KAMPALA, Uganda – Kenya’s rugby coach Jerome Paarwater has always drawn inspiration from his best friend, the late famous Springbok Chester Williams.
They grew up together, became teammates for their native Western Province, and coached together post-playing days.
Williams – the only non-white player in the South Africa team that won its first World Cup title in 1995 – was naturally the more popular one among his group of friends. But then affable Chester just wanted to be a regular guy around those in his personal circle.
His friends absolutely adored him, and wanted to follow in his footsteps.
So when the Kenya Rugby Union approached Paarwater in 2012 to become the country’s head coach, the South African’s decision was a complete no-brainer.
His best buddy Chester, who died from a heart attack in 2019 at the age of 49, had worked in this part of the continent before.
Williams briefly coached Uganda back in 2006, guiding a then emerging Cranes team to shock World Cup qualifier wins over Kenya and Ivory Coast.
Paarwater is in his second spell in charge of Kenya, who have continued to show faith in his coaching abilities despite Kenya’s s 20-12 defeat to Algeria in the Rugby Africa Cup semi-finals here in Kampala on Wednesday, Juy 24.
Williams blazed a trail in the modern era of international rugby, going up the continent to share his knowledge. Now, more coaches from Africa’s record World Cup-winning nation are taking up offers to uplift standards across the continent.
Former Springbok coach Allister Coetzee is Namibia’s current head coach. Interestingly, Coetzee worked alongside Gert Smal as South Africa’s assistant coaches under Jake White, winning the World Cup together in 2007.
Smal is also in Uganda for the Africa Cup, as a coaching consultant for Zimbabwe.
So the men who experienced the high of winning the World Cup, under the same flag, found themselves on the opposite side for the first time at Test level.
Zimbabwe – who also have other South African experts on their bench – defeated Namibia 32-10 in the other semi-final to set up a final showdown with Algeria.
“I think South African coaches or (provincial rugby) unions are not afraid to help,” Paarwater tells Rugby Africa.
“If teams ask, they are willing to help. I think Kenya have been fortunate with the partnership that they have had with Western Province since 2012. The Kenya Rugby Union chairman back then, Mwangi Muthee, came and asked for assistance. Ever since then, I think a lot of teams have followed what Kenya was doing, going to other provinces. I know
of the last one when Uganda went to the Bulls (a 10-day training camp at Blue Bulls before the 2024 Africa Cup). And I know Zimbabwe is always in South Africa, in Cape Town, getting a lot of assistance.”
Paarwater, who was re-hired by Kenya in 2023 after he left in 2017, has been greeted with a higher standard of play in African rugby on his return.
“I’ve been involved in Kenya rugby since 2012, and being involved in various tournaments. The standards have definitely have improved. Teams are focused and putting in a lot of work to qualify for the next World Cup,” he comments.
“And you can also see the quality of the coaches that are here. I’ve coached with Allister Coetzee, who has coached the Springboks. I’ve coached with Gert Smal at Western Province and Stormers level. It has definitely made a difference. Look, just observe how the guys play, and the way they prepare for the games. You can see that the teams are serious, you can also see the discipline on the field.”
The 2024 Rugby Africa Cup, which has been highly entertaining, ends here on Sunday, July 20.
To Purchase Tickets: https://rugbyafricacup.ticket.ug/
Written by Enock Muchinjo
Media Contact:
Nicole Vervelde
