Kingswood was honoured to welcome South African cricketing legend Gary Kirsten on to campus for several sessions with staff, pupils as well as parents.

Kingswood was privileged to welcome cricketing legend and world-renowned coach Gary Kirsten to campus last week. His thought-provoking sessions with our pupils, parents, and coaches challenged us to rethink our approach to school sport—emphasising learning over performance, enjoyment over pressure, and the crucial role of both parents and coaches in supporting young athletes.

Gary facilitated two impactful sessions during his visit. Firstly, he led a coaches’ workshop with coaches from all sporting codes at Kingswood, where we explored the fundamental question: What is coaching? Later that evening, he delivered an engaging talk on “Parenting in Sport” at the Wyvern, open to Kingswood parents. Through both of these talks, he emphasised the importance of building strong relationships, staying curious, and ultimately helping our young players become the best they can be, on and off the field.

Through his personal journey as a cricketer, coach, and parent, Gary shared invaluable insights into mentorship, resilience, and the power of sport in shaping young lives. His message was clear: school sport is about preparation, not just performance—a place where children should be free to grow, develop confidence, and most importantly, enjoy the game.

Kingswood is proud to be a CoachEd Cricket partner, through the Gary Kirsten Cricket Academy. We also value our connection through the Young Warriors Cricket Development Programme, which provides opportunities for aspiring coaches and cricketers from local Makhanda schools: George Dickerson, St Mary’s, and Grahamstown Primary.

This programme, supported by the Gary Kirsten Cricket Foundation through the Catch Trust, is also backed by Rhodes University’s Human Kinetics & Ergonomics (HKE) Department and the Rhodes University Community Engagement (RUCE) Office.

Thank you, Gary, for your time, passion, and commitment to developing the next generation of players and coaches—both on and off the field!