GALLERY: Coach’s cup of cricket

MALANSHOF – Gareth Sanders raises the skill levels of young cricketers.

August 22, 2016

Nicholas Zaal 1 minute read

Gareth Sanders loves the challenges that comes with coaching cricket.

Coaching a sport is not easy, but the challenges are what Gareth Sanders enjoys.

A typical coaching day for Sanders (22) will comprise going through the basics of cricket with children between the ages of six and 13, whose skill, temperament and cultural backgrounds differ widely. Sanders plays in the Randburg Cricket Club 1st team, and coaches for the club’s as well as for The Cricket Coaches.

“I like to interact with many young players,” he said. “They each bring some kind of challenge and it is my job to improve them.” Juan Nieuwenhuizen (7) only started the sport this year, but already has a mean off-drive, and is good in the field. Brothers Luke (13) and Christian Talmage (11) are excelling as all-rounders at school-level cricket with Trinityhouse Randpark Ridge Preparatory School, with Christian already playing for the U11 A Joburg North West team.

The three, like all of Sanders’ players, meet their coach at the Randburg Cricket Club, in Malanshof, and go through the ins and outs of the gentlemen’s game. “I aim to see my players excel at schools and club level, and work towards them making the Joburg North West or Gauteng schools teams,” Sanders said. “I love cricket and love coaching it, I will do this for a long time.”

For Christian, Sanders has helped him improve his skills immensely. “I was rusty when I first came to him [Sanders] and I was not improving. He taught me how to keep my head still when batting and to bat sensibly, not throwing my wicket away,” Christian said. For Luke, Sanders has helped him improve his all-round game of cricket.