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Much-loved ACL cricketer Chathura Athukorala will take over the club's coaching reins next season.
With coach of four seasons, John Kedey, unsure on his cricketing future, the 36-year-old affectionately known as 'Chooka' steps into a senior coaching role for the first time.
"John resigned half way through the season so everyone knew there was a vacancy," Athukorala said.
"Then the club gave me the opportunity and offered if I would like to do this and I put my hand up.
"This is my 10th cricket season in Australia for league cricket and I've never been a coach, always an assistant coach and captain or vice-captain so this is the first time as coach."
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
Joining the Bluebacks after moving to Tasmania in 2017, the bowling all-rounder began his journey in Sri Lanka, playing first-class cricket before relocating to Melbourne in 2011 where he played seven seasons for Mordialloc Cricket Club.
Contributing 848 runs, 30 wickets and three seasons to ACL, he now takes the leading role in steering the club in a positive direction.
"Year by year in the last few seasons we've improved our level in TCL cricket but we need to go one more step. It's not easy but we are processing the things needed and it will come one day."
Outgoing coach Kedey said the transitional change was a while in the making.
"The plan for me was, I did retire from NTCA cricket almost 10 years ago now and there is a lure to go back to my home club at Westbury where I am a life member but that decision isn't finally made yet as we wait to see what happens here at ACL," Kedey said.
"I think there just comes a time as a coach when there needs to be a new change, new direction."
Arriving at the club in 2015-16, the year they got promoted into the TCL's premier league competition, Kedey has steered his side to a T20 grand final as well as two preliminary finals and now believes that Athukorala is the man to take them to greater heights.
"I've got every confidence in Chathura to succeed in the coaching world. What he has is a quiet determination - he's such a very good-natured fellow, he's a terrific human being and well loved and respected at our club.
"He has a real inner want to win and way to succeed and he'll do that in the right way and that's what I really love about Chooka because of his ethics and way he goes about his cricket.
"Hopefully if he can get his body right as well and be able to contribute with both bat and ball to the best of his abilities, that will go a long way to determining the club's success going forward."
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