Koertzen appointed Regional Umpire Performance Manager for Africa

Record-holding recently retired umpire will work with Emirates Elite Panel and International Panel umpires based in the Africa region

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that the recently retired Emirates Elite Panel umpire Rudi Koertzen has been appointed the Regional Umpire Performance Manager (RUPM) for the Africa region.

Koertzen, from South Africa, will performance manage, support and coach the Elite Panel and International Panel umpires within his region as well as those umpires visiting his region to officiate.

Koertzen will also work closely with the home board umpire managers of the Full Member boards of Cricket South Africa and Zimbabwe Cricket as well as the ICC Africa regional office to support the emerging umpires in Africa.

"It is a great honour to be able to give back to international cricket and to be able to share my experience and knowledge with umpires at all levels within the Africa region," said Koertzen on his appointment.

"I look forward to contributing to the improvement of officiating in the region and working alongside all those involved in this. I am delighted to be given this opportunity of continuing to be part of this wonderful game and the wonderful profession of umpiring."

ICC Umpires and Referees Manager Vince van der Bijl said of the appointment, "Rudi is deeply respected as an international umpire of 18 years, as a man of integrity and character and for his extremely strong work ethic.

"He has umpired through the technology changes of officiating and is the ideal candidate to use all that experience and knowledge to helping the up and coming umpires move forward into the international arena.

"This is a very exciting appointment for the umpiring community of Africa and we look forward to working with Rudi in his new role."