Newly-appointed Proteas coach Gary Kirsten might rope in renowned adventurer Mike Horn, whose pep talk lifted India to win the World Cup, to assist him in coaching the South African team.
Published: Jun 13, 2011, 10:50 AM (IST)
Edited: Jun 13, 2011, 10:50 AM (IST)
South Africa recently appointed Gary Kirsten as their coach © Getty Images
Johannesburg; Jun 12, 2011
Newly-appointed Proteas coach Gary Kirsten might rope in renowned adventurer Mike Horn, whose pep talk lifted India to win the World Cup, to assist him in coaching the South African team.
Johannesburg-born Horn was part of Kirsten’s team that led India to victory in the recent World Cup. Horn, also a motivational speaker, had worked with India during their preparation in the final stages of the World Cup.
According to the Sunday Times, Horn, who has walked solo to the North Pole, swam the Amazon River and circumnavigated the earth without motorised transport, would face his toughest task yet — stopping the Proteas from choking.
The South Africans have always funmbled in the crucial World Cup matches with the latest being their defeat against underdogs New Zealand in the quarter finals of the World Cup.
However, Horn was confident Proteas triumph at the next World Cup in 2015 was not impossible.
“South Africa has the most talented cricket players in the world. It is just that at that level it is only psychological and not technical,” Horn said.
Kirsten could not be reached for comment, but Cricket South Africa Spokesman Michael Owen-Smith said Kirsten had a “free hand” to choose consultants, who would “probably” include Horn.
© PTI
