With the season fast approaching and our young players looking ready for action the coaches are keen to keep up the hard work to maximise the development and skills of the academy players. We are really looking forward to seeing the results during the season.

However, the coaches are busy in other ways as well.

Congratulations to Andy who has represented Vodacom WP in the Vodacom Cup. Having got over a nasty ankle injury Andy started his first full match last week in PE and scored a hat-trick of tries agains Eastern Province....this following a game-changing start off the bench the week before to turn things around for WP to come from behind to beat Boland. Exciting times and congratulations on your Senior Provincial colours.

Lightie has been busy pre-season with Edgemead CC where he has been recruited as Head Coach. The club are very pro-active and with Lightie's professional approach they should be a force to be reckoned with. It is also great to see some of our older and very talented youngsters being given their chance to compete for senior positions within the teams at the club. Good luck for a great season to all of you. We will miss Lightie on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the season as he has club commitments.

Laurie has recently been invited to attend Cape Cobras training sessions by the new coach Richard Pybus to observe the elite players training methods. He is pleased to report back that the methods and ideals that we work with at the Academy are consistent with those of one of the best coaches around these days. A big Thank You to Richard for his time, interaction and consideration for coaches in his adopted Province. Laurie has also been invited as one of three coaches from WP to attend the new ICC/CSA Level 3 course and exam at the CSA High Performance Centre in Pretoria in early September. This should be highly informative and challenging.

Craig has been invited to join the Cape Cobras training sessions as a bowler as they are looking for a top leg-spinner to add to their attack. Craig's previous First Class experience with WP and the Griquas will hold him in good stead but he has unfortunately been unable to attend to date due to a bad shoulder injury. Let us hope that he recovers to give himself a chance to take this opportunity. 

With all this activity and involvement in sport the coaches remain focused and ready to give their best to all the young cricketers at the Academy and are continually developing and learning themselves to maintain the highest standards possible.