Toyana rearing to go as new Eastern Storm coach
He has been appointed on a two-year contract and will assume his responsibilities on May 1.
New Eastern Storm coach Geoffrey Toyana is ready to get going and help the team gain promotion to division one of the CSA One-Day Cup and 4-Day Domestic Series.
Toyana, who replaces Sandile Masengemi, has been appointed on a two-year contract and will assume his responsibilities on May 1.
“The important thing is for everyone to know we need to push in one direction and take the team to division one,” he said.
This is the former Lions coach’s second stint with the union having been coach in 2008 shortly after retiring as a player.
Eastern Cricket Union’s manager Colin Gxowa said they are excited to have the ‘accomplished’ Toyana back into ‘familiar territory’.
“For us to have Geoffrey back as head coach of Eastern Storm means a lot, especially the calibre and experience he brings.
“Back in 2008 when he started, he had just left the playing field. Now he is coming back as an accomplished coach with loads of experience. With the talent and young team we have, we are certain our players will learn a lot from him.
“Geoff is coming back to familiar territory where he played club and first-class cricket before he started coaching. He knows the area well and the potential it has,” said Gxowa.
Toyana cut his teeth at the Soweto Cricket Club. He established himself and became the club’s best player and then went on to make his first-class debut for Gauteng at the age of 21 where he remained until 2001.
The left-handed batsman then moved to Easterns where he helped the club to their historic victory over Western Province in the SuperSport Series in 2002.
He then moved to the Titans in the 2003/04 season when the franchise system was introduced, becoming one of the club’s key players.
Toyana ended his career at Willowmoore Park with the Easterns as player/coach in 2008, becoming the club’s full-time coach the following year.
The 49-year-old moved to the Lions in 2011 where he was assistant to his former Titans coach Dave Nosworthy.
Following Nosworthy’s resignation in 2012, he was appointed as the first black African head coach of a franchise in South Africa.
Under Toyana, the Lions won four trophies in six seasons. After his successful stint with the Lions, he was tipped to succeed Russel Domingo as Proteas coach but it wasn’t to be and in 2019, he was appointed head coach of Northerns and later assistant coach of the Titans.
“I’m looking forward to going back to Willowmoore Park for this coming season, the place where I retired as a player and started my coaching career back in 2008.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity the Titans gave me over the years as the assistant coach. I will cherish the good memories I had with all the stuff and players,” said Toyana.
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