NCC president Gibson Molale said they were impressed with the services of the team’s current coach Mark Charlton.
NORTHERN Cape Cricket (NCC) are contemplating the possibility of life in the upper echelons of the cricket establishment spurred on by their triumphant run as the CSA 4-Day Domestic Series and coming a close second in the CSA One-Day Cup competition.
NCC president Gibson Molale, speaking on the sidelines of last Friday’s KFC Mini Cricket Festival at the Diamond Oval, said they were impressed with the services of the team’s current coach Mark Charlton.
NC Heat were playing away on Friday in the CSA One-Day Cup final against Hollywoodbets Tuskers in Limpopo. They lost the match by five wickets.
Molale made it clear that he was undeterred by that last result. “The guys played their part. Remember we are the 4-Day champs and we are runners-up in the One-Day Cup championship. We have a new coach, a new board and new players so that means next year we could possibly be contending for promotion to division one.
“Promotion won’t be considered this year but it will be in effect next year. I am sincerely proud of our players … They’ve done their part,” he repeated.
Molale explained that to gain promotion to division one, the NC Heat must accumulate enough points to be considered for promotion, meaning that they must win the One-Day Cup and the longer CSA 4-Day competitions.
“For now we are looking good with these wins under the belt. That gives us hope that come next year we are definitely going to be in contention for a higher division.
Mark (Charlton) is doing very well. Actually, it is a blessing to have a coach like Mark, who is originally from Titans, coming to our province and doing such wonderful things.
“The good part is that Mark is not going to close (in the off season). During the winter (he) will be working with the younger ones. He is making sure that 90 percent of Northern Cape boys are capable of playing in the senior teams. He will be working with all our coaches to strengthen our feeder teams,” Molale added.
NCC Heat head coach Mark Charlton could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.
