An Icon accepts vacant hot seat

Cricket
Craig Williams, a former Namibian National cricket player and top order batter, was yesterday appointed as Head Coach of the Namibian Senior Mens Cricket team.
Tielman Van Lill
  • 19 Hours Ago
The appointment by Cricket Namibia comes after Pierre de Bruyn, the former Head Coach of the Eagles, resigned for personal reasons.

Craig Williams officially took charge of the FNB Eagles yesterday morning after signing his contract with Cricket Namibia. Under his guidance, he previously steered Uganda to qualification for the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, hosted in the United States of America and the West Indies.



In his role as Head Coach, he will be assisted by top batting and bowling consultants. The 41-year-old Craig George Williams was born on 25 February 1984 in Oshakati.



Coach Craig made his debut for Namibia in 2007. He represented the country in 427 matches across all formats, scoring a total of 15,039 runs.



From April 2019 to July 2022, he played in 18 One Day Internationals (50 overs per side), scoring 488 runs at an average of 30.5. He maintained a strike rate of over 75 percent, with a highest score of 129 not out.



He also contributed 805 runs in Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), playing 35 matches and batting in 33 innings at an average of 27.75 and a strike rate of 112.90 percent. His highest T20I score is 81. His T20I career spanned from August 2019 to May 2022, when he retired.



In the annals of Namibian cricket, few can match the all-round statistical impact of Craig Williams, who ended his career as Namibia's all-time leading run-scorer in first-class, List A, and T20 cricket. He also holds the record for most catches by an outfielder in first-class and List A cricket, and ranks second only to Gerhard Erasmus in T20 runs.



Cricket Namibia Chief Executive Officer, Johan Muller, said:

“Appointing Craig Williams as the new Head Coach of the FNB Eagles marks an exciting new chapter for our men’s national team. Craig brings not only world-class cricketing expertise but also a deep understanding of our players, our culture, and our ambitions. With a newly assembled, highly skilled coaching staff, we are entering a new era — one focused on qualifying for our fourth T20 World Cup and proudly representing Namibia on home soil during the 2027 ICC Men’s World Cup. We are confident that under Craig’s leadership, the Eagles will continue to soar.”



Daneel van der Walt, Cricket Namibia Board Member, remarked:

“We at Cricket Namibia are so proud of Craig Williams — we’ve come a very long way. He has served the nation and cricket in Namibia since he was a youngster. He is an icon, an exceptional player, and a man of the soil. Therefore, it is an honour to have Craig Williams appointed as the Head Coach, knowing that he shares our values and has the full capacity and skill set to take the FNB Eagles to new heights. We know that together we will continue to build a globally competitive, professional, values-based, and inclusive sport of choice in Namibia.”



The newly appointed Head Coach said:

“It is an incredible honour to return to the national team, this time as Head Coach. Representing Namibia in any capacity is a privilege, and to now lead the FNB Eagles is something I’m truly excited about. Cricket Namibia is doing fantastic things — from the new stadium to the High Performance Centre — and to have the full support of the board and staff means a great deal to me. I'm really looking forward to starting this new journey alongside such a committed team.



“It was an easy decision to come back. My family is incredibly proud and supportive. Coaching at this level is a huge commitment, and I am 100% invested. I represented Namibia as a player, and now I’m ready to give my all in this next chapter as head Coach.” – tielman5.tvl@gmail.com