Malibongwe Maketa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)
- Proteas interim head coach Malibongwe Maketa has put in his hand for the vacant position of head coach of the men’s national team.
- Mark Boucher vacated the position at the end of the tour from South Africa to England in September.
- Maketa has already assisted at the national team level and has coached the South African A team.
Acting coach Malibongwe Maketa said that he will submit his name for the permanent position of head coach of Proteas.
For the Australian Test series, Maketa was brought in as understudy to Mark Boucher, who stepped down from the role after the conclusion of the tour of England in September last year.
The Proteas job will be divided into a cue ball and a red ball component.
Maketa has been in the Cricket South Africa (CSA) coaching system having been an assistant to Otis Gibson before working with the South African A team.
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Maketa, who was reported by Rapport as one of the candidates for the job along with Lance Klusener, said it would be exciting for him to accept the challenge.
“I definitely think it’s an exciting challenge with what we have. Looking at the players at home, everyone is looking for an opportunity to push for a spot,” Maketa said.
“From that point of view, I will definitely put my name out there and look forward to being a part of this project.”
The option of being Proteas’ test coach will be difficult for CSA to handle, especially with Proteas only playing three more tests for the rest of the year.
Dean Elgar’s side have two against the West Indies in March and a Test against India, but Maketa says his current employers are working hard to secure more matches for the national team.
“I know CSA is working hard to get more Test matches for us and enough has been said that we have to play more Tests so we can grow,” Maketa said.
“For these players to grow they have to play more and be exposed to Test cricket. I felt we had enough First Class experience but it wasn’t close enough to compete at this level and that bowling attack.”
“You need to challenge yourself a lot more to be able to compete at this level.”
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Maketa conceded that the Proteas need more testing and more exposure to make sure they get better at red-ball cricket.
Sunday’s drawn Test against Australia ‘brought an end’ to a four-match losing streak that stretched back to the Old Trafford defeat against England.
The draw was also SA’s first in 47 Tests dating back to 2017, with Maketa adding that they need more Tests to ensure they can catch up with the bigger teams.
“It’s a catch-22, but teams have come to SA and we’ve taken them down,” Maketa said.
“From that point of view, we played very well at home, but it’s also about the exposure of going out and playing.
“We know the talent we have and what’s emerging, but without exposing it, it’s going to be hard to compete in the way we’d like to.”
