PHOTO | AFP Indian cricketers hoist Gary Kirsten (centre) onto their shoulders after victory in the Cricket World Cup 2011 final over Sri Lanka at The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 2, 2011. Kirsten is keen to establish a high performance cricket academy in Kenya. AFP
In Summary
- Cricket Kenya general manager, Olivier Kobus has confirmed Kirsten contacted him about the project in December when the former coach was in the country to help the national team prepare for the 2015 World Cup qualifiers which were held in New Zealand early this year.
- Kobus said that Kenya stands to benefit from such a plan as players attending the academy would take part in the local league and also be involved in coaching youngsters.
Gary Kirsten, the coach who led India to their second ICC World Cup victory in the 2011 World Cup in Asia, is keen to establish a high performance cricket academy in Kenya.
Cricket Kenya general manager, Olivier Kobus has confirmed Kirsten contacted him about the project in December when the former coach was in the country to help the national team prepare for the 2015 World Cup qualifiers which were held in New Zealand early this year.
Kobus said: “If Kirsten’s idea comes to fruition, the academy will be run the Gary Kirsten like in his other academies in South Africa.”
He added: “Kirsten has already put up the Gary Kirsten Cricket Academy in South Africa (Durban and Cape Town). The academies are his brand. He will make sure that it (the academy to be set up in Nairobi) is run his way.”
South African Kirsten, who is elder brother of former Kenya coach Andy Kirsten, has also been contracted by Indian Premier League side Delhi Daredevils. He represented South Africa as a player before returning to coach the team.
Kobus said that Kenya stands to benefit from such a plan as players attending the academy would take part in the local league and also be involved in coaching youngsters.
He said Kirsten was impressed by the talent in Kenya but pointed out that raw talent is not good enough in modern cricket. Kobus Kirsten viewed Kenyan players as professionals who behaved like amateurs.
Commenting on the planned establishment of the academy, Thomas Odoyo, Kenya’s interim assistant coach who is a graduate of South Africa’s Plascon Cricket Academy said: “My cricket changed when I spent six months at the Plascon Academy. If established, the academy will help Kenyan cricket very much. It will be for the good of the country.”
"Kirsten is a professional coach. He helped us a lot when we were preparing for the qualifiers.”
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