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Johannesburg – Coaching at international level has been a “lifelong dream” of former South African paceman Makhaya Ntini’s, and he is eager to get going in his new role as Zimbabwe’s assistant to Dav Whatmore. Ntini starts his role on February 16, and he says that while there is a lot of talent in the country they need to be in a far better position than they currently are.

Zimbabwe recently lost both the T20 and One-Day-International series home and away in the UAE against minnows Afghanistan, and Ntini says that is simply not acceptable. “I think they’ve talented young players,” said Ntini.

“I’ve watched a couple of games when they played against Afghanistan. For me it was one of the saddest things seeing them lose. Afghanistan is a team that has just been promoted. Yes, they played well in the World Cup, but Zimbabwe shouldn’t be beaten by them … especially in a one-on-one series.”

Ntini, who launched his own school of excellence in the Eastern Cape in July 2014, says that a shift in attitude is needed.

“The changing of the attitude of the players is most important. That’s one thing that they’re lacking … to have someone that can really put them in a position that they can understand the reason that they’re playing this game,” said South Africa’s 101-Test, 390-wicket veteran.

Zimbabwe are currently in Bangladesh where they are 0-2 down in a four-match T20 series. — Sport24