Former Western Province Cricket Association coaching manager Paul Phillipson has been named new head coach of the University of Cape Town Cricket Club.
The 65-year-old Phillipson will succeed the outgoing Ryan Maron, who has been hired by the West Indies Cricket Board as an assistant coach – and is currently working with the Test team during a challenging series against England.
Phillipson enjoyed a formidable playing career for Sussex – and played 168 first-class and 228 List A matches between 1970 and 1986.
“Paul is a very experienced coach. He coached a very experienced and successful side, including Gary Kirsten, Dean Payne, Lance Bleekers and others, at Claremont Cricket Club,” Maron told Club Cricket SA.
“I have known Paul since I was a young boy – and I have experienced the way he works and manages club cricketers. Paul also coached me during my early years with Western Province B. He has a massive passion and love for the game – and I’m confident he will guide the team to success.
“My six years working at UCT Cricket Club has been an amazing experience – and I am blessed to have made some good friends over the years. I have some heartache in leaving, but overall I believe I have left a legacy. I am happy to have a good relationship with the players and Paul, so I will still have a great interest in the club – and assist where possible.”
UCT Cricket Club narrowly missed promotion to the WPCA premier league at the end of the 2016-17 season. According to the WPCA’s second draft of fixtures for the 2017-18 first division A, they will open their campaign against premier league demotees St Augustine Cricket Club on 21 October.
Gugulethu Cricket Club and Kraaifontein Cricket Club, meanwhile, have also joined the first division A. Formerly part of the first division D, Gugulethu Cricket Club have effectively skipped the first division C and B, after the WPCA local leagues committee’s recommendations – largely governed by Cricket South Africa’s transformation objectives – urged that a so-called ‘black African’ club be added.
Kraaifontein Cricket Club have left the Boland Cricket Board for the Western Province Cricket Association in order to comply with the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee’s geo-political boundaries.