Johannesburg – Former South Africa assistant coach Malibongwe Maketa was on Wednesday named as interim coach for South Africa’s Test tour of Australia in December and January, Cricket South Africa announced on Wednesday.
Maketa, 42, will take over from Mark Boucher, who announced recently that he was stepping down from the head coach position after the current T20 World Cup.
Boucher will take up the head coach position with Indian Premier League team Mumbai Indians.
Maketa was assistant to Ottis Gibson, who was head coach of the South African team from 2017 to 2019.
Maketa only played in one first-class match but has been a coach at franchise or provincial level since 2006. He holds a level four coaching certificate – the highest available – and is currently coach of the South Africa A team and the national academy.
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The three-Test world championship series in Australia will pit the top-ranked host nation against second-placed South Africa with both teams hoping to clinch a place in the final in England in June.
Maketa was a consultant to the South African team ahead of the first Test in England earlier this year, which South Africa won by an innings before England recovered to win the series 2-1.
Cricket South Africa director of cricket Enoch Nkwe said Maketa was well known to the players.
“With such a short time between now and the tour, we as Cricket South Africa felt we needed someone who could step in immediately and lead us through what is an important series for the Proteas.”
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Source: AFP
Picture: Twitter/@ProteasMensCSA
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