The newly appointed head coach of the South African cricket team Ottis Gibson believes the team is fully capable of winning the 2019 ODI World Cup. South Africa have not won any ICC Trophy in their cricketing history and for a team that has had so many talented players amongst the ranks, it’s pretty surprising.

The Proteas have a history of getting knocked out of ICC tournaments despite having a great side. In the 2015 ODI World Cup as well, they came agonizingly close to reaching the final but lose to the host nation New Zealand in the semi-final in the last over. It was a heartbreaking moment for a side that did so well in the tournament prior to that game. Gibson, who was the bowling coach of England earlier, said it’ll be great if the team can win the next tournament during his reign.

“I’ve learnt a lot over my years as head coach of the West Indies and in my two stints at England, I was chosen as the person to come in and take the team forward and I’m absolutely looking forward to that and getting over there,” said Ottis Gibson according to sports24.

“That was a massive part of how Cricket South Africa pitched the job. Every team wants to win a global tournament. South Africa has never won one and that’s obviously one of their big things,” added Ottis Gibson who was the coach of the Windies side when they won the T20 World Cup of 2012.

“You look at South Africa and the players they can potentially put on the field, and there is no reason why they can’t win the World Cup in 2019. That would be something great for me as a coach and also them as a country. There is a very strong sporting culture in South Africa so to do something like that would be amazing,” concluded the 48-year-old.