Former South African Under-19 cricketer, and a leading force behind the tremendous success of the current Warriors franchise, Rivash Gobind, has stepped down as Warriors head coach, in order to take up an international-level opportunity.

Gobind is to become part of the Afghanistan national cricket team’s management and coaching structure.

He will be leaving the Warriors before the end of October 2019. Gobind captained both KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa U-19s, and is a certified level 3 coach. In addition to his cricketing accomplishments, he holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. He was appointed assistant coach of the Warriors in August 2016, and head coach from start of the 2017 season. Warriors has enjoyed its most successful seasons in recent years under his stewardship.

‘I hope I have left them in a better space than when I started. There is no reason why the success of this team won’t continue,’ said Gobind.

‘This is obviously an international cricket opportunity I can’t really turn down. It is bittersweet, because I do feel that we were really achieving something here with Warriors cricket, and it is going to be tough to walk away from it. I am very appreciative of all the support from the Warriors players and administration over the years.

 ‘I will miss the Eastern Cape. It’s a lovely part of the country and what I have really enjoyed is the warmth people have shown me here. They don’t call Port Elizabeth the “friendly city’ for nothing.’

Cricket Eastern Cape chief executive Dr Mark Williams said: ‘Rivash is an exceptional person and a brilliant coach. It is a loss for us as cricket in the Eastern Cape, but this is an exciting opportunity for Rivash. We wish him well on this new journey.

‘I also want to thank him and commend him for what he has done for the Warriors.’

Warriors captain Jon-Jon Smuts added: ‘What Rivash has done with the team over the last few years has been unbelievable, but we are all extremely proud and happy for him. To get international recognition is amazing.

‘It’s a massive tribute to the Warriors franchise that we are getting people recognised at the highest level. We really wish him all the best.’

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