The North-West University (NWU) is pleased to announce the appointment of Devon Da Silva as head coach of its first and second cricket teams on the Vanderbijlpark Campus. Hailing from Rust Ter Vaal, Vereeniging, the 34-year-old brings a wealth of experience as a former player and assistant coach. His profound understanding of the game and strong leadership qualities will serve him well in guiding the teams into a new and successful era. “I was just playing and never really thought about coaching until I started assisting. It was only then that I realised I have a passion for coaching,” said Coach da Silva. He welcomes this new role with pride, seeing it as a major milestone in his career. “This is a giant accomplishment. I never imagined becoming a head coach of a university cricket team at my age. It is a huge stepping stone to achieving greater things.” Under his leadership, the NWU community can expect a programme built on discipline, development, and pride. “My focus is not only on achieving success on the field, but also on shaping well-rounded student-athletes who represent the University with integrity, respect and commitment. I believe in creating a high-performance environment where players are challenged to grow, support each other, and uphold the values of teamwork and sportsmanship,” Coach Da Silva stated. With a foundation of talented and good-spirited players, Coach Da Silva aims to build a more consistent, confident, and competitive well-oiled machine. “By working closely as a unit and holding each other accountable, I believe we can elevate our overall performance and establish NWU cricket as a force to be reckoned with,” he added. Looking ahead to the upcoming University Sports South Africa (USSA) Cricket Championships set to be hosted in Stellenbosch from 1 to 5 December, Coach Da Silva has clear ambitions. “We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but finishing in the top four, or even winning the tournament, would be a fantastic achievement,” he concluded.