Albie Morkel is taking the reins as the new head coach of the Joburg Super Kings for the upcoming SA20 season. The former South African all-rounder, who logged one Test, 58 ODIs, and 50 T20Is during an eleven-year international career ending in 2015, brings a wealth of short-format experience to the role. A true veteran of the franchise circuit, Morkel amassed over 4,200 runs and claimed nearly 250 wickets across more than 300 T20 matches as a player.
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Albie Morkel is Joburg Super Kings' head coach now
Reflecting on his new role, Morkel expressed pride in transitioning from a former player in the Super Kings family to leading the squad from the dugout. He highlighted a commitment to expanding on the franchise's existing groundwork and pushing the team toward title contention in the upcoming tournament.
Albie Morkel's step up to head coach builds on a deep-rooted history with the Super Kings setup. Long remembered by fans for his impact as a player with the IPL's Chennai Super Kings, Morkel has also been an integral part of Joburg's coaching staff since the franchise was founded. Beyond his club ties, his coaching credentials include international experience as a T20 specialist consultant for both South Africa and Namibia.
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Stephen Fleming leaves Super Kings for England's Test coach role
Morkel fills the vacancy left by Stephen Fleming, who departed the Super Kings organization after being named head coach of the England men’s Test team following Brendon McCullum’s exit. With the fifth season of the SA20 scheduled to get underway on January 17, 2027, Morkel will not have to wait long for his first test, as Joburg opens their campaign the following day on January 18.
Joburg Super Kings are aiming to break a streak of near-misses as they head into the new season. After reaching back-to-back semi-finals in 2023 and 2024, Super Kings saw their campaigns cut short in the Eliminator during both the 2025 and 2026 editions. They will get another shot at playoff glory when the fifth season of the SA20 gets underway, with the Super Kings kicking off their schedule in a matchup against Paarl Royals.