National 7s coach and technical team unveiled

By ERICK OCHIENG’

New National 7s Coach Paul Treu (left) with members of the technical bench after being unveiled yesterday. [PHOTO: JENNIFER WACHIE / STANDARD]

“It’s Operation Rio,” the new Kenya Rugby Sevens Head coach, Paul Treu, who was unveiled by the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) in Nairobi on Wednesday declared.

The former South African national rugby team coach said he wants to make Kenya the best team in the world and among his grand objectives is to lead Kenya to the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics in Brazil.

 “Making it to Brazil will be the benchmark of my success for now while winning the International Rugby Board (IRB) Series will be an added feather to my cup,” he says.

Treu, who will earn Sh1 million per month in the three-year contract with the KRU, said ‘Operation Rio’ commenced on Wednesday morning where he met and assessed some of his charges.

“The operation will only conclude after the much-awaited Olympic Games. My strategic objectives include a ‘Must Qualify’ approach for our Sevens team to the Olympics. We intend to be one of the contenders for a medal at the games.”

Apart from the Olympics and the IRB Series contests, Treu says his other mandate will be establishing a Kenya  Sevens Academy and improving coaching capacity throughout the country.

“Part of my mid-term plan will be to establish a full time National Sevens squad with the help of coaches I will try to build, which should be ready by 2015.”

Treu says with the help of sponsors like Kenya Airways who will be renewing their contract with KRU in the coming weeks, he will recruit a technical team and playing squad of his choice that has the ability to bring results.

The new coach congratulated his assistant Felix ‘Toti’ Ochieng’ for handling the national team with dignity in the Gold Coast leg that ended last month in Australia.

Treu assured that, together with Ochieng’, they will lead Kenya to a respectable finish in the coming second leg slated for Dubai on November 29-30 and the third leg in South Africa on December 7-8.

“I am looking forward to winning my first leg in Dubai. I am confident that we will tackle big teams ahead of us though I cannot promise which level that I want the team to finish,” said Treu, adding that he will tackle each match and tournament one at a time.

Treu predicts that Dubai will be a tough leg and there is need for desire, faith, commitment, consistency confidence and focus in the team so as to display a solid game.

The South African who was linked with a move to England and other European teams says he chose Kenya because of the long term strategy he has for the game.

“Kenya is a special country. Kenya has potential to grow. Kenya is a medal contender. I chose Kenya because KRU has a belief in me. Kenyan players are humble and hungry for a win,” he says.

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