Tara Murray
New Kealba-Green Gully coach Danny Viani had no intentions of returning to the top role at the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association club.
Having previously coached the club in 2007 and playing with them until recently, Viani was happy on the sidelines
But when the club asked him to come back and coach, something changed.
“They asked me if I would be interested in coming back,” he said.
“I had no ambitions to coach again. But the challenge seemed appealing and I felt that I owed them.
“Most of the people there are my mates.”
Viani will be a coach only this season, with his playing days behind him. He said it would be a new challenge and learning curve for himself.
He is just one of many former players who have returned to the club which has made a point of reconnecting with former players.
“The last three to four years we haven’t been great at contacting past players,” he said.
“This year there has been a big focus between myself and Jarrod [Catania], the president, to do that.
“We just asked the question and it’s amazing what happens when you ask the question the right way.”
Four-time premiership player Divesh Kumar returns, having played on the other side of the city the past couple of years.
Rage Uppal, who was part of the club’s first two Luscombe Shield premierships, returns after several years away from cricket.
Former coach Evan Long remains at the club, with Viani expecting him to again play a major role.
Long, who coached the side for the past seven seasons, has been one of the dominant players in the competition, winning four league best and fairest awards.
“He is part of the fabric and culture of the club,” Viani said.
“He’s been captain-coach for six or seven years. It’s the right opportunity for a new person to step into the role.
“It’s big shoes to fill. I see this as a chance for him to become an even better player. He is one of the top players in the competition and he’s a match winner.”
The Cougars have also added some new key recruits.
Aaron Amos comes across from the Lalor Stars in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association.
Viani said you don’t often get players of Amos’ calibre looking to change clubs.
“Someone mentioned we had a sniff of an opportunity to get him and we then had a meeting and went from there.
“To get someone to come across in a non-coaching role is really rare and we’re excited to get him.”
Ryan Manning, who hasn’t played the past couple of seasons, also joins the side.
Viani said they had high expectations for the side this season.
“I only came back for one reason, that was to be successful and win a premiership.
“The team is quite capable, it’s just a matter of doing it on the park.”
