriors coaching staff will be completed when the new assistant coach – along with the squad for 2018-19 – is announced at St George’s Park this morning.

If the Warriors were to look within the province to find an assistant to recently named head coach Rivash Gobind they would be spoilt for choice with three top possible candidates in the province, who could be named today.

Fort Hare Academy cricket head and former Protea Mfuneko Ngam, current head coaches of Border and Eastern Province, Frank Plaatjes and Piet Botha, could all have been considered. But The Herald’s sister paper, The Daily Dispatch, has it on good authority that Ngam will get the nod.

Academy coach Ngam is possibly the front-runner, with age on his side and a massive passion for the game shown by his work done in Alice since arriving at Fort Hare in 2008.

Refusing to confirm the speculation, respected cricket authority Greg Hayes, who has worked closely with Ngam at Fort Hare, said losing him would be a blow to the university, but the appointment would be well-deserved.

“I think it would be recognition for the wonderful work he has done at the academy and it would also be a huge motivation for him in terms of his future goals of trying to get to the top as a coach. It would be wonderful for him,” Hayes said.

“Having come from a rural background himself, he is passionate about helping guys who are less fortunate than others to try and achieve what they are capable of doing.

“Mfuneko has always prided himself on being a really top bowling coach and he has certainly produced some quality fast bowlers, but I feel all round he would be a great asset to the Warriors if he got in there.”