Newly appointed Proteas coach Ottis Gibson says that CSA has discussed South Africa’s aim for a World Cup triumph in 2019. 

During his final press conference as England bowling coach on Tuesday, ahead of the third Test against the West Indies at Lord’s on Thursday, Gibson answered questions about his role with the Proteas.

Gibson was very grateful and complimentary about his time he spent as the bowling coach for England, and says he’s excited to start his new role as Proteas coach.

‘I’ve learned a lot over my years as head coach of the West Indies and in my two stints at England,’ he told media.

‘I was chosen as the person to come in and take the team forward and I’m absolutely looking forward to that and getting over there.’

It is no secret that the World Cup in 2019 is a significant aspect which would have dominated discussions between Gibson and CSA, with the West Indian’s contract running until after the tournament.

‘That was a massive part of how Cricket South Africa pitched the job,’ he said.

‘Every team wants to win a global tournament. South Africa has never won one and that’s obviously one of their big things.

‘You look at South Africa and the players they can potentially put on the field, and there is no reason why they can’t win the World Cup in 2019. That would be something great for me as a coach and also them as a country. There is a very strong sporting culture in South Africa, so to do something like that would be amazing.’

Gibson aims to draw some insight from his playing days in South Africa, having played for Border‚ Gauteng and Griqualand West in the 1990s, coupled with his experience gained from guiding the West Indies to triumph at the 2012 World T20.

‘When I went back to the Caribbean we had the makings of a great team‚’ he said.

‘We had all the players — the IPL [Indian Premier League] superstars and all that — but we had never won a T20 World Cup.

‘There are a lot of things that I learnt from that situation, and it’s important that everybody that’s involved is wanting the same thing and ultimately everybody wants the team to win.

‘I believe when CSA did their search for a coach they felt I could be a person that would come in there and take the team forward.’

Gibson is set to arrive in South Africa soon after the completion of the Lord’s Test. His first assignment will be a two-match Test series against Bangladesh, which starts on 28 September.

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