Rugby - Local coaches get valuable skills, techniques for better delivery |09 April 2022

Local coaches and players going through the drills yesterday

Following great interest among local kids, especially after the addition of rugby to the list of sporting disciplines of the 12th Games of the Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l'Océan Indien (CJSOI) scheduled between December 4-11, 2022 in Mauritius, the local rugby association is boosting up the ability of the trainers to better deliver in terms of coaching skills.

Renowned South African coach Donald Ngwenya of the Kwa-Zulu Natal Rugby Union is presently in the country to assess the ability of local coaches, while providing them with extra baggage to boost their performances, in term of coaching skills and delivery.

In a coaching clinic yesterday at the Roche Caïman playing field, coach Ngwenya, along with his compatriot Dwayne Viljoen, met local coaches to motivate them and also to help improve the abilities of their players, through the creation of a safe and positive learning environment, along with the delivery of age and stage appropriate coaching.

With the new season approaching, beginning with a tournament today at Stad Popiler, the coaches garnered valuable skills and coaching techniques, while also having fun in the company of the South African experts.

Leon de Wit, coaching coordinator for the Seychelles Rugby Association said the clinic was very vital in boosting the ability of the coaches, especially the knowledge and the depth that the pair brought in.

He said the clinic will definitely help them to change their thinking about the way they used to do things, especially their capacity to handle a large group of players with a small number of coaches.

Coach Ngwenya holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and a Sports Management Diploma from the University of Johannesburg but more importantly he has over 20 years of coaching experience under his belt.

He started his career in the classroom as a teacher, before progressing as a coach, development officer and development manager where he oversaw the coaching and financial structures at about 30 little development club projects.

He has also been involved in coaching at a provincial level as well as with the SA Schools, SA under-19 and SA under-20 teams.

Roland Duval