Dujon Named J'ca Coaching Director

Former West Indies wicketkeeper/batsman Jeffrey Dujon has been appointed Jamaica's first national coaching director.

According to a report in the Jamaica Gleaner, Dujon will serve as Technical Consultant and manage the Jamaica Cricket Association's (JCA) panel of coaches. He will be responsible for revamping present programmes and introducing new programmes aimed at achieving consistency in coaching at all levels of the game.

Chief executive officer of the JCA Brian Breese said the employment of Dujon as the Technical Consultant is part of a long-term plan to place the emphasis on coaching at the Under 15 level, at the early youth level, and to ensure there is a consistency of coaching throughout all levels.

"There is a need for our players to learn the basic techniques of the game and what the game is all about at an early age so that you don't spend a lot of time at the advanced stages teaching players what they should have learnt at an early age," Breese said.

"In the later stages, when it comes to representing Jamaica, time should be spent on things like strategies and tactics, and on mental preparation, certainly not on technique," he added.

Dujon, who recently completed coaching stints with the WICB and University of the West Indies (UWI), appeared in 81 Test matches for the West Indies. He finished a remarkable career with 3,322 runs, including five centuries.

The JCA also announced the appointment of former tennis player Kadija Richards as a sports psychologist attached to the national team.