New coach seeks long-term success
Actonville Spurs Cricket Club (ASCC) welcomed new Premier XI head coach Thomas “TP” Phekane to the club with the opening match of the second round of fixtures for the Easterns 2015/2016 campaign, against Tembisa, on Sunday, January 17.
The match, played at Lords Cricket Grounds in Actonville, was not the ideal start that the experienced Phekane would have wanted, but his mission with the young squad is more of a long-term one than an immediate plan.
The team lost by five wickets (and a bonus point) on Sunday.
Speaking to the City Times Phekane said that the first thing he is looking to bring to the club is to get the Premier team playing competitive cricket, while he grooms the younger players by giving them good guidance.
“We have a great executive committee here at the club,” he added.
“They work together well and support the players.”
He is impressed with the quality of the young players at Actonville and believes that they can take the club to the next level in the future.
The new coach said he is not aiming for big things with the team in the second half of the season in terms of results, but he is rather focusing on creating structure within the team and the club.
On Sunday, it was Actonville who won the toss and elected to bat first.
It seemed to be the right move as the team’s openers of Vyashan Govender and Ahmed Mohammed put on a good partnership before three quick wickets fell and the team limped through the innings with a score of 175 all out.
Govender top-scored with 39, while Clayton August (27) and Mohamed Ghanchi (20) were the next best scorers.
Thando Bula’s figures of 3/31 were the stand-out statistics from the Tembisan bowlers.
After lunch Tembisa came out with all guns blazing against Actonville’s bowlers, but lost an early wicket.
Israel Hlengani (64) and Enock Makamo (44), nevertheless took the game away from Actonville with the willow, but, in the same breath, the hosts need to take responsibility for their defeat after dropping vital catches.
Actonville’s best bowler was Hussain Shakeel, who picked up figures of 2/35.
“It was not the ideal start to the second half, but the club remains committed to blooding youth and coach TP shares that opinion,” said the club’s public relations officer, Zunaid Seedat.
The team will welcome Boksburg Cricket Club to Lords on Sunday, January 24.
