Kiwi Calum ready to graduate at McKane Park
Published 23 May 2012 15:30
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CALUM Coker decided to go to university when he left school in New Zealand while most of his friends were out seeing the world.
The 21-year-old, from Wanganui, north of Wellington, spent three years studying sports management and what it gave him was the tools he needed to undertake the job of overseas cricket amateur with Sign Plus Dunfermline Knights.
Coker has played three East League Division One games for Knights and already he has a top score of 46 under his belt.
His role at McKane Park will involve him playing at weekends as the team tries to win its place back in the national league set-up but perhaps more importantly coaching the playing staff, first- and second-team players plus the youth section.
He is also involved in coaching at Dunfermline primary schools and this is part of the role he is really looking forward to.
He told Press Sport, "A lot of my pals decided to set out and see the world while I headed for uni but now I am very pleased I took my route.
"I was involved in a course which showed different parts of the sports industry from learning coaching skills through to marketing sport in the community.
"It gave me a tremendous base and the opportunity to take a job like being the Knights' overseas amateur."
He sees his role as very important as the club seeks to rebuild after the blow of being relegated to East League Division One by Cricket Scotland for alleged excessive payments to amateur players.
"I had heard the stories about what happened but that is in the past now and what we are doing now is rebuilding the team," he went on.
"I want to be able to make a major impact out on the pitch but also be able to help the players off it by coaching good habits into them.
"I have been pleased with the reaction of the lads so far although it will take time, but they are enthusasitic and willing to listen.
"We are still making some wrong shot selections out in the middle which are costing us cheap wickets but hopefully they will continue to improve as the weeks go by.
"There are some really promising players in the team and my job is to help them become even better."
The left-hand bat and right-arm medium-paced bowler is really enjoying his work with the children in Dunfermline primary schools.
"To see young boys and girls enjoy playing cricket is really something I get a buzz from and hopefully we can continue to increase the number of youngsters in the club's youth section, through this work."
Looking ahead, he said, "I would like to help the team get back into the national league set-up but already I have noticed that the standard of East One is decent and it will not be an easy task.
"However, if the lads work hard at improving their basic skills we can get into a challeging position for the run-in."
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