Two Eastern Province coaches, Malibongwe Maketa (current Warriors coach) and Christo Esau recently received CSA Level 4 coaching qualifications. The Level 4 certificate is the highest coaching qualification available in South Africa. Esau (37) attended Grey High School and has been involved in cricket all his professional career. He is currently the Coaching Manager at EP Cricket. Christo has played cricket from primary school level and his coaching career started in 2001 as coach of the Pollocks Premier League team and the EP U15 coach.
He then took on the role of the Eastern Province U19 team. His coaching abilities were quickly recognized and he was appointed coach of the EP Academy. During his tenure as the U19 team coach he had many players selected for the SA U19 team. In 2006 he was appointed as a Cricket South Africa talent scout and has continued to be on the look-out for exceptional talent. Christo toured New Zealand in 2010 for the ICC U19 World Cup with the SA U19 team as assistant coach.
“I’m really humbled and honoured to have received my Level 4. I want to thank the Almighty for the wisdom that he has given me in achieving this. It is an amazing feeling” said Esau
As the newly appointed head coach of the Warriors Malibongwe Maketa has a big task ahead with the season just months away. He attained his Level 3 Coaching certificate in 2007 and is a seasoned coach and player. He started his coaching career at Western Province Preparatory School in Cape Town. He moved to Pretoria in 2006 and joined the Nashua Titans as a trainee assistant coach. He toured Sri Lanka in 2010 with the SA A team as the assistant coach. Cricket South Africa recognized his hard work and talent and in 2010 he was appointed as Assistant Coach to the National Academy.
Maketa took over the reins of the Northerns Provincial team in 2008 and during this time the team won many trophies (CSA Provincial T20 Challenge – 2011/2012, National One- Day Competition 2010/2011). In 2012 Malibongwe joined the Titans franchise as assistant coach.
In 2013 the position of Assistant Coach at the Warriors became vacant and Maketa was appointed. After the resignation of Piet Botha in 2014 Malibongwe was appointed Head Coach of the Warriors.
“It was an honour and privilege to be nominated to do the course. Spending time with elite coaches and the highly qualified lecturers was truly enjoyable and I look forward to putting what I have learnt into practice” said Maketa.
“Quality coaches are the key to sustainable success and EP Cricket and Cricket Eastern Cape are very proud to have both Malibongwe and Christo in our ranks. They are both top notch coaches and receiving their Level 4 certificates put them on par with the best in the world as the qualification is recognized worldwide. Both are now qualified to coach at international level” Said EP & Warriors CEO Jesse Chellan.
Alan Straton
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