The former assistant coach at the Northerns Titans hopes to get his former team into Division 1
16 April 2023 - 10:45
bySTUART HESS
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Geoffrey Toyana is set to take over as Easterns head coach next season. Picture: GALLO IMAGES/SYDNEY SESHIBEDI
Geoffrey Toyana said the desire to be a head coach again spurred his decision to sign up for the role at Easterns, as he returns to the province where he tasted success as a player 20 years ago.
Toyana, who spent the past few years as Mandla Mashimbyi’s assistant at the Northerns Titans, has signed on the dotted line with Easterns and hopes to get them into Division 1.
“I want to be a head coach again,” said Toyana, who last held the position in 2017 at the then Highveld Lions.
“Also, with the promotion/relegation now over one season, that is an opportunity for us to get back into Division 1 soon.”
The 49-year-old left his assistant position at the Titans at the end of the 2023 season, in which they were again SA’s most consistent team.
The Titans announced last week that Richard das Neves will take over as the senior team’s assistant coach.
Easterns, meanwhile, had a tricky number of seasons in Division 2, finishing well short of the promotion spot, for which points had to be earned in the different competitions over the past two seasons.
KwaZulu-Natal Inland won promotion last season.
From the 2023/24 season, promotion and relegation will return to being based on performances in one season.
The union has struggled with administrative drama in the past few years and officials there will hope Toyana can restore stability on the field.
Toyana was part of the Easterns team coached by Ray Jennings who shocked Western Province in the 2003 final, then known as the SuperSport Series.
Toyana scored a crucial 41 in the first innings and followed that with 29 in the second as the unheralded side from Benoni beat a star-studded WP team that included Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten and Ashwell Prince, by 273 runs.
After being Dave Nosworthy’s assistant, Toyana was promoted to the head coach position at the Highveld Lions in 2012/13 and won four titles — three outright — with the franchise over five seasons.
Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma were among the players who rose to national prominence under his mentorship.
His success at the Lions put him in the frame for the Proteas head coach position in 2017, but that job eventually went to Ottis Gibson.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Toyana back to help Easterns rise again
The former assistant coach at the Northerns Titans hopes to get his former team into Division 1
Geoffrey Toyana said the desire to be a head coach again spurred his decision to sign up for the role at Easterns, as he returns to the province where he tasted success as a player 20 years ago.
Toyana, who spent the past few years as Mandla Mashimbyi’s assistant at the Northerns Titans, has signed on the dotted line with Easterns and hopes to get them into Division 1.
“I want to be a head coach again,” said Toyana, who last held the position in 2017 at the then Highveld Lions.
“Also, with the promotion/relegation now over one season, that is an opportunity for us to get back into Division 1 soon.”
The 49-year-old left his assistant position at the Titans at the end of the 2023 season, in which they were again SA’s most consistent team.
The Titans announced last week that Richard das Neves will take over as the senior team’s assistant coach.
Easterns, meanwhile, had a tricky number of seasons in Division 2, finishing well short of the promotion spot, for which points had to be earned in the different competitions over the past two seasons.
KwaZulu-Natal Inland won promotion last season.
From the 2023/24 season, promotion and relegation will return to being based on performances in one season.
The union has struggled with administrative drama in the past few years and officials there will hope Toyana can restore stability on the field.
Toyana was part of the Easterns team coached by Ray Jennings who shocked Western Province in the 2003 final, then known as the SuperSport Series.
Toyana scored a crucial 41 in the first innings and followed that with 29 in the second as the unheralded side from Benoni beat a star-studded WP team that included Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten and Ashwell Prince, by 273 runs.
After being Dave Nosworthy’s assistant, Toyana was promoted to the head coach position at the Highveld Lions in 2012/13 and won four titles — three outright — with the franchise over five seasons.
Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma were among the players who rose to national prominence under his mentorship.
His success at the Lions put him in the frame for the Proteas head coach position in 2017, but that job eventually went to Ottis Gibson.
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