Local cricketer picks up new role with new team
Dustin Emms-Healey is well known in the local cricket community as a player, coach, community cricket coordinator and indoor cricket club president and will be adding to his accolades as he enters a new role as head coach for the Central Districts Wahine team. Photo: Barry Whitnall/Shuttersport.
Local Dustin Emms-Healey has the biggest appointment of his cricketing career after being named as head coach of the Central Districts Wahine team.
Having played for Central Districts earlier in the year at the inaugural national Māori tournament, he says he was shoulder tapped to take charge of the women’s team ahead of the New Zealand Cricket Māori women’s nationals (Te Whakataetae Kirikiti Māori ā-Motu mō ngā Wāhine) as a three-day T20 tournament.
Being a part of the men’s tournament was an eye-opener, he says he’s looking forward to giving the women a chance to follow in the same footsteps.
“To have a place is special. What it meant to play the sport you love in tikanga and Te ao Māori.
“It’s a place where not only being Maori is encouraged, it’s celebrated and cherished.
“Tikanga is paramount, keeping to the spirit of cricket and keeping our tikanga strong.”
Dustin says he’s more excited and nervous about the coaching prospect
“I’m only there coaching for three days, I’m not going to give them any secret shots or something, that’s not why I’m here.
“It’s a launching point, to create that environment where they’re going to have fun.
“I’m extremely excited, not for me but for the kaupapa and the girls.”
Having never coached adults before, he says the appointment has to be his highest coaching accolade.
But he’s still experienced, having co-coached the Nelson U15 representative side as well as numerous junior and college grade teams.
“I’ve been a captain and a leader for a long time. I know what it takes to bring people together and I’m excited to get the girls together.”