Dave Houghton Bounces Back

Sport
FORMER Zimbabwe cricket captain and coach Dave Houghton has agreed to return to the country to work as director of national coaching.

FORMER Zimbabwe cricket captain and coach Dave Houghton has agreed to return to the country to work as director of national coaching.

IndependentSport can exclusively reveal that Houghton, one of Zimbabwe’s greatest players of all time, will start his new job in August.

A source close to negotiations said the exact term of his contract is “subject to finalisation, but it’s a done deal and he will start working in August”.

Houghton, 51, will work between August and December each year.

His roles are outlined as technical director to national team coaches (senior national team, Zimbabwe A, Zimbabwe Under 19 and Academy); ensuring that coaching is standardised; ensuring coaches are properly accredited; conducting seminars throughout the provinces involving coaches and players.

Houghton has been based in England for five six years where he went into coaching and commentary. He quit as Derbyshire county director of coaching in 2007.

A classy top-order batsman, Houghton was Zimbabwe’s captain at the attainment of Test status in 1992. He went on to play 22 Tests, averaging 43,05. He has the country’s highest Test score of 266.

He coached the Zimbabwe team after a successful spell in charge of Worcestershire in the UK.

Houghton, who also played hockey for Zimbabwe as goalkeeper, has previously expressed his intention to return to his country of birth.

The news of Houghton’s return comes a week after another former Zimbabwe stalwart Heath Streak told this newspaper of his desire to have a role in Zimbabwe cricket in future.

BY ENOCK MUCHINJOÂ