Malibongwe Maketa says he is comfortable with his role as assistant coach to Ottis Gibson ahead of the Proteas’ four-day pink-ball Test against Zimbabwe.
The former Border player will draw from his experience from similar roles with the Warriors and the Titans before he was appointed as the head coach of the Warriors.
‘Fortunately for me, I had been an assistant coach for a few years down the line before I got the Warriors job,’ he said.
‘It will take a bit of an adjustment, I am aware that I have to drive someone else’s vision, I am comfortable with doing that and I look forward to it.’
As the Proteas prepare for the day-night Test match against Zimbabwe starting at St George’s Park on Tuesday.
Maketa, who has been involved at the Eastern Cape franchise since 2013 until his recent appointment to the national team, says he is fortunate to be able to provide key insight into the expected conditions for the inaugural day-night fixture.
‘It has been a blessing for me that my first game involved is at my homeground,’ he said in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.
‘At least I will get to share some of my experiences with the guys on how to go about getting a result at this ground. In saying that, a lot of the players have played a few Test matches at the ground so they have good knowledge of what is expected.
‘With it being a pink ball Test we are venturing into the unknown, we are looking forward to building a database on how to go about playing pink ball Tests.’
This is the Proteas’ first four-day Test match, and along with the day-night elements, presents different challenges and opportunities to achieve a result.
Maketa says the squad will not be placing too much emphasis on the uncontrollable elements and will be focusing on executing the basics throughout each session of play.
‘A lot of people are focused on the twilight period and how difficult it is, but they forget about the other two sessions which are also important and are played during the day,’ he explained.
‘For us, it will be about doing the basics well and making sure that we are winning sessions. Before that, we will want to make sure we are winning half the sessions (each hour) and building on that to get a result.’
The match is scheduled to start at 13:30.
Proteas Test squad: Faf du Plessis (Titans, capt), Hashim Amla (Cape Cobras), Temba Bavuma (Cape Cobras), Quinton de Kock (Titans), Theunis de Bruyn (Knights), AB de Villiers (Titans), Dean Elgar (Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Titans), Morne Morkel (Titans), Duanne Olivier (Knights), Andile Phehlukwayo (Dolphins), Vernon Philander (Cape Cobras), Kagiso Rabada (Highveld Lions), Dale Steyn (Titans).
