Allison Johnson has spent the better part of 35 years in South Africa, but he says there will be no divided loyalties when he leads the West Indies at the Over-50 World Cup.

The 59-year-old former fast bowler, who played two First-Class and three List A games for Barbados and represented his country at the COVID-shortened 2020 Over-50s World Cup, will coach the Islanders at the tournament, which will again be sponsored by Evergreen Lifestyle.

Johnson currently coaches Claremont, the reigning Ama20 Competition champions, and says he is now looking forward to the challenge with the Windies, who only arrived in the country on Friday and have had just two training sessions ahead of their opening game against Canada on Monday.

“No, I don’t really have any conflicting feelings [about potentially coaching the West Indies against the Proteas Veterans],” he says.

“Quite obviously I’ll always have a soft spot for South Africa because I’ve been here for such a long time, but at the end of the day I’m a West Indian and I’m looking forward to spending time with the guys.

“It’s very important for us as a team to compete, and if we can get into the top four that will be a huge bonus. It goes without saying that the West Indies have come to this tournament to win it – if we compete we can do well, and if we can do well we can lift the trophy.”

And who does Johnson see as the Windies’ biggest rivals?

“South Africa are a very good side and are playing at home,” he says. “I have a lot of good mates in the team as well. The Australians … last time they were here they looked decent, and then Zimbabwe with the Goodwin brothers, you can have a look at them as well.”