Malibongwe Maketa Joins Bangladesh as Assistant Coach
Malibongwe Maketa Gets Two-Year Bangladesh Contract
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has appointed Malibongwe Maketa as the new assistant coach of the Bangladesh men’s national cricket team. His contract runs from October 2026 until November 2028, with the 46-year-old set to join the team’s coaching setup in the UAE.
Maketa replaces Mohammad Salahuddin, who was recently appointed head coach of the BCB’s High Performance programme. His arrival gives head coach Phil Simmons another experienced coach as Bangladesh continues to build its national setup around a young squad.
Malibongwe Maketa Brings South Africa Experience
Maketa is a Cricket South Africa Level 4-qualified coach with more than two decades of experience across domestic, international and high-performance cricket. His previous positions include assistant coach of the South African men’s team, head coach of South Africa A and South Africa Under-19, National Academy head coach and Warriors franchise head coach.
His international experience includes a stint as South Africa’s assistant coach from 2017 to 2019. He was part of the Proteas coaching staff at the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup in England and was involved in successful Test campaigns against Australia and India, along with bilateral series victories over Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
A Strong Record With Young Players
One of Maketa’s biggest strengths is his experience in developing emerging cricketers. His work with South Africa A, South Africa Under-19 and the National Academy has involved preparing young players for the demands of international cricket. He has also worked across all three formats at franchise and provincial level.
More recently, Maketa served as head coach of South Africa Under-19 and the National Academy. He also guided South Africa Emerging to the CSA One-Day Cup Division 2 title in the 2023-24 season and previously took South Africa Under-19 to the semi-finals of the ICC Under-19 World Cup.
Why Bangladesh Turned to Maketa
Maketa’s appointment comes at an important stage for Bangladesh cricket. The team has a young group of players, and the BCB is bringing in a coach whose career has included both international preparation and long-term player development.
Maketa himself highlighted that aspect after accepting the role. He said he was grateful for the confidence shown by the BCB and was looking forward to working with Phil Simmons and the rest of the coaching staff to bring out the best in Bangladesh’s players and support their development.
His experience could also prove valuable ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming international commitments. The new assistant coach will join the squad in the United Arab Emirates for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, followed by an ODI tri-series involving Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.
Malibongwe Maketa Joins Before South Africa Tour
The timing of the appointment is particularly interesting because Bangladesh are scheduled to tour South Africa later this year for a full series. Maketa’s knowledge of South African conditions, cricket structures and players could therefore provide additional insight when Bangladesh travel there.
Beyond the immediate fixtures, Maketa’s two-year contract also covers a significant period for Bangladesh cricket. With the 2027 ODI World Cup approaching, his experience in international preparation and developing younger players could become an important part of the team’s longer-term planning.
A New Chapter With Bangladesh
For Maketa, the Bangladesh role marks a return to senior international coaching after extensive work with South Africa’s development system. For Bangladesh, it represents the addition of a coach who combines international experience with a strong background in developing emerging talent.
With Phil Simmons continuing as head coach, Maketa will now begin work with a Bangladesh side looking to turn its young talent into a stronger and more consistent international team.
