A former resident of Oudtshoorn and a pioneer in the development of the Bongolethu Cricket Club in Oudtshoorn, Herschell Gutman was voted best European coach for the year by the International Cricket Council (Europe)
Israel Cricket Association’s (ICA) Gutman was awarded Coach of the Year for leading the coach development programme in Israel. Gutman (ECB Level 3 Performance Coach and ECB Tutor /Assessor) has established a night cricket league which runs very successfully across Israel with over 10 teams participating for the league title; Gutman is also leading a successful coach and player development programme involving numerous communities and groups within Israel.
“The Israel Cricket Association is very proud of Herschel Gutman for winning the European Coach of the Year award 2013. Herschel has been the National Cricket Development officer for nearly four years and his unabated enthusiasm, dedication and love for the game is evident wherever he goes whether it be at the schools in the nets or on the field, Herschel will always be there with a 100% effort. He has instigated and introduced many new forms of the game to Israeli cricket, but more so the way he puts everything across to the players is a sight to be beheld. With Herschell at the helm of cricket development in Israel we can expect much success for Israel cricket in the future all those involved in running of the ICA are especially proud of him,” says Stanley Perlman, ICA Chairman.
According the SWD Cricket CEO, Albertus Kennedy, Gutman was employed as the first development/coach coordinator as part of the province Black African player development program when Bongolethu Cricket Club was established in September 2008. He was passionate in promoting the game in the township and made a significant contribution in the establishment of the club. He left the club in 2009 when he got the appointment with the Israel Cricket Association. “We are grateful about his achievement”, he said.
