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DOMESTIC cricket franchise Mashona-land Eagles are set to get a massive boost this season with the coming in of former national team opener Grant Flower to join them as assistant coach.

Flower who is currently playing county championship cricket for Essex is expected to join Eagles at the end of the English season.

The 39-year old top order batsman’s contract with Essex expires when the season winds up next month.

He is also expected to take up a national team job as the batting coach after he was appointed in a technical team headed by Alan Butcher.

Flower, who spent six years at Essex could add potency to the Eagles batting order if he decides to play.

Eagles, however are still to name a new coach to replace Chris Silverwood who returned to England earlier this year after spending one season with the club.

Franchise chief executive officer Hugo Ribatika yesterday confirmed the English coach would not be returning to Zimbabwe and said they were scouting for a new coach.

"Silverwood is not coming back and we are still discussing with the prospective candidates for the job and hopefully we will be announcing the name of the new coach soon," he said.

Ribatika said Eagles have begun preparations for the new season with high hopes to retain the first class Logan Cup title and add more silverware to the cabinet.

Eagles had a commendable season winning the Logan Cup and reaching the final of two other major competitions on the domestic scene.

They were finalists of the Faithwear-Met Bank One Day competition and the inaugural Stanbic Bank Twenty20 tournament.

"We have high chances because we have managed to retain most of our players and we are looking to add one or two. Negotiations are still going on.

"We also have got exciting prospects coming up as we have secured the national Under-19 captain Peter Moore to play first class cricket for Eagles this year," said Ribatika.

Eagles captain Elton Chigumbura who is playing for Northamptonshire in England is also expected home at the end of the season next month.

Chigumbura who has been the backbone for the team in all competitions last season is however likely to miss the opening matches of the season.

Ribatika said the club will embark on a retreat camp in Chimanimani next week to psyche up the players ahead of the new season.

"It’s a team building exercise. We have invited a number of professionals to come and talk to the players because we want to build strong individuals on and off the pitch," said Ribatika.

eugene wrote:Great to see that PJ Moor (or is it Moore?) will be playing domestically this season. He is apparently a great talent although he hasn't really displayed this talent except in one innings.