Steinhoff Maties Cricket coach Andrew Wylie has been appointed as the USSA coach for the upcoming CSA Future Cup tournament in Kimberley and the Triangular Series between CSA Academy, USSA and Sri Lanka Academy later this year.

Wylie has been honoured as Maties Sport's Team Coach of the Year twice, most lately in 2015, and admits that the USSA position was one he had hoped for.

"I must be honest; I had hoped I would be in the running for the USSA position, but was never really sure what appointment would be made. It is obviously a very big honour and excellent opportunity and it gives me some confidence that I am on the right path with the way we are doing things at Maties."

There are Maties' in both squads. Brandon Glover, Kyle Simmonds and Soyisile Pono were selected for the Future Cup team, while captain Dewald Botha were selected for the USSA team.

When it comes to expectations and goals, Wylie would rather wait and meet his teams before making any predictions.

"I have not given it a great deal of thought, we still have important club priorities here at Maties to focus on over the next few weeks and once they're done I will switch into Future Cup mode. The key will always be to provide an environment where the players involved can express their true potential and hopefully win the tournament. I guess I would like to highlight to the players that these opportunities can go a long way in them setting off their careers in the right direction and that destiny is in their own hands."

This is not the first time Wylie has coach the USSA squad. In 2008 he took the students on a UK trip to play against British Universities and England u/19.

"We had a nice squad of young students and many have gone on to play lengthy careers at franchise level; one even representing the Proteas. So the opportunity is a great one for players."​

Photographer: Outsider Communications