WI local: More than coach

Newly-appointed coach of the Barbados cricket team, Henderson Springer, sees his role as one of motivating the players so they can play to their true potential.

"We have some good players who have talent and I would like to motivate them so we could get the most out of them," Springer said yesterday at the Empire ground where the national team will be training in preparation for the January 5 Busta Cup start.

Springer, a former Barbados player who took 39 wickets at an average of 32.74 with his off-breaks and was a useful lower-order batsman, also played cricket professionally in Britain and South Africa. He also coached in Holland.

"A lot of coaches coach cricket but they do not teach the game," the former Spartan player said.

As for Barbados' chances in the Busta Cup, Springer felt they had as good a chance as any since they were still a lot of players in the team with firstclass experience like Roland Holder, Floyd Reifer, Adrian Griffith, Hendy Bryan, Dave Marshall, and some others.

On top of that, he said there was a blend of youngsters such as Ryan Hinds, Corey Collymore and Corey Glasgow.

Springer, who has coached with the Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme since 1998, is the holder of the basic Coaching Certificate obtained in 1983, the Senior Certificate (1987) and the Advance Certificate (1992).

He replaces William Bourne, who will remain national coach, but will "undertake the supervision and implementation of a development plan for players Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19".

"Bourne is now charged with laying the foundation for this programme which is aimed at developing and strengthening youth cricket in Barbados," the Barbados Cricket Association said.