Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced Victor Mpitsang has been appointed as the new National Convenor of Selectors on 21 October.
According to CSA, the position is a full-time appointment and will commence on 2 November 2020.
National Convenor of Selectors appointed
Mpitsang has held a number of positions across the national and domestic professional structures and age-group cricket and replaces former convenor Linda Zondi.
The 40-year-old began his post-play career with a position as scout for the schools cricket programme in search of the next few generations of South Africa under-19s.
Mpitsang then moved on to become the bowling consultant for the Proteas women.
He coupled that with a selector position for the South Africa Universities programme and assistant coach of the SA U19s before stepping into the role of selector and eventually, Convenor of selectors for the baby Proteas, unearthing future internationals, some of whom include Lutho Sipamla, Wiaan Mulder and Kyle Verreynne.
Wandile Makwetu, Thando Ntini, Gerald Coetzee, Raynardt van Tonder, Akhona Mnyaka and Matthew Breetzke have also progressed from the under-19s to franchise cricket under his watch.
Smith pleased to have Mpitsang on board
CSA Director of Cricket, Graeme Smith is pleased with the choice that he and the interviewing panel have made.
“The role for the National Convenor of Selectors is an incredibly important one, which is why the process of appointing the eventual candidate has taken so long,” Smith said.
“We needed to be certain that we have left the role in the safest hands possible and Victor’s credentials speak for themselves.
“He has made it his business to know the ins and outs of cricket after his playing days, from KFC Mini-Cricket, all the way to the senior Proteas men’s and women’s teams. His experience as a coach in our various development programmes means that he has the kind of knowledge and context that was crucial in our chosen candidate.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what he brings to the role and the stamp that he will put on our national teams and I know he is excited to get down to business as soon as he possibly can.”
Mpitsang expressed his eagerness in getting started at the beginning of next month.
“It’s an honour to be called up for this role,” he commented. “For the last eight years since my retirement, I have consciously looked to learn as much as I can about this game and I have put in many hours gaining that knowledge and experience.
“When you retire from playing you always hope you can stay in and around the game somehow and make a positive contribution in some way no matter how small. I have been incredibly fortunate to have received the opportunities that I have in the past and to have learned how things work from admin to playing and coaching.
“I’m really looking forward to this next chapter and all that it brings. The Proteas teams are a vital part of the cricket eco-system and there are areas that need our immediate attention, which I’m itching to get started on,” Mpitsang concluded.
Mpitsang’s professional career featured two ODI appearances for the Proteas before a serious injury curtailed his international ambitions.
While he would not reach international prominence again Mpitsang ended his career with 103 First-Class, 100 List A and 23 T20 matches under his belt.
