South African coach Paul Treu named Kenya Sevens rugby team head coach

By RODGERS ESHITEMI

South African coach Paul Treu is Kenya Sevens rugby team head coach

South African coach Paul Treu is Kenya Sevens rugby team head coach. The 42-year-old former Springbok coach will take up his new role by November 1. Compatriot Vuyo Zangqa has also been appointed Kenya Sevens’ attack coach, while Graham Bentz will serve as the strength and conditioning coach. Dr Karen Schwabe, who takes over as the team doctor, will take up her appointment in Nairobi on January 1. Both True and Zangqa are expected in the country immediately after the expiry of their current contract with the South African Rugby Union on October 31. According to Kenya Rugby Union Chairman Mwangi Muthee, Treu will be in charge until 2016, as Head Coach and Performance Director for an ambitious programme aimed to climax with the country’s participation in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

ABSOLUTE TARGET

Dubbed “Operation Rio”, it will be Treu’s absolute target rather than regular top placing results in the IRB (International Rugby Board) annual series. After finalising the contracts of Treu and his South African personnel stipulating monthly salaries, allowances, housing, transport, medical insurance, bonuses and other perks, Muthee said contracts of Kenyan staff who will be working alongside Treu and of the Sevens’ team players were ready for signing at the Union headquarters in Nairobi.

The immediate interim

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coach Felix Ochieng’, who recently led the team at the Gold Coast Sevens after the exit of Mike Friday, has been retained as Treu’s assistant alongside Humphrey Kayange (player/ coach), Lamech Bongeri (physiotherapist) and Steve Sewe (team manager).

SOLICIT FOR MONEY

Michael Owino and Geoffrey Kimani, Kenyan strength and conditioning practitioners, will also assist Bentz. George Odhiambo, formerly the physiotherapist for the Kenya Sevens’ team will be in charge of the national 15s team. This means that KRU will have to solicit for money to fund an enlarged Kenya Sevens’ technical bench during the IRB Series completion as the Board only caters for the 12 players and four other officials on the Circuit Series’ programme. However, Muthee defended the Union’s decision to have an expanded technical bench citing stiff competition. “We are trying as much as possible to match the technical investments by our top competitors in the IRB Circuit especially New Zealand, England, South Africa and Fiji,” he said. “It does not matter where you get that. Ask yourself, why would a country with such pedigree of success at Word Sevens like Fiji go for (Ben Ryan) an England coach,”asked Muthee.

—rokumu@standardmedia. co,ke