Du Preez installed as assistant coach for Proteas women

The former Free State and VKB Knights all-rounder, who retired from the game in 2017, has signed a three-year contract as assistant coach to the Momentum Proteas women’s team and will work under head coach Hilton Moreeng after his reappointment to the position back in July.

The 38-year-old has a wealth of experience playing the game, claiming nearly 600 wickets across all formats and amassing over 4,500 runs. He has been coaching at Free State and VKB Knights since his retirement and his elevation to the Cricket South Africa (CSA) structures further bolsters the management team.

Du Preez has experience in the women’s game having served as the assistant coach for team Coronation in the inaugural Women’s T20 Super League.

Under the guidance of Moreeng, at the helm since 2012, the women’s team has evolved into a competitive unit on the global stage. They reached the semi-finals of both the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup (2014 and 2020) and the ICC Women’s World Cup in 2017. Following a historic 3-0 One-Day International whitewash over New Zealand in January, his side landed a thirdplace finish with 25 points behind Australia (39) and England (27) in the ICC Women’s Championship and gained automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup.

“I am confident that alongside our staff and another recent appointment Dinesha Devnarain (the first full-time Women’s U19 coach) our coaching setup can help take the women’s game to a new level.”

Speaking following his appointment, Du Preez said: “I am really honoured. I have been relishing such an opportunity and can’t wait to get going”.

There is currently no international cricket being played by South Africa due to Covid-19 restrictions. The Proteas were due to travel to the West Indies and England in recent months, but those tours were postponed because of the virus.

However, two camps involving the National High-Performance squad have been held, with a third planned for later this month in Potchefstroom.