Derek Chiwara

Zimbabwean Derek Chiwara, 40, joined the charity in 2016. He is a rugby coach at Old Georgians RFC and St John’s College. He played rugby and cricket from the age of 8 when his passion for sports began. He retired from playing in 2011 to concentrate on coaching. Derek has World Rugby level 2 rugby coaching and level 1 7s coaching qualifications.

Derek learned to value the athlete and appreciate his or her input on the field. He talks about the enthusiasm of the children he coached and their inspirational willingness to learn.

“I was privileged to meet a lovely group of coaches with whom I worked in Malawi and Zambia. Each and every coach was special in their own way. I learnt a lot of valuable things from them and became to understand how they operated (coaching children) and was amazed by their professionalism. We created a ‘family bond’ that still exists today.”

“Working with kids from different backgrounds and those of different abilities has had a direct impact on my life and how I relate and operate as a coach.”