CAPE TOWN - Former Proteas spinner Paul Adams will take charge of the Western Province Academy and the WP Under-19 sides next season.
Adams, who was the Cape Cobras head coach until the end of December last year, has been serving the region as the high performance manager since he was replaced by Ashwell Prince.
The WP Cricket Association announced on Tuesday that in addition to Adams’ appointment, Siya Sibiya – recently chosen as the WP Coach of the Year at their annual awards – will take charge of the WP Under-17 and Under-15 teams.
Charles Clacher will be the WP coaching education manager, while Jerry Malilwana will coach the Under-13 and Under-11 teams.
The WPCA said the appointments were to “further entrench their pipeline structures”.
The Cobras have gaps in a number of areas going into next season, with left-hander Omphile Ramela joining the Lions, while left-arm paceman Beuran Hendricks already made the move to the same team during last season.
Apart from Proteas stars such as Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Wayne Parnell and Dale Steyn being largely unavailable for franchise cricket, the Cobras hope to bring through a number of young talents as the likes of Justin Ontong, Andrew Puttick and Rory Kleinveldt come towards the end of their careers in the next few years.
They have brought powerful left-hander Qaasim Adams back home to the Cape from the Titans, and have handed Cobras contracts to WP players Dayyaan Galiem, Pieter Malan and Kyle Verreynne.
“We feel confident that the appointment of these coaches will provide Western Province with a sound platform to develop talented teens into 21-year-old franchise players with the technical prowess, the sound temperaments and the self-belief to make Western Province and the Cobras realistic trophy hunters in all three formats,” said WPCA chief executive Nabeal Dien.
“We believe that as custodians of the under-age players, these coaches will fulfil their mission to provide an expert foundational phase for the future excellence of their charges.”
WPCA president Beresford Williams added: “It is an exciting new chapter of Western Province and ultimately might bolster amateur, semi-professional and professional cricket.”
Cape Cobras squad for 2017-2018 season
Qaasim Adams, Dayyaan Galiem, Zubayr Hamza, Simon Khomari, Richard Levi, George Linde, Pieter Malan, Aviwe Mgijima, Tshepo Moreki, Justin Ontong, Dane Paterson, Dane Piedt, Andrew Puttick, Jason Smith, Stiaan van Zyl, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams.
Semi-professional players: Neo Mlumbi, Mthiwekhaya Nabe, Mpilo Njoloza, Matthew Kleinveldt, Michael Cohen, Taariq Chiecktey, Junaid Dawood.
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