South Africa coaching job puzzle grows (9 April 1999)

9 April 1999

South Africa coaching job puzzle grows

Trevor Chesterfield

CENTURION (South Africa) - An added piece of puzzle has been added to the "guess what?" soapie now doing the rounds of the South Africa pavilions after the United Cricket Board's announcement about Bob Woolmer's replacement as coach.

First we get the info that one of the front runners for the job, Graham Ford, is not a contender, and that comes from possibly the quietest guy, if not highly respected Natal coach, Fordie himself. He has recused himself for family reasons which, when you know the reasons have to be accepted.

Next the UCB decide, the for their good work and efforts over the last two years that Fordie and Corrie van Zyl, assistant coaches to Bob Woolmer in England last year, South Africa during the West Indies tour and more recently New Zealand are to be assistant coaches during this year's World Cup in England.

Both have admitted being grateful for the chance the UCB have given them to serve the country's aspirations and look on it as their swan song (well, Fordie does). He was brought into prominence last year when the South African A team spent an arduous five weeks in Sri Lanka where a combination of monsoon, dodgy travel arrangements, poor playing facilities and shaky to downright appalling umpiring decisions made it a less than memorable tour.

Then Dr Ali Bacher, managing director of the UCB, added a little colour to the piece of puzzle when he added that nothing too much should be read into the job the two men had been handed. It smacks of being a "good deed done" handshake as the two men step out of the picture.

Enter Peter Kirsten, Hylton Ackerman and A N Other into the picture for interviews on April 16. Although Dr Bacher euphemistically says someone with a South African background would be preferred, the net is also being spread a little wider, with some Asian sub-continent interest tossed in as well.

Ford was described his emotions being "ecstatic" and "grateful" when he learnt of his appointment as Woolmer's joint assistant for the World Cup starting on May 14 in England.

Van Zyl was "pleased" and said little else, giving the impression he had expected the announcement.

"It's nice to know that I'll be able to carry on from where I left off in New Zealand and to go to such an important tournament as the World Cup. It's nice to be working with the team once again. I enjoyed being with them in New Zealand," said Ford.

A mentor to Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener and Dale Benkenstein, Ford has an eye for spotting quality talent at an early age.

"Look, I have two youngsters, one is four and the other six and I need to spend time with them," he said. "During the New Zealand tour I realised the players spend around 32 days of the last 12 months at home in the.

"It's not good for my young family. Sure I'd like to become the South African coach, it's an ambition, but it is not the right time for me."

His priority, after the World Cup was to rebuild Natal into a force once again.He also believes the opportunity will come again, by which time he would look where he stood with his family.

"Perhaps by then the kids will have grown and I would have at least gained a lot more experience."

Dr Bacher said the UCB executive would be interviewing Kirsten, the highly successful coach of Northerns this past season, Ackerman, who handles Boland and hinted there might be another. The decision is supposed to be made by April 17.

It was his view, however, that Ford and Van Zyl were well suited to their roles as aides to Woolmer.

"We wanted to give the players the best possible support structure for their endeavors at the World Cup," he said. "Both are workaholics and if any players want a few hundred balls bowled to them at nets, either would oblige".

"It is a new move for us as we have not sent two assistant coaches before, but felt it would be appropriate on this occasion and hopefully will enhance the team's chances in England."

To emphasise the point Dr Bacher said Ford and Van Zyl had been appointed "for this specific seven-week period, and are not a signal about the national coaching position."

Source :: Trevor Chesterfield, Pretoria News