Kotze is Namibia’s new cricket coach

THE Namibia Cricket Board has appointed Deon Kotze as successor to Andy Waller in the position of head coach of the MTC Namibia national and under-19 cricket teams for the 2006/7 season.

The board yesterday announced in a statement that the appointment comes after a lengthy process of advertising the post locally and internationally. A total of 34 top applications were received and five candidates were shortlisted.”The Namibia Cricket Board is extremely proud that a born-and-bred Namibian could be appointed to the position,” the board said.Deon Bosman Kotze was born in Windhoek on September 12, 1973, making him the youngest coach of the national team ever.He matriculated from Windhoek High School in 1991.It was also in this same year that he first represented the Namibia senior cricket team in a Zone VI tournament in Windhoek.After matriculating, he furthered his studies and obtained a BA law degree from the University of Stellenbosch during the period 1992-1994.During this time, Kotze also represented the university’s Maties and Vics teams at cricket.He returned to Namibia in 1994 and has since played a major role in Namibian cricket.A few highlights of his playing career: * Played for Namibia from 1991-2006; * Was part of the squad to qualify in Toronto, Canada, in 2001 for the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup in South Africa in 2003; * Played and captained Namibia in its first World Cup participation in 2003; * Captained Namibia 93 times from 2002-2006 in official and unofficial matches; * Scored the third most runs for Namibia in three-day matches, namely 2 286; * Took the most wickets for Namibia in three-day matches, namely 88; * Took second most wickets for Namibia in one-day matches, namely 163.Kotze turned part-time coach in 1997 when he established the Namibia Cricket Academy along with his long-time Namibian teammate and friend, Danie Keulder.Many of the present young talent in the Namibian age-group teams, and even the national squad, went through the hands of the two mentors until they sold the Academy in 2004.From 1998 to 2001 Kotze was also the head coach of Eastbourne College in Eastbourne, England.Ironically, it is to this same college which Kotze’s predecessor, Andy Waller, moved to after his contract as Namibian coach expired earlier this year.In 2000, Kotze successfully obtained his Level 3 coaching certificate from the United Cricket Board of South Africa.The new Namibian coach is married to Nerina and has two children, Jade (7) and Michael (3).He is the managing member of Texecom Security CC, a business enterprise which he took over from his father-in-law recently.Deon’s brother, Bjorn, has been his teammate for the last decade.”The NCB is confident that Deon will fit into the job easily as he is well acquainted with all players, officials, the sponsors MTC and the local press.The Board wishes Deon well in this new venture in his life and with a full playing programme for the coming season, he will soon be put to the test,” the NCB statement read.Other appointments confirmed by the NCB at its last board meeting were Abe Louw (national team manager), Jeff Luck (convenor), Danie Keulder, Deon Kotze and Louis Burger (national selectors) and Henry Boshoff (fitness consultant).A total of 34 top applications were received and five candidates were shortlisted.”The Namibia Cricket Board is extremely proud that a born-and-bred Namibian could be appointed to the position,” the board said.Deon Bosman Kotze was born in Windhoek on September 12, 1973, making him the youngest coach of the national team ever.He matriculated from Windhoek High School in 1991.It was also in this same year that he first represented the Namibia senior cricket team in a Zone VI tournament in Windhoek.After matriculating, he furthered his studies and obtained a BA law degree from the University of Stellenbosch during the period 1992-1994.During this time, Kotze also represented the university’s Maties and Vics teams at cricket.He returned to Namibia in 1994 and has since played a major role in Namibian cricket.A few highlights of his playing career: * Played for Namibia from 1991-2006; * Was part of the squad to qualify in Toronto, Canada, in 2001 for the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup in South Africa in 2003; * Played and captained Namibia in its first World Cup participation in 2003; * Captained Namibia 93 times from 2002-2006 in official and unofficial matches; * Scored the third most runs for Namibia in three-day matches, namely 2 286; * Took the most wickets for Namibia in three-day matches, namely 88; * Took second most wickets for Namibia in one-day matches, namely 163.Kotze turned part-time coach in 1997 when he established the Namibia Cricket Academy along with his long-time Namibian teammate and friend, Danie Keulder.Many of the present young talent in the Namibian age-group teams, and even the national squad, went through the hands of the two mentors until they sold the Academy in 2004.From 1998 to 2001 Kotze was also the head coach of Eastbourne College in Eastbourne, England.Ironically, it is to this same college which Kotze’s predecessor, Andy Waller, moved to after his contract as Namibian coach expired earlier this year.In 2000, Kotze successfully obtained his Level 3 coaching certificate from the United Cricket Board of South Africa.The new Namibian coach is married to Nerina and has two children, Jade (7) and Michael (3).He is the managing member of Texecom Security CC, a business enterprise which he took over from his father-in-law recently.Deon’s brother, Bjorn, has been his teammate for the last decade.”The NCB is confident that Deon will fit into the job easily as he is well acquainted with all players, officials, the sponsors MTC and the local press.The Board wishes Deon well in this new venture in his life and with a full playing programme for the coming season, he will soon be put to the test,” the NCB statement read.Other appointments confirmed by the NCB at its last board meeting were Abe Louw (national team manager), Jeff Luck (convenor), Danie Keulder, Deon Kotze and Louis Burger (national selectors) and Henry Boshoff (fitness consultant).

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