Breaking- Whatmore steps down, Andy Blignaut to take over

[ZIMDOGGY]

Whatmore quits as Zimbabwe coach, Blignaut favourite to take over.

Zimbabwe Crickets much decorated national coach Dav Whatmore has sensationally quit his post just twoweeks after Zimbabwes dissapointing exit from the ICC T20 World Cup.
Tavengwa Mukhlani, the association's chairman, has this morning granted Dav a release from the final year of his contract because of "difference of strategic outlook".

Junior coach and former international all rounder Andy Blignaut is widely tipped to replace Dav with the board starting the search for a new coach.

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Mukhlani and teams captain Hamilton Masakadza spoke with Whatmore about his decision, but his mind was made up about retutning home to Australia.

National players were shocked on Thursday night when they learnt of the news via e-mail.

They were of the belief Dav was committed to helping them progress to the 10 team ICC 50 over world cup in 2019, as the coach had spoken to them last week about the off-season training program.

Whatmore is in Australia and will be in Sydney to watch the Sydney Roosters take on the Warriors at Allianz stadium.

Daily News understands Whatmore has been linked to a job at the Auckland Aces for next season, either as a coach or a coaching director, or a job at the Durban Sharks Super Rugby team.

John Smit, Whatmores clse friend and former Springboks captain, is the boss at the Sharks.

It is understood missing out on the T20 Finals and the exodus of junior crickets from the systtem affected hisdesire to stay in Zimbabwean Cricket.

It is understood that Chairman of selectors Kenyon Ziehl and Mukhlani have jointly informally approached former International Arnoldus (Andy) Blignaut as their head coach on a three year deal.


Blignaut represented Zimbabwe in 54 ODIs and 9 tests, and was most recently seen in the 2010 T20 World cup held in the Carribean, and is currently juggling junior coaching with outside business interests, having most recently took full charge of the u/17s team before ex teammate Prosper Utseya took over last year.

Blignaut has vast experience with the setup and the senior group of players and is understood to be close to Ziehl through mutual Afrikaner heritage.

“It has been a huge honour and privilege to have worked with the kids but the chance to come to the national setup at short notice as head coach would be too big an opportunity for me to turn down if it eventuates” Blignaut said.

“As someone who has always enjoyed the game, I have followed Zimbabwes progress over the last couple of years and look forward to working with this talented squad of players.”
https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2 ... mands-more

[SpitfiresKent]

April fools!

[sloandog]

Yea, good one DOG

[ZIMDOGGY]

its not April 1 around here without a Blignaut related april fools joke.