Maties’ Wylie appointed as USSA cricket coach : 2016-03-08
Steinhoff Maties Cricket coach Andrew Wylie has been appointed as the USSA coach for the upcoming CSA Future Cup tournament in Kimberley and the Triangular Series between CSA Academy, USSA and Sri Lanka Academy later this year.
Wylie has been honoured as Maties Sport’s Team Coach of the Year twice, most lately in 2015, and admits that the USSA position was one he had hoped for.
“I must be honest; I had hoped I would be in the running for the USSA position, but was never really sure what appointment would be made. It is obviously a very big honour and excellent opportunity and it gives me some confidence that I am on the right path with the way we are doing things at Maties.”
There are Maties’ in both squads. Brandon Glover, Kyle Simmonds and Soyisile Pono were selected for the Future Cup team, while captain Dewald Botha were selected for the USSA team.
When it comes to expectations and goals, Wylie would rather wait and meet his teams before making any predictions.
“I have not given it a great deal of thought, we still have important club priorities here at Maties to focus on over the next few weeks and once they’re done I will switch into Future Cup mode. The key will always be to provide an environment where the players involved can express their true potential and hopefully win the tournament. I guess I would like to highlight to the players that these opportunities can go a long way in them setting off their careers in the right direction and that destiny is in their own hands.”
This is not the first time Wylie has coach the USSA squad. In 2008 he took the students on a UK trip to play against British Universities and England u/19.
“We had a nice squad of young students and many have gone on to play lengthy careers at franchise level; one even representing the Proteas. So the opportunity is a great one for players.”
AFRIKAANS
Maties se Wylie aangewys as USSA-krieketafrigter
Steinhoff Maties Krieket se afrigter Andrew Wylie is aangestel as die USSA-afrigter vir die komende CSA Future-toernooi in Kimberley en die driehoekige reeks tussen KSA Akademie, USSA en Sri Lanka Akademie later in die jaar.
Wylie is al twee keer, onder meer in 2015, as Maties Sport se spanafrigter van die jaar aangewys en erken dat die USSA-posisie een was waarvoor hy gehoop het.
“Ek moet eerlik wees. Ek het gehoop ek sou in aanmerking kom vir die posisie, maar was nooit regtig seker wie aangestel sou word nie. Dit is natuurlik ‘n baie groot eer en ‘n uitstekende geleentheid en gee my die vertroue dat ek op die regte pad is met die manier waarop ons dinge hier by Maties doen.”
Daar is Maties in albei groepe. Brandon Glover, Kyle Simmonds en Soyisile Pono is gekies vir die Futures Cup-span, terwyl die kaptein Dewald Botha vir die USSA-span gekies is.
Wanneer dit kom by verwagtinge en doelwitte, wil Wylie eerder wag en sy spanne ontmoet voordat hy enige voorspellings waag.
“Ek het nog nie baie daaraan gedink nie, want daar wag nog ‘n belangrike tyd hier by Maties en ek fokus nou eers daarop. Die sleutel sal altyd wees om ‘n omgewing te skep waarin die spelers wat betrokke is hul ware potensiaal kan vertoon en hopelik die toernooi wen. Ek wil graag aan die spelers benadruk hoe groot kans dié geleentheid vir hul loopbane is.”
Dit is nie die eerste keer wat Wylie die USSA-span afrig nie. In 2008 het hy die studente op ‘n Britse toer geneem waar hulle teen die Britse Universiteite en Engeland o.19-span gespeel het.
“Ons het ‘n lekker groep jong studente gehad en baie het lang provinsiale loopbane gehad; een het selfs al die Proteas verteenwoordig.”