Boucher to coach Springboks
The match is a special event to commemorate Mandela on the first anniversary of his passing and will be played in his honour and to celebrate his legacy.
The Springboks have signalled their intention to go all out by appointing former Proteas wicketkeeper, Mark Boucher, as their head coach.
Boucher, who handed out the Springboks’ jerseys in September before their superb victory over Australia at DHL Newlands in Cape Town, will surely be calling on all his knowledge and experience, hoping to guide the Boks to a first ever win against the Proteas.
“This is a unique challenge and I’m very excited to be involved with the Springboks,” said Boucher. “I know the Springboks are not celebrated for their cricketing skills but it was clear to see early this year in Cape Town that these boys know how to handle a cricket bat and ball. They certainly don’t lack anything when it comes to being competitive. In the previous match, Butch James took the gloves and I’ll share some tips with him, but generally we have some very talented guys across the park.”
Springbok management have also confirmed kicking coach and former Bok flyhalf, Louis Koen, will replace the injured Jean de Villiers in the starting XI. Koen was an accomplished schoolboy cricketer during his time at Paarl Gymnasium.
Willem Alberts, who took two wickets with consecutive balls and hit a quick 10 runs off nine balls at Newlands in January, has been named as the Springbok captain in place of De Villiers.
A pledge line to raise funds for the Nelson Mandela Foundation will also take place on the day.
The aim of the Nelson Mandela Foundation is to contribute to the making of a just society by utilising the legacy of Nelson Mandela as a vital instrument for sharing memory, for growing it, and for engaging it in the pursuit of social cohesion. This it does through providing an integrated and rich public information resource on his life and times, and by convening dialogue around critical social issues.
(File Photo: Gallo Images)
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