Kruger new SWD cricket coach
Alan Kruger has been appointed head coach for South Western Districts Cricket for the 2019/20 season.
He will succeed Baakier Abrahams, head coach for the past three seasons, who has been appointed as the assistant coach at the Warriors.
Kruger, whose first class playing career stretched from 2000 to 2015, has played in 111 first class, 100 List A and 25 Twenty20 matches for Griquas and the Knights (formerly known as the Eagles).
The versatile Kruger scored 5 153 first class runs with six centuries and a highest score of 221*. He also bagged 218 wickets at first class level with a best bowling analysis of 6/37.
After his playing career, the 39-year-old Kruger moved into the coaching profession. He was first appointed as high performance and academy coach at Griquas and coached the Griquas U19 team before he was appointed as assistant coach at the Knights.
His coaching career progressed impressively and in 2018 and 2019 he was the head coach of the Knights.
"We received some very good applications for this vacancy and Alan’s presentation during the interview process as well as his previous coaching experience at franchise level gave him the edge," said SWD chief executive, Albertus Kennedy.
"In terms of the scenario planning, we anticipated to start training in October and have our provincial competition being played from January to April next year so this season will have exceptional challenges for the team and coach.
"We are, however, confident that Alan and the contracted squad will deliver the desired results."
In his comments on his appointment Kruger said he was delighted to have the opportunity to coach at a union that produced quality cricket players over the years. "I cannot wait to start in this position and for us to be a competitive outfit for the coming season, with the aim to win trophies for the union which SWD so richly deserves," he said.
"The pandemic has hampered proceedings slightly and I hope once everything is back to normal, we can start with the hard work," he concluded.
In his response SWD Cricket president, Rudy Claassen, said the appointment of Kruger was unanimous and that the board had put a vote of confidence in Kruger’s abilities as a coach to achieve the desired results. "We welcome him to the SWD Cricket family and trust he will take SWD Cricket to new heights," he said.