All systems go at Wits Cricket with Ntini appointment
- Tshepiso Mametela
A new era will be ushered in at Wits Cricket with the appointment of Bongani Ntini as head coach of the first team cricket side.
Ntini boasts a track record through the sport which makes him the envy of his peers. The 33-year-old will be gunning to use all of his experience to take the institution to the next level of competitive and high-performance cricket, having developed a robust understanding of the game. He hopes his philosophies to go a long way towards lifting the institution to the highest echelons of Varsity cricket.
The former Wits Cricket Club (WCC) assistant coach, who has been a keen cricketer from an early age, was appointed after former coach Garnett Kruger’s term came to an end. With his backing, Ntini wasted little time in looking to make his presence felt for the then-vacant role.
“In consultation with him (Kruger), l backed me to apply for the position. It wasn't easy convincing a six-member panel – as l guess it wasn't for everyone else who went through the process – but getting that call to say ‘you got the job’ said a lot about my vision for WCC,” said Ntini.
Wits have never qualified for the Varsity Cricket competition, and the incumbent coach said he will make it his business to turn this fortune around. That will require, first, that his side win the B League at the upcoming USSA National Institutional Cricket Tournament which takes place from 2 to 6 December.
“I have no doubt that Wits can play in Varsity Cricket [in 2020] but first we have to win USSA to qualify,” said Ntini. “Having spent three seasons as the assistant coach at Wits, with the growth l have seen in the last year or so, l have no doubt we can only get more competitive going forward.
“I think adopting a certain brand of cricket will ensure we set ourselves apart from any other cricketing University, to go with us being the best academic institution in the country.” In terms of his coaching philosophies, the Zimbabwean-born serial coach, who has previous experience leading various teams to success including the Old Edwardians Cricket Club hopes to harness the collective intelligence that sits within the crop of promising cricketers at Wits.
“Even if they might not have the experience, you need to be creating a team based on the players’ strengths, personal preferences and learning styles. As the first order of business for the New Year, ensuring that the coaching structures are aligned to the same goal and that new recruits settle in well will be important,” said Ntini.
