JOHANNESBURG - Enoch Nkwe was officially unveiled by the Highveld Lions as the franchise team’s new head coach on Friday.
Nkwe, 35, signed a three year deal with the franchise, taking over from Geoffrey Toyana, who was made High Performance manager, following an unsuccessful 2017/18 season side the Lions.
Nkwe, a graduate of St. Stithians, was a promising all-rounder whose playing career was cut short by a wrist injury in 2009. He’d played just 42 first class matches, 38 limited over games and nine T20s before retiring, following which he took up coaching first with the Gauteng under-19 side and then the semi-professional Gauteng Strikers outfit winning the One-Day Cup and sharing the three-day competition during his stint as head coach.
He subsequently spent time in the Netherlands, coaching at club level before being appointed as bowling coach for the senior men’s national team. He returned to South Africa and has recently worked as an assistant coach with the SA Women’s national team.
The franchise chairman Oupa Nkagiseng, said Nkwe’s appointment, indicated the strength of the Lions coaching development structures. “It’s a real blessing that we are able to have someone who’s come through our system. I think it will be easier for all of us.”
“We are hoping that Enoch, in conjunction with our players will make a big impact and that we can have one of our most successful seasons next summer, not just competing but winning one or two trophies,” Nkagiseng added.