“It has always been a dream of mine to work at the Dafabet St George’s Park Cricket Ground and with the Warriors, so I am really looking forward to it,” says newly appointed Dafabet Warriors assistant coach Mark Charlton.
The 42-year-old three-time Cricket South Africa Coach of the Year (and nominated again this year) started his cricketing career in the Eastern Cape while playing for Kingswood College in Grahamstown/Makhanda.
Certified as a Level 4 Coach, the Nelson Mandela University graduate coached the Titans for eight years, before heading up the Northern Cape Heat team for three years.
Charlton coached the Heat to successive 4-Day Domestic Series, division two, titles.
He has also served as the batting coach for the SA20 Paarl Royals.
Charlton’s decision to return to the Eastern Cape was driven by family reasons and his roots in local cricket.
“I grew up playing for the Eastern Province teams all the way through to the academy and have always been a massive fan of what was Eastern Province back in the day before the establishment of the current professional set up which evolved into the Warriors.
“There is such a rich history of cricket in the Eastern Cape and I am just hoping that I can contribute to making the team successful this season.”
Charlton is also keen to support cricket development in the province.
“I am very passionate about the general cricket landscape in the Eastern Cape so I am definitely willing and able to help as much as I can to upskill the whole system.
“I am really looking forward to my time at the Warriors,” emphasised Charlton.
“Mark has done the hard yards as a coach and on his return to the Eastern Cape he brings a wealth of knowledge of the game,” says Warriors head coach Robin Peterson.
“He also brings an organisational component of management that can help us to win titles.
“With his great work ethic and honesty, he will add a lot of value to the Warriors and the entire Eastern Province cricket system.”
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