“I was fortunate enough to be involved at every level of the sport…..

Getting to know Runeshan Moodley.

The appointment of a new coach often comes with a few other appointments to complete the coaching staff. Even with the Proteas’ appointments being 2 coaches as opposed to 1, things have not been any different.

Former SA U/19 coach, Shukri Conrad, after being appointed as
the Proteas Test coach, has assembled his support staff which involves someone he would have worked with when he was U19 coach, Runeshan Moodley.

Moodles, as known to many, is not someone many avid cricket fans would know. Not many people take note of who the Strength and Conditioning coach of a team is.

I got the opportunity to interview Moodles for Cricket fanatics. We had a chat about who Moodles is, where comes from and a few other interesting facts about him.

Born in East London in 1984, Runeshan Moodley relocated to Gqeberha, then Port Elizabeth in 1995 where he attended Muir College Boys High School. A prestigious boy’s college in Uitenhage.

He then matriculated in 2002 and enrolled in BHMS (Bachelor of Human Movement Science) in 2003 at Nelson Mandela University.

Moodles’ involvement in cricket is not something he picked up along the way but something that has always been part of his life.

“Cricket has always been part of our family growing up and I played throughout school representing the 1st XI at Muir between 1999-2002.”

Having represented EP U17, UP U18B, UPE and NMMU premier leagues as well as attending one USSA week, Moodles has definitely had his fair share as a player.

Moodles says cricket has always been a big part of his family and this is where his passion for the game started.

Even though his goal was always to go the Biokineticist/S&C route, Moodles' knowledge of cricket that he gained through his involvement as a player and coach was always going to pave the way for him.

 “When I started studying, it was always my goal to be involved in some sort of sport as a Biokineticist/S&C. I was initially focussing on rugby but had more knowledge of the game of cricket and focussed on that.”

Having coached Muir College’s 1st XI between 2009 and 2013 where he was also head of sport, his passion for the game of cricket continued to grow along with his experience.

Mr Moodley credits part of his growth to former Madibaz Cricket manager, Mr R Osman. “Cricket provided me with a clear path for growth and working under Riaan Osman at NMMU was integral to my career going forward.”

Mr Osman approached him and asked him to head up the conditioning for Madibaz cricket and hockey, this is where Moodles began to zone in on cricket.

“This is where I started focussing on one sport and delving deeper into the demands of the game and what is required at the highest level.”

If there is one thing to learn from Moodles is his ability to seize the moment.

Having always wanted a cricket career, even if it was not as a player, Moodles saw an opportunity within the game and made sure that he grabbed the opportunity with both hands and never looked back.

 He may not have had the opportunity to make it as a player in cricket but he knew he had the opportunity to make it as an S&C and hence we are here today.

The level of knowledge and understanding of cricket that he has, together with his coaching knowledge, makes him easy to want
by your side as a coach.

 “The game continues to evolve and S&C coaches have become an integral part of any high-performance setup. This allowed me to get more involved in S&C work to make a career out of it.

"Biokinetics is seen as a luxury to the average person and can be a costly exercise when doing rehab. Working as a S&C allowed me to practice my Bio principles and enhance players' abilities through conditioning. I saw this gap in the field and put all my eggs in one basket to give it a full crack.”

Moodles’ journey to Proteas support staff:

2015-2017 – NMU Madibaz Cricket team and attended various Varsity Cups and USSA weeks
2016 – Started assisting the EP Senior Provincial team for their home games under Piet Botha who has also played a vital role in my development as an S&C.
2017 – 1st SA U19 appointment for the incoming series against England
2018 – U19 World Cup in New Zealand and employed full-time as the S&C/Assistant coach for the EP Senior provincial team and toured England with SA U19
2018-2020 – – EP Senior Provincial team & SA U19 tours to India and inbound series against Pakistan
2021-2023 – EP Warriors S&C under coach Robin Peterson
2023 – Proteas Men S&C

Moodles has worked at the Varsity level with Madibaz Cricket and at a professional level with EP, Warriors and now the Proteas.

He explains the difference between working with university athletes and professional athletes.

“One of my philosophies revolves around the principles of S&C will always remain the same and how you approach and program it will differ between the levels of the sport.

"I was fortunate enough to be involved at every level of the sport and each level has taught me certain things that I still practice today.

"Working with varsity athletes was probably the most enjoyable part
while I was there. The group of cricketers we had under Mr Osman and head coach Baakier Abrahams, were open to learning and always had a high-performance feel about it. We strived to create a performance environment, and this stood me in good stead going forward.

"Students can be a challenge at times but my relationships with them allowed me to gain maximum buy-in from them which also allowed me to grow.

"There are not many changes in the professional setup. Mainly how you manage players is the most important change. Roles in the management team in a pro setup are more defined so the focus can be solely on your role.

"Conditioning becomes more of a focus at the pro level as the players are involved in various formats. Cricket will always be a skills game but it’s your conditioning that will determine how effectively you can perform your skill at the required intensity.

"The easiest part about the pro setup is that the players are available at all times and conditioning blocks are easier to administer.”

Being an S&C coach much like any other job is no child’s play and Moodles believes that being able to treat the person before the player is very important.

He believes that this is key in building relationships with players to understand how they operate and to know how to approach them.

Keeping up with the evolution of the game so that you are on track with what the game requires from an S&C.

Moodles added, “I am a level II coach (since 2010). This allowed me to
think like a coach and use my conditioning experience to get the best platform for players. I have always assisted with fielding sessions, throwing in nets etc.

"Being able to assist with these skills in the modern game is so important in a multi-disciplinary team, it sort of makes you more employable if I could explain it like that. It also provides the coaches with some confidence in that they can allow me to look after my own space.

"Being able to carry out these skills has almost become standard
practice with S&Cs around the world.”

For him, it was never just about being an S&C coach but about being an S&C that brings change and that has strong knowledge about the sport that they are involved in.

We often see coaches work their way up the coaching ladder, but Mr Moodley’s story is testimony that S&Cs also work their way up. His story is a testimony of hard work, dedication, passion and patience.

A word from Runeshan Moodley to aspiring S&Cs:

“Get to know the game – be passionate. Get the necessary qualifications, put your head down and work – sometimes it might have to be unpaid but there is never a cost to gaining experience. Try not to skip levels as the lessons and traits you learn at each level will assist you when you get to the top. Always keep learning.”