Cricket
Du Preez named new Proteas Women interim coach─── MORGAN PIEK 15:18 Fri, 10 May 2024
“What happened now is it can be disruptive and so going into the camp and into India, if there’s a change or two, it’s going to be something subtle so we don’t disrupt the whole environment.”
The former Knights and Free State seamer, Dillon du Preez, has been appointed as the new interim head coach of the Proteas Women’s cricket team.
This comes after the former Free State wicketkeeper, Hilton Moreeng, has stepped away from the position after 11 successful years at the helm.
During his tenure, the 46-year-old Moreeng was in charge of 279 matches across all three formats.
‘We’ve been focusing on the T20 World Cup’
Du Preez, who has been the team’s bowling coach for the past four years, told OFM Sport that they will make it work.
“We’ve been focusing on the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh since earlier this year, and so things are in place,” said Du Preez.
“What happened now is it can be disruptive and so going into the camp and India, if there’s a change or two, it’s going to be something subtle so we don’t disrupt the whole environment.
‘He’s definitely going to be missed and he’s on speed dial on my phone’
“I’ve got the commitment from the management and obviously the players, which is a good sign already. At camp, we’ll sit down with the team, I don’t know if Enoch Nkwe is going to be there, and management as well, just to make sure that we just touch up on the roles.
“We’ve got a batting bowling and a coach involved now and a new physio as well. So, it’s just for everyone to see who’s involved and what roles or what’s expected from them before we go to India so that we don’t have any issues.
“We’ve worked really hard already and with Hilas gone now, we need to make sure as the management that we do whatever we can to make this work. Yeah, I said it earlier on, he’s been here for about 12 years and he’s definitely going to be missed and he’s on speed dial on my phone as well.
‘Du Preez’s first job in charge will be to take the Proteas to India’
“So we’ll make this work - we have to.”
Du Preez’s first job in charge will be to take the Proteas to India for a series of three One-Day Internationals as well as three T20 Internationals.
The first ODI on this tour to the subcontinent will be played on 16 June.
OFM Sport/Morgan Piek mvh