Geoffrey Toyana welcomes return to Fidelity Titans women’s team

Geoffrey Toyana has returned to Supersport Park as coach of the Fidelity Titans women’s team, describing the appointment as an opportunity to come back to a place he regards as home. He previously represented the men’s team as a player and later worked as an assistant coach there.

Toyana has followed women’s cricket closely in recent years and believes that experience can help him contribute to the team’s development. After meeting the players, he said he was confident they could build a strong working relationship and restore the Titans brand to prominence.

The appointment is Toyana’s first senior coaching role in women’s cricket. However, he has previously worked alongside the women’s coach during his time at Easterns. He also believes the fundamentals of coaching remain the same across men’s and women’s teams.

Toyana takes over from Pierre de Bruyn, who spent one season with the Titans before becoming head coach of the Netherlands national team. The two coaches have a close personal relationship and have exchanged ideas in the past.

The new coach acknowledged that de Bruyn left an established structure at the Titans, but said he would introduce his own methods, principles and values. His approach is centred on putting people first as he begins work with the group.

Toyana also pointed to the rapid progress made by women’s cricket over the past five years. He welcomed the increased respect being given to the women’s game and the growing involvement of experienced coaches. His return places him at the centre of the Titans’ next phase after a single season under de Bruyn.