WPCA sends farewell to WSB WP Bowling Coach Rory Kleinveldt

March 2024

NEWLANDS – World Sports Betting Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) today says farewell to the Men’s team Bowling Coach, Rory Kleinveldt.

The former Western Province and Cape Cobras bowler Kleinveldt is leaving the Province to take up a coaching role in the UK.

Kleinveldt joined Salieg Nackerdien’s management team ahead of the 2022/2023 season.

“It’s bittersweet to bid farewell to Rory, but his departure also fills us with pride at Western Province. It’s a testament to our organization’s effectiveness in not only producing talented players but also nurturing top-notch coaches,” said WPCA President Johannes Adams.

“Rory’s journey, from playing in our pipeline to assuming a coaching role, has been remarkable, and his efforts have greatly contributed to the recent successes of the WP men’s team.

“We extend our heartfelt best wishes to Rory as he embarks on his future endeavors.”

Kleinveldt commented: “It has been an honour and privilege to serve Western Province Cricket as a coach for the past two years,” he said.

“I am grateful for the opportunities, memories, and the unwavering support from the organization. While bidding farewell, I carry with me cherished experiences and aspirations to return to Newlands Cricket Ground sometime in the future.”

Speaking on Kleinveldt’s departure, Nackerdien said it’s been a great loss for the union as well as for the team as a whole.

“I think the two years that I’ve spent with Rory in terms of his role as bowling coach and assistant coach was fantastic. I think his knowledge that he’s bringing to the bowling unit and to the team as a whole was fantastic,” he said.

“But we also are happy for him in terms of getting another opportunity in a different country, in England, and we wish him all the best going forward.

“And we hope and pray that everything works out nicely for him as well, for his coaching career. And that for him and his team. And for his family. And the big thing from our side is that he needs to enjoy the coaching stint that he’s going to have there. I think from a management staff point of view, we wish him all the best. And we’re just sad that he’s going to leave us.

“But also happy that he’s getting an opportunity elsewhere to make. To make inroads in his career. I think the knowledge that he’s picked up over the last two years in terms of managing teams and being around in a team environment as a coach, he excelled tremendously.

Nackerdien added: “You never know when he can come back to Western Provence again and pick up another role where he can obviously expand, you know, his knowledge to the guys that are going to be around in the system. But overall, it’s been a fantastic two years,” he adds.

“And what we achieved together was something that we will always cherish. And the work that he put in in the winter, you know, just to get the guys ready in bowling actions, really strong actions, made a huge difference in terms of where we now, you know.

“From our side to Rose, to his family, all the best of luck and enjoy what you always do. I think that’s what we always wanted to do in terms of, you know, in the coaching role and never gave up in terms of, you know, difficult periods. So we wish him all the best of luck.”