Geoffrey Toyana was the Cricket South Africa PitchVision Coach of the Year.

Details:

Name: Geoffrey Toyana

Age: 41

Role: Head Coach, Highveld Lions

Playing Career: 84 first class matches, 3037 runs @ 24.49, 71 List A matches, 872 runs @18.95

Coaching Career: Easterns (2007-10), Emerging South Africa (2009), South Africa Under 19 (2012), Highveld Lions (2011-date)

PitchVision Academy caught up with the winner to ask him more about how he did it.

As a first-class cricketer his work ethic was well known. When he retired in 2008 he coached Easterns, the South Africa Under 19 side and South Africa A, before joining Highveld Lions. He took over as Head Coach in 2012. Under him, the Lions broke a five season trophy drought.

But this chat and award was all about last season. As we spoke, it was clear the award delighted Geoff thanks to his success with the Lions in 2014-15. He modestly spoke about how credit goes to the players. In reality, his record speaks for itself; a T20 semi-final, a first-class trophy and Champions League excellence. It's a season record that has been building since he first cut his teeth as a coach.

Eventually, with a great deal of prodding, he admitted he was proud to get the award. Even then, he was quick to return to the hard work of the players in making his job much easier. He was sure the full trophy cabinet was a key factor in his personal award.

He also talked about the recognition from CSA that the Lions had focused on a strong pool of successful black African players. It's an area where he has a great passion as the first black African coach in South African cricket.

Beyond this, we asked Geoff what he did when he arrived, and how he sees the role of a modern coach. His blueprint was clear;

• Build a culture of working hard, and watch confidence grow as a result.
• Be able to have tough conversations and bring in new ways of thinking, even when there is resistance.
• Help players become confident in their game, remove their doubt and relax the dressing room.

He did this by overloading the players in training with fatigue. Not only does this test player's when tired, it also raised their heart rates. They feel the same as they would under the pressure of a big game. This makes skill practice more realistic.

He also talked about practice scenarios. Players could play as if in a game, and work on both tactics and putting skills into action. It's a hallmark of his straightforward, effective approach.

When you put it all together, it's clear why CSA chose Geoff as the PitchVision Coach of the Year. Congratulations Geoff, you deserve the honour.