IND vs SA | I draw inspiration from Pep Guardiola, says Proteas team director Enoch Nkwe

IND vs SA | I draw inspiration from Pep Guardiola, says Proteas team director Enoch Nkwe

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The interim team director of South Africa wishes to look up to the manager Manchester City Pep Guardiola in order to derive inspiration for his side's upcoming tour of India. Nkwe recently replaced Ottis Gibson, of West Indies, as the head coach as well a selector and team manager of the Proteas.

Nkwe recently told in a press conference that he is a big fan of the English Premier League soccer coach Pep Guardiola and he will look up to his ways and incorporate that into his team's plan ahead of the tour of India that starts in September. After South Africa didn't renew ex-head coach Ottis Gibson's contract, Nkwe was recruited for an all-encompassing role of head coach, selector and team manager and all other members of the support team will be reporting directly to him — a similar role to that of a European-style director of football.

The 36-year-old told, in a press conference on Thursday, that he was a big fan of Manchester City manager Guardiola and the way he creates successful settings for his team.

“He is on another level. There are a lot of things you can learn from different sporting codes. I have followed his work and enjoy how he backs his philosophy, he always tries to set new boundaries and break new records,” he said.

“Seeing his growth, from coaching one of the biggest clubs in the world (Barcelona) at the age of 37, is an inspiration.”

Nkwe will be backed up by batting, bowling and fielding coaches who are expected to be former players with experience of playing or working in India.

“I will take full responsibility for how things unfold in India, but I like to create the environment where each coach has a say, learns and grows,” Nkwe added.

South Africa will play three Tests and three Twenty20 Internationals in their tour of India, starting from 15 September.

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