Herschel Gutman returns to boost development

Israel's newly appointed National Cricket Development Officer (NCDO) has taken up his position and begun his tasks of coaching Israel's national squads, and boosting cricket development from the grass roots level upwards. Gutman, who first visited Israel for a short while during the summer of 2000, returned a year later in his first stint as national coach, working full-time for the ICA for three years, during which time he guided Israel U15's to a silver medal in the country's debut European youth tournament, and went one better when the U13's won gold a year later.

Ironically, a couple of players from those teams are now in the senior national team Gutman is striving to prepare for the Maccabiah Games and the European Division 3 Championships in Spain in September. Although personal circumstances forced Gutman to return to his native South Africa, he has maintained strong links with the ICA, playing for the national team in numerous tournaments, and played in the Israel Invitational X1 against India A in the 60th Anniversary series last year. A qualified Level 2 coach, Gutman will have a busy summer as a key player in the national team, as well as coaching Israel's U19 and U15 teams in their European tournaments.

Alongside his work with the national squads, Gutman will be charged with increasing junior playing numbers and bringing cricket to new cities and towns across the country, particularly in the Center and North. Youth Development Coordinator George Sheader who has basically single handedly maintained youth cricket in Israel in recent years, will be allowed to focus all his efforts in continuing to expand cricket in the Negev area, where a recent project amongst Bedouin youth has grabbed international headlines.

The two will be looking to bring in additional coaches to assist in their efforts. Setting up women's cricket is also on the agenda. Gutman is excited about the challenges he faces 'I am convinced with determination and passion we can succeed in putting cricket on the Israel sporting map. The sport has so much to offer, kids love playing and I am looking forward to getting as many youngsters as possible involved'.