Former Otago cricket coach Mike Hesson
is settling into a new life in Kenya. He talks to Herald on Sunday
reporter Andrew Alderson.
The situation Mike Hesson walked into at Cricket Kenya was about as complicated as the Swahili language he is beginning to grasp as the country's new coach.
The former Otago mentor left in July, frustrated at inaction by New Zealand Cricket in appointing a national selection manager (the job eventually filled by Kim Littlejohn) and the New Zealand team manager (eventually taken up by Mike Sandle).
He took his wife and two daughters to Nairobi after being offered a two-year contract by CK chief executive Tom Sears, a former head of business development at NZC. It is a position backed by the International Cricket Council to develop the sport globally.
But Hesson (37) found more mutiny than development on arrival.
"We had eight players on strike seeking better pay and work conditions, including most of our fast bowlers. After a brief settling-in period I ended up acting as a go-between for the board and players. It meant trying to master Swahili fairly fast. I understand more than I speak but I'm getting the hang of it.
"As a mzungu [loosely translated as 'white man'] I was seen as a neutral who could work with the largely Indian board and African players.
"Basically the players weren't getting the greatest of advice. There are lots of issues here based on tribal loyalty. You respect what your elders tell you out of blind faith.
Now I think we've reached a solution where the players can decide what's best for them.
Negotiations have since been signed off.
"I now have a full complement of 18 contracted players who live well by African standards; they're probably in the top half of earners in the country." Kenya failed to win a game at this year's World Cup so Hesson has free rein. The team has already toured the Netherlands, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Kenya has hosted the Andhra Pradesh state side from India and players have been involved in the new East Africa Cup.
Kenya will host academy-type sides from India and Pakistan in the New Year before playing the World T20 qualifiers in Dubai and Ireland in the Intercontinental Cup.
Hesson's immediate focus is to attend the World T20 in Sri Lanka with two spots still available in September's main draw.
Home life has taken on a different slant from suburban Dunedin. The family now lives in a gated community apartment (Hesson politely describes their initial dwelling as "not having a lot of outdoor living") that provides security for him, his wife Kate and their two daughters Holly (4) and Charlie (1) given the recent tourist kidnappings in Kenya by the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab terrorist group who are based in neighbouring Somalia.
The Hessons are quickly immersing themselves in local culture, too. Holly is learning Swahili at school and the housekeeper is getting the family au fait with the local cuisine.
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