Former Proteas coach Russell Domingo to oversee Lions in new era

Russell Domingo’s appointment as the new head coach of the Central Gauteng (DP World) Lions is the most high-profile one since Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher took up domestic coaching roles. 

The Lions confirmed the 48-year-old’s appointment on Friday.

Domingo replaces Wandile Gwavu who was appointed as the fielding coach for the Proteas’ limited overs teams earlier this year. Domingo was appointed on a three-year contract.

Whereas Prince and Boucher, who coached the Cape Cobras and Northern Titans respectively, built their reputations through their playing exploits at the highest level, Domingo has been among the most high profile international coaches in the last few years, four of which were spent in charge of the men’s Proteas. 

After a stint as Gary Kirsten’s assistant for two years, Domingo, who had coached the Warriors locally, took up the head coaching position in 2013, overseeing the Proteas in 37 Tests, 16 of which they won.

A home series triumph against India in December that year and a series win in Australia in 2016 were the highlights of his tenure with the Test side. 

In the One-Day format, South Africa won 55 matches and lost 29 while in the two major 50-over tournaments where Domingo was in charge, South Africa reached the semifinals of the 2015 World Cup where they lost a dramatic match against New Zealand in Auckland.

In the 2017 Champions Trophy in England, the Proteas were knocked out in the group stage, an outcome which accelerated his departure from the head coach role. 

In the two T20 World Cups he oversaw the Proteas lost a semifinal to India in Bangladesh in 2014 and two years later in India, they again were knocked out in the group stage. 

After his departure as Proteas head coach after losing a Test series in England in 2017, Domingo became the Bangladesh head coach in 2019, with a Test match win in New Zealand in January 2022 and an ODI series triumph over the Proteas in South Africa, the highlights of a two-and-a-half-year period in charge of the side. 

The Lions have alongside their provincial neighbours the Titans, been the most successful team in the country in the last few years.

First under Enoch Nkwe and then Gwavu, they have won each of the three major provincial trophies on offer, while also seeing the likes of Ryan Rickelton, Bjorn Fortuin and Sisanda Magala become Proteas. 

The union will hope that the wealth of experience Domingo brings to the role will help to maintain those standards while also aligning with the broader attacking philosophy.

Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.