tawandamusarurwa
Sports Reporter
EAGLES head coach Douglas Hondo was already looking to the future as the raucous celebrations that followed his team’s Logan Cup win last weekend were still in full swing.
At the start of the 2022/2023 cricket season, Eagles targeted a clean sweep of trophies in the local franchise.
While the team missed out on the Pro50 Championship, which was won by Rhinos, the Harare-based franchise more than made up for the disappointment by claiming the T20 Championship and, most recently, the Logan Cup. Hondo is, however, not satisfied.
“Our goal was to win all three trophies this season, but we experienced some resistance during the Pro50 Championship, which we will rectify next season,” he said.
“It is, however, important that we remain grateful, because we could have been on the other side of that coin and ended the season without a single trophy.”
Eagles almost had a flawless season.
While the two trophies may seem like cheap consolation, especially given their season’s goals, the entire Eagles establishment deserve a pat on the back. In his first season with the franchise, Hondo has managed to exceed expectations by claiming two out of the three available trophies.
The 43-year-old also seems to have taken a page out of Chevrons head coach Dave Houghton’s playbook and created an environment that allows his players to excel.
“We just created an environment that promoted growth and the players responded well,” said the former Chevrons seamer.
“While there is still plenty of work to be done, we are moving in the right direction.
“Winning trophies is an end product of the processes put in place at the start of the season.
“So long as I come up with the right process for a particular group of players, the end product will be favourable.”
Last weekend’s Logan Cup win was his second consecutive title, having won the same trophy with Tuskers last season. The T20 Championship, on the other hand, is his third as a coach.
“It’s great to claim a second Logan Cup on the trot,” he said. “And, it is an especially great achievement to win my second title in my first season with Eagles. “The elusive Logan Cup is back in the largest cricketing province (Harare), so credit goes to the guys.”
Hondo is enjoying his time as coach.
“It’s a different buzz being on the other side.
“You are in the thick of things; visualising, planning, implementing, adjusting, adapting and all that. “I have always been excited about solving problems, so, in coaching, you come up with many scenarios that need solutions.
“The joy you see on a player’s face when something you have been working on clicks is priceless.”
Online Reporter