Born on the 18th June 1966, Jerome Paarwater stands a commanding 6 ft 2 inches tall. He is from a training session with the Kenya 15s at the Barclays Sports Club. He had just flown in that morning, gone straight to training and now was getting ready to chair a Management meeting of the technical bench. I say a quick hello and put in my request for an interview for The Flip Side. He agrees to a lunch meeting.
The Kenya 15s Assistant coach Paul Murunga and the team Manager Leonard Wangila accompany us to lunch. Its a laughter filled ride all the way to Dagoretti Corner. The sweet aroma of the Nyama Choma gets our mouths watering. We place our order and move to sit in the restaurant.
Jerome Paarwater has been a common face around Kenya Rugby Union. He came in as a volunteer coach and his efforts paid off when in March 2013 he was confirmed as Head Coach of the Kenya 15s National team.
When did you fall in love with rugby?
Jerome: Wow! I guess since birth. I was born into a rugby crazy family hence impossible for me not to love the sport.I started playing rugby at the age of 6. I have 6 brothers who all played for Bellville RFC, a club founded by my father during the apartheid era. All of them played provincial rugby and are still involved in rugby activities. We pride ourselves in having the only rugby stadium named after a woman baring our mother’s name- Rozina Paarwater Stadium in Cape Town.
What is your 2nd choice of Sport after rugby?
Jerome: Golf
What is your inspiration for your work?
Jerome: My family, my lady and my 2 children.
What are your hobbies?
Jerome: I love reading sports journals and autobiographies. I’m currently reading Autobiographies of Usain Bolt and Alex Ferguson. I also enjoy spending time with my family. We are love the outdoors hence enjoy hiking and exploration.
What’s your favorite food?
Jerome: Pasta.
What’s your favourite colour?
Jerome: Blue and White- Colours of Western Province.
To matters rugby now. What would you say was the highlight of your playing career?
Jerome: The 1st time I played for Western Province in 1989. Memorably too was touring Fiji, Tonga and Samoa with the Boks.
What is your expectation as a coach?
Jerome: My greatest satisfaction is my players getting to play for the Springboks. In Kenya, I aim to bring out the best in every player,nurturing brotherhood in teamwork to win games.
What would you describe as the highlight of your coaching career?
Jerome: I’m still coaching Yvonne, far from retiring hence I’m yet to experience it all! [light laugh] . Still I have some moments worth the mention;
The 2009 tour of England, France and Italy with the mid-week Boks [Team 2 of the Boks]; Coaching Vaidana RFC [Italian team] in the Heinekken Cup with from 2000-2003.
It can’t go without mentioning, winning the CAR 2013 with the Kenya 15s was a defining moment for me too. Kenya is widely known for 7s, I aim to work towards improvement of the 15s version of the game too.
What do you think of Kenya’s participation in the Vodacom Cup in 2014?
Jerome: It is the much needed competition ahead of the Rugby World Cup Qualifiers in June. It provides an avenue for exposure for our players.
You are a coach at Western Province, one of the teams pooled alongside Kenya in the Vodacom Cup. What are your expectations?
Jerome: I expect nothing short of the best from both teams. Each has a different x-factor so it will be a mouthwatering clash!
Namibia Rugby Union made a cautionary remark about Kenya’s participation in the Vodacom Cup, warning of injuries. What is your response to this?
Jerome: Namibia’s participation in the Vodacom Cup improved their overall performance in 15s. I would understand why they would be ‘scared’ of Kenya participating in the Vodacom Cup.
What is the mood at the Kenya 15s Camp?
Jerome: The boys are looking forward to the challenge ahead and seem to be generally excited. There’s passion in their eyes and its my belief they are up to the task ahead.
The waiter serves our nyama choma and I guess that marks the end of our interview!
