New era for Cobras as Dien set to be unveiled as the new chief of Newlands
A NEW era is set to get underway at Newlands today with long-time Western Province cricket administrator Nabiel Dien to be appointed the new Western Cape Cricket chief executive.
Dien, 59, is set to take over from professor Andre Odendaal, whose 10-year term at the helm of cricket in the region has drawn to a close. Odendaal started his tenure at Newlands in April 2004.
“It has been a truly memorable journey. This is a special place under the mountain”, Odendaal said during the New Year Test last weekend.
Odendaal’s successor has a rich pedigree of administrating cricket in the Western Cape. The former school teacher joined the unified Western Province Cricket Association in 1997 after serving on the former Western Cricket Board prior to unity for a number of years.
Dien, a member of the nowdefunct Garlandale CC then, has always been a very passionate contributor to the promotion and strengthening of schools and club cricket in the region, before graduating through all the administrative ranks at WPCA where he currently serves as the General Manager of Amateur cricket.
He has also recently played a pivotal role in driving the Newlands Cricket High school initiative, which will see young cricketers receiving an education while being able to enhance their skills and being mentored by professionals at the world renowned venue.
Dien takes over from Odendaal with Western Cape Cricket and the WP in a much healthier financial state after the stadium purchase in 2003 that had crippled the union in terms of debt owed for a number of years.
The Cape Cobras are also the most successful domestic franchise and boast a number of Proteas within their ranks, and it will be Dien’s responsibility to maintain and grow this winning culture in association with head coach Paul Adams.