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Odera's stint at the helm of Kenya XV's Rugby Team was marked with highs and lows.
For former Kenya Simbas head coach Paul Odera, it may feel like a missed opportunity to have been the first coach in the history of Kenyan Rugby to help the national 15s side qualify for the Rugby World Cup, which will take place in France later this year.
Odera resigned after Simbas failed to qualify for the Rugby World Cup set to take place in France later this year following their 22-18 loss to Hong Kong at the repechage played in Dubai in November.
Odera had been at the helm of the Simbas for the last three years, but it was never all rosy. The Union, at one point even stated he had resigned, only for him to refute the statement, and it ended up in a court case where the Union had to agree to let him continue working as the head coach.
“I cannot say whether my leadership or coaching of The Simbas has been good or bad. This judgment I leave to the players I coached, my coaching staff and those who have been intimately involved with the team,” Odera said in a statement.
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“However, what I do know is that I gave everything to serve the country. I looked into the future and came up with a vision to qualify for the Rugby World Cup in France in 2023,” the coach added.
The media-friendly tactician however still believes that the side can qualify for the Rugby World Cup in 2027 if certain challenges can be overcome.
The coach was one of four Kenyan trainers who were officially licensed as World Rugby Trainers during the recently concluded Barthes Cup Trophy.
Although Kenya are only third to Namibia and South Africa in the Africa rankings, Odera says that certain challenges have always hindered the team from achieving a maiden qualification to the World Cup.
“Kenya can qualify for the world cup in 2027. It is realistic because we are only second to Namibia,” he said, “However, the challenges are many,”
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“Governance is one of the biggest challenges. You may be head coach of the team yet the person who wants to make decisions affecting the team is not a technical person.
“When you want to give direction for how the team should move forward for the next three to four years , the secretariat which should be empowered does not have the authority to make the final decision.
“There is a lot of vested interest that sometimes tries and holds way for the decision you want to make on the team. That is the biggest stumbling block.”
Odera insists that the country has a lot of natural talent with the players called up eager to learn, but describes the situation as “the biggest stumbling block”.
“ It is actually the biggest stumbling block. What stops the head coach from achieving some of his goals? If that does not change, whoever takes charge of the team will find issues.”
Simbas are currently in South Africa to take part in the Mzansi Challenge spearheaded by new head coach, Jerome Paarwater as part of their preparations to prepare a team that will qualify for the World Cup in 2027.
The former Shujaa 7s captain believes that allowing the current incumbent, Jerome Paarwater to set a culture with sustainable foundations that everyone involved in the team can buy into can be a great step in achieving that elusive World Cup dream
“ I was happy to see that quite a number of the players who were with me were picked which at least gives the team some continuity.
What is key is that the players and coach get to a level of understanding where they understand the ethos and culture of what he wants, in terms of his philosophy.
Odera also believes that the young squad needs some blend of experience in order to pass on a thing or two to the younger players.
“I saw a player like Mwajilwa(Hillary) who is 36 years old but is a very good scrummage being recalled. Maybe they are looking to blend a bit of experience into the squad.
‘The coach himself has to look and say-’this is the culture I want for the team’- because every coach is different. How I took charge of the team, we formed our mission, which was to transform Kenya through rugby.
“We had a very clear vision and a very clear culture and ethos. The new coach has to establish this. What he expects from the players. From there, the players will look at it and decide ‘this is not for me’. Others will look at it and say ‘actually, this is what we need and what we need to do moving forwards.’
“If we do that, we can achieve long-term success moving forward. I am waiting to see what the coach will do. Once that is established, I will be able to answer that question in terms of that long-term objective ”
Odera remains committed to developing the “core” of rugby at grassroots level in his work station in Gilgil, where he also doubles up as Pembroke House school deputy head master.
‘The future for me is to go back to the grassroot. I have gotten into the Gilgil Rugby development and we are looking to develop coaches, get educators and develop players. I would like to contribute to the game from the grassroots.
“The core of rugby in Kenya is the grassroots. That is what I have always done. When not with the national team, I have always been committed to developing players from that level.”
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