During February 2016 Assupol TuksCricket bid farewell to their former Head Coach Pierre De Bruyn.  De Bruyn has accepted the coaching position as the second team Head Coach and the elite skills coach with the English County, Leicestershire.

During his time at the Club, Assupol TuksCricket achieved the following:

• Won the NCU Premier League for 5 seasons
• Won the NCU Knock Out Competition for 5 seasons
• Won the NCU T20 Competition for 3 seasons
• Won the Momentum National Club Championships for 3 years
• Won USSA for 3 years
• Won the inaugural Varsity Cricket week in 2015
• Became World Champions at the Red Bull Campus Cricket World Finals in 2014 (London, UK) and in 2015 (Dehradun, India)
• Awarded the NCU Club of Excellence Award for 5 Years
• Awarded the TuksSport Club of the Year Award for 4 years
• Awarded the TuksSport Team of the Year Award for 2 years
• Awarded the Team of the Year Award at the Gauteng Sports Awards for 2 years
• Awarded the TuksSport Coach of the Year Award for 3 years
• Awarded the Coach of the Year Award at the Gauteng Sports Awards in 2015

Under the leadership of De Bruyn, many of the TuksCricket players were able to chase their cricket dreams and take their cricket to the next level. Here is a summary of players that played representative cricket during his time at Tuks:

• 4 x Protea players in AB De Villiers, FAF Du Plessis, Morne Morkel and Albie Morkel
• 2 x Protea Women’s players in Suné Luus and Mignon Du Preez
• 1 x SA A player in Theunis De Bruyn
• 9 x SA u19 players
• 15 x Franchise players
• 27 x Senior provincial players
• 15 x SA USSA players
• 10 x Women’s Senior provincial players

His resignation is a big loss for Assupol TuksCricket, TuksSport and sport in South Africa as De Bruyn makes a difference with all he works with on and off the field.

Speaking about his decision, De Bruyn said, “I want to thank the University of Pretoria for the incredible support over the last 6 years. All these achievements were not possible without that support. It was a privilege to be part of this world class organization and my heart will always be with Tuks. As a coach, one of my main goals was to change lives and also make dreams come true – I feel that I have succeeded in doing that”.

At the TuksSport farewell function for Pierre the TuksSport Director, Mr Kobus Van Der Walt thanked Pierre for his contribution to TuksSport and wished him well for his future.

He said “What can I say about Pierre De Bruyn-the man? Always friendly, except when his team is performing below par or when some bureaucratic incident or rule drove him up the wall, self-assured in everything he does, self-confidence in his own abilities (sometimes to the frustration of colleagues), loyal to his people and to the University-he will never let you down, disciplined and a disciplinarian, mostly down to earth except when he is pushed and his inborn cockiness takes over. 
 

I have to add that when Pierre is uncertain of something he goes in fighting; always following the rule that attack is the best way to defend.
 

Pierre- we are going to miss you. We are going to miss a colleague who was always there to do what he had to do. We never had to look over your shoulder. We are also going to miss a friend. You have become a pillar of strength and knowledge to many colleagues over the years. Thank you for having added value to many people’s lives during your time at UP. 
 

Many young people have come through our system during the 16 years I have now been here. Some moved on and became part of our written history, not really leaving a lasting memory. A few moved on leaving a void that cannot easily be filled. Yes, nobody is indispensable from a work perspective, and we expect Kruger to take cricket to further heights, but the void you will be leaving is personal. For as long as any of your colleagues here today is at TuksSport, you will be remembered for the colleague you have been and for the man you are.

 
We wish you a great future and will follow your progress with keen interest. We wish you, Kerry and the kids a happy life in the UK."

Assupol TuksCricket would like to wish Pierre and his family all the best for this new chapter of their lives.