Indigenous Coaching Success at ACCC
In a landmark moment for the East Asia-Pacific, 2013 saw the first time that an indigenous coach from the region was selected to lead our EAP team into battle at the Australian Country Cricket Championships (ACCC).
PNG's Rarua Dikana, affectionately known throughout the region as Rugi, previously attended the Championships as a player and then assistant coach. However this year he stepped up to take the role of head coach and made an immediate impact on the team both on and off the field.
On the field, the team recorded its most ever wins at the championships with four wins from seven games beating ACT, Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia. Assad Vala was the second leading run scorer for the tournament, CJ Amini was the 7th leading wicket taker, and captain Chris Amini took the most catches. Vala was also named in the Country Representative team that took on a QLD XI under lights on the rest day.
Captain Chris Amini believes that having an indigenous coach had a strong impact on the team's performance as it helped players to open up more with each other and the team.
"One thing I learned about coaching is that if the coach doesn't understand and get to know the players and their culture, they'll hardly get the best out of them," said Amini when asked about the difference between having an indigenous and non-indigenous coach.
Team manager, Vanuatu's Pierre Chilia echoed the feelings of the players stating that Dikana created an environment where players and coaches felt comfortable speaking up throughout the event both on what the team was doing well and areas for improvement.
This on field enjoyment also carried through to off the field as well where the team became a tight knit group despite different ages, personalities and countries of origin. Chris Amini and experienced vice-captain Andrew Mansale, who have both played in several EAP teams at the ACCC, felt that having an indigenous coach and manager brought the team together more closely than at previous championships.
"This tour I saw the boys open up and we really had fun and it was like a family," said Amini.
"Both Rarua (Dikana) and Pierre (Chilia) were very open to talk to and the boys loved the way they looked after the (team) Players," chipped in Mansale.
On Rugi as a coach Amini described him as "passionate, respectful and determined" while Mansale felt that Rugi knew exactly what each of the players were capable of because he knew and understood them.
While all players agreed that past coaches of the EAP team had done an excellent job, they also felt that this was a significant step forward for the EAP region and something that had already delivered enormous benefits for the players and the team.
Newly appointed EAP Regional Development Officer Jane Livesey also believes that this provides another role model and pathway for cricketers in the region, and will encourage more indigenous coaches to get involved.
"We are strongly committed to developing indigenous coaches, umpires and scorers, as well as players," said Livesey. "Having Rugi coach the EAP team at the ACCC demonstrates that we are progressing in this area. By celebrating this achievement, I hope that we will see even more men and women putting their hands up to coach junior and senior teams in our member countries."