Johannesburg – 7 August 2025:

The DP World Lions enjoyed a splendid evening at the recent Cricket South Africa Awards as we achieved the unique distinction of winning the Coach of the Year awards in both the men’s and women’s Division 1 categories.

Russell Domingo, who led our DP World Lions men’s team to the T20 Challenge title and a share of the Four-Day Cup, won the Coach of the Year award for the second season in succession, while Shaun Pretorius, who steered our ladies side to the HollywoodBets Pro50 Series crown, won the prestigious CSA award.

Both Domingo and Pretorius said it was an award which reflected on the excellence of the entire Lions Cricket Union and not just themselves.

“Obviously it’s very nice for the union for both coaching awards to go to the DP World Lions,” Domingo said. “But I have a great coaching staff and management team, it’s not just me responsible for the team’s success. They have all contributed massively, it’s not just about me. It might be my name on the trophy, but it’s not an award for me alone.

“A lot of credit must also go to the Board and CEO Jono Leaf-Wright for allowing the coaches to do things our way. We are given the responsibility and then left to our own devices. But if we need something, then our bosses always allow it and make sure we get it,” Domingo said.

The culture of excellence and team-work that pervades the DP World Wanderers Stadium is obviously also inspiring the ladies team, who claimed their first trophy since the 2022/23 season, having finished runners-up in both tournaments in 2023/24.

“To be part of history and the DP World Lions becoming the first union to win both Division 1 coaching awards in the same season is reason alone to feel really chuffed,” Pretorius said. “The magnitude of it hasn’t fully sunk in yet. It’s not just about what happens on the field, there are other dynamics at play like planning and the strategic side.

“So, I am really honoured to win the award, but it’s not for me alone, it’s for the team and the bigger management team who all greatly assisted in lifting the Pro50 trophy. To go up against Angelique Taai (Dolphins) and Claire Terblanche (WP) and win the award is phenomenal and I really appreciate all the assistance of the DP World Lions management. I also could not have done it without the support of my wife and family,” Pretorius, who will now hand over the head coach reins to Sandile Masengemi while he becomes Team Logistics and High Performance Talent Scout.

The DP World Lions also provided the national team with some of their key performers, which was duly acknowledged with three #ThePrideOfJozi superstars winning awards.

Temba Bavuma, the talismanic captain of the Proteas red-ball and ODI sides, was named the Test Player of the Season for being the leading run-scorer as he led them into the World Test Championship final, which he then played a key role in winning. Bavuma was also voted by the public as the Fans’ Player of the Year.

The equally inspirational Kagiso Rabada was voted by his colleagues as the Men’s Players’ Player of the Year for being the Proteas undisputed bowling spearhead. His protege, young Kwena Maphaka, was named T20 Challenge Player of the Season as his tournament-leading 13 wickets bowled the DP World Lions to the title. Young Jason Rowles won SAU19 Player of the Season once again showing the strength of the Pipeline and the Telkom Talent Acceleration Program.

Other noteworthy recipients, included the exciting talents of Karabo Meso and Fay Cowling as Girls Player of the Tournament of the Schools SA20 and Women’s Domestic Newcomer of the Season respectively; the Central Gauteng Lions Scorers Association named the title of Scorers Association of the Year and Buhle Bidla was awarded the Blind Cricket Player of the Year.

Following a short period of rest and the new season on the horizon, Lions Cricket will be buoyed by these well-deserved honours. Eager to level-up on their domestic dominance for the 2025/26 season, the people of the Pride will come out fierce and in full force in the boardroom, beyond the boundaries and with bat and ball in hand.