Interview of Walter Chawaguta

[Detective RDS]

Link: http://www.sundaynews.co.zw/inside.aspx ... 3527&cat=5

Chawaguta speaks out

By Mehluli Sibanda

ZIMBABWE senior national team coach, Walter Chawaguta, says his two-week attachment to the Australian national team was a revelation and a great experience.


Chawaguta was attached to the Australian national team during their One-Day International series against Pakistan in neutral Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. His attachment to Tim Nelson’s team came about as a result of an agreement between Zimbabwe Cricket and Cricket Australia.

“I was attached to the Australian cricket team as an assistant coach. During the two weeks I was part of their training sessions, attended official functions and their team meetings. It was a big eye opener (as) I got some ideas on how to better myself as a coach,” said Chawaguta in an interview at Queens Sports Club last Friday.

The Zimbabwe mentor said Nelson was more of a team manager as he had the luxury of specialist coaches who deal with all aspects of the game.

“Nelson has got specialist coaches with the technical team of 12. They can afford it since they have the resources but we cannot do the same in Zimbabwe,” Chawaguta said.

On the reception he got from the mighty Australians, Chawaguta said Nelson was really accommodating and that his players were kind to him and he never felt like an outsider.
Asked to describe an Australian dressing room with all the world-renowned stars, Chawaguta said the dressing room had players full of confidence since they made it after excelling in a competitive domestic structure.

Chawaguta said when the Australians lose, Nelson does not hold a team meeting soon after the match but has one after a day or two.

The Zimbabwe coach said he is not going to implement everything he learnt from the Australians but will only put into practice what is possible only in Zimbabwe and “leave out the rest”.

“It is key to have specialist coaches that is why I have got Douglas Hondo as my assistant coach, he takes care of the bowling while I take care of the batting,” said Chawaguta.

On the franchise system, which is set to replace the current provincial structure next season, Chawaguta said the proposed structure could work in Zimbabwe as that was what used to happen in the past.

“The franchise set up can work in Zimbabwe. In the past provinces used to have a bigger say. This is only a bigger set up and it will help spread the game,” he said.

Chawaguta could not be drawn to say when Zimbabwe could resume their Test obligations but supported the proposal by the International Cricket Council to have a Zimbabwe team participate in the Intercontinental Cup where they will play first class matches against ICC associate members who include Kenya and Ireland

“It is a good idea for us to play in the Continental Cup. I am made to understand that our A side will take part which is good because we have been calling for more matches for the A side”.

“It is difficult to say when we can return to Test cricket but our Logan Cup was competitive, the batsmen were batting out time and most of the matches went into the last day”.

“I am also impressed with the level of the Twenty20, the players have improved in this format of the game and the few players who have come back like Mark Vermeulen and Charles Coventry have made a difference,” said Chawaguta.

Chawaguta coaches Centrals who failed to make it to the final of the provincial Twenty20 tournament which ended in Bulawayo yesterday.

During Chawaguta’s attachment, Australia, world champions in the 50 over and Test format played Pakistan in a five ODI series and a Twenty20 match.

The Aussies won the ODI series 3-2 but lost the one off Twenty20 by seven wickets.