Odera returns to Simbas as head coach following changes to technical bench
May 30, 2019
2 min read
With the close of the regular fifteen a side season, the Kenya Rugby Union has announced a new technical team to manage The Simbas for the upcoming 2019 assignments.
Paul Odera, currently the head coach for Chipu – the under-20 national side that recently qualified for the Junior World Rugby tournament for the second time, becomes the head coach for the second time having been first appointed in 2009.
The Peponi School teacher holds a World Rugby Level three coaching certificate is also a World Rugby coach educator.
His technical team shall comprise Jimmy Mnene (Team Manager), Ben Mahinda (Team Physiotherapist), Edwin Boit (Team Analyst), Michael Owino (Strength and Conditioning Coach) and Albertus Van Buuren (Backs Coach).
Jimmy and Michael have worked together with Odera for the last four years at the management of Chipu.
Mahinda on the other hand has been part of the Lionesses technical team, while Boit has worked with Chipu and Simbas in previous assignments providing comprehensive analysis of each player’s statistics after training sessions and matches.
Albertus played in the Super Rugby back in 1996 before moving to New Zealand. He has coached Lenana School and is currently the Director of Sport at Crawford International School.
Odera’s philosophy is centered on accountability, mutual understanding and passion. Supported with resilience, discipline and a desire to contribute to others both on and off the field.
The teams he coaches are typified as being disciplined, intelligent, well organized, skillful and creative as witnessed with Chipu.
He has 20 years’ experience coaching in Independent Schools in Kenya, South Africa and New Zealand.
With the cancellation of the 2019 Rugby Africa Gold Cup competition, the team does not have many fixtures and the Union is working hard to fill the calendar.
The confirmed games for this season so far are Elgon Cup matches against Uganda on the 22nd of June in Kisumu and on 13th July in Kampala, Uganda.
On Saturday 1st June, KRU will hold trials at the RFUEA Grounds to select the provisional Simbas squad that will represent Kenya in the 2019 Elgon Cup fixtures.
Other matches will be confirmed as the international season continues. The Union is keen to revive the Victoria Cup to fill the gap left by the cancellation of the Gold Cup.
