Vanuatu cricket captain joins Adelaide club as player/coach

Southern District is becoming a go-to club for Pacific Island cricketers wanting to play overseas after appointing Vanuatu captain Andrew Mansale as high-performance manager.

Mansale, who has skippered his national side since 2009, joined the Stingrays last month to coach and play in the club’s A grade.

The 32-year-old all-rounder is the second Vanuatu international to line up for Southern in the past year, following batsman Josh Rasu last season. Former Stingrays star turned Vanuatu coach Shane Deitz recommended both of them to Southern officials.

“I went through the Level 3 coaching course last year and I know Southern was looking for a coach, so I thought I would put my name up,” Mansale says.

“I’ve been playing cricket for a long time and I am looking at coaching as my next step.

“Coming here and speaking English while coaching is a big challenge for me but I’m so happy to be involved with this club.

“Playing in Adelaide will help me get a bit more practice playing on turf because in Vanuatu we play on hard wickets.”

Mansale, a right-hand batsman and off-spinner, is aiming to bring more players to the club from his homeland this season.

“If I could, I’d bring two girls over (from Vanuatu) to help the club’s women’s team.

“I’d also like to bring another (male) bowler.”

The Advertiser reports Southern finished 11th last season – 12 months after winning its first premiership.

“I am not here to change what they have been doing, I just want to get the best out of the players and I want to make sure they are accountable for their own game,” Mansale says.

Mansale, who made his international debut at 15, led Vanuatu to second place in the World Cricket League’s division five last month.

The Pacific Island Nation will now line up in the competition’s fourth tier next year.

Mansale’s dream is to see Vanuatu play in a World Cup.

“I know our journey is not easy, but we have a group that can cause an upset.”