@OfficialKRU unleash Operation Rio: November 5, 2013 Good morning. WE are here to welcome to Kenya, Paul Treu, a rugby man who hardly requires introduction. He is a much revered coach, who for the past eight years was in charge of the high performing South Africa Sevens national rugby team -- the Blitzbokke. Paul Treu is a winner who led South Africa to overall victory in the 2008/2009 HSBC Sevens World Series. He is now our National Sevens Head Coach and Performance Director of a programme with a clear objective for a bright future for Kenya rugby. Initially, together with compatriots in his technical bench, including VuyoZangqa, Graham Bentz and Dr Karen Schwabe, plus another team of Kenyans, Paul Treu will be in charge of “Operation Rio”. “Operation Rio” starts now and concludes in 2016, after the Olympic Games of that year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Our strategic objectives include a “Must Qualify” of our Kenya Sevens team for the Rio Olympics. We intend to be one of the contenders for a medal at those games if not the country’s only team sport entry. Hopefully, our very world-class women’s volleyball team will be there, too! Apart for taking us to Rio and winning a medal there, Paul Treu’s other mandate in this country in the next three years includes also establishing a Sevens Academy, improving coaching coaching capacity throughout Kenya and establishing a fulltime National Sevens squad by 2015. We know he is a man equal to the task. We are also an appreciative nation. Paul Treu’s predecessors were Mike Friday and Chris Brown whose performance was applauded. Paul Treu can also rest assured of the nation’s support and gratitude during his tenure. Paul Treu will be able to recruit a technical team and playing squad of his choice because our sponsors, Kenya Airways, have made that possible. We thank Dr Titus Naikuni, the CEO of Kenya Airways for the improved deal that will make our financial commitment to “Operation Rio” viable. When Paul Treu gets down to work, let me also assure every Kenyan rugby player and emerging youthful talent that we have the kind of Head Coach who will pick the best, the most deserving. All one needs to do is: Work hard and smart. You have an equal chance; you will not be intimidated. I will let you in on some news to be announced in detail later. We have now improved wages for our players of three categories; Top-tier, 2nd Tier and Academy Tier. For the players in the Top Tier the salaries will be good enough that one can be able to even take full-time off or sabbatical from work or college study to play full-time rugby. Those details will soon be unfolding. Let me at this juncture say a few words of sincere thanks to several Key institutions and individuals. First, to the South African Rugby Union [SARU]. We received great co-operation from SARU President, Oregan Hoskins, when we were negotiating the hire of Paul Treu and Vuyo Zangqa where contracted by SARU. Secondly, to Western Province Rugby Union and its President, Thelo Wakefield for what they are doing for a full XV National Team. They have already enabled the team to train in Western Province and assisted us in acquiring top class coaching. Thirdly, to our own Government and especially President Uhuru Kenyatta whose full backing to the game has been a tremendous boost in the past months. We indeed would like to inform Paul Treu that our President is one of the most ardent fan of the game and that he watches and will be watching, every move by the team during the HSBC series. To our ambitious and aspiring local coaches and strength and body conditioning experts, I wish to inform them that they will be able to learn under Paul Treu’s programme and the KRU will make plans for their following the programme so that we can have a useful technical transfer to a our country for posterity. Later on, we are hoping to beef up Paul Treu’s bench of expertise with more personnel that he will recommend. We shall partner with institutes of higher learning and hospitals such as Kenyatta University, Strathmore University, Kenya Sports Academy, Nairobi Hospital and Kijabe Hospital in order to build a national support for sports science, nutrition and analysis to beneft other sports disciplines in the country. Finally, I would also like to acknowledge the immense contribution of our other partners including: *International Rugby Board, Brookhouse Schools, Braeburn Schools, Coca Cola & Dasani, Garmin (a Global Positioning System firm), Samurai, and the Australian High Commission (who have waived visa fees in the past for the Gold Coast 7s leg). Thank you very much. Mwangi Muthee, Chairman, Kenya Rugby Union ~KRU Media & Communications
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 07:28:15 +0000
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