Rangers academy players given insight into ‘Kenyan Edge’ by elite performance coach

Rangers academy players have been given a different perspective on elite performance after sports scientist and high-performance coach Colin Thomas delivered a presentation on the training and mentality of world-class Kenyan athletes.

The session was organised as part of the academy's wider focus on developing players beyond their footballing ability, with Rangers Education Executive Carolanne Gay highlighting the importance of exposing young footballers to successful performers from other sports.

The central message was simple: “Don't just study the best footballers. Study the best performers.”

Thomas, a former coach to 2026 London Marathon winner Sebastian Sawe, spoke to Rangers' academy players about what footballers can learn from the methods used by elite Kenyan athletes.

His experience spans running, strength and conditioning and sports science, having worked with athletes at various stages of their development, including those targeting Olympic success and world records.

Looking beyond football

The Rangers academy session focused on the idea that elite performance is not solely about natural talent.

Players were encouraged to consider how athletes in completely different sporting environments approach preparation, mindset and personal development.

Among the areas covered was the development of a high-performance mindset, particularly when athletes find themselves operating in different environments.

Thomas also challenged the players to consider different definitions of success and how they can develop the characteristics required to perform at the highest level.

One of the key themes was self-awareness. The academy players were encouraged to become more independent and reflective learners, rather than relying solely on coaches to provide answers and direction.

That approach is designed to help young footballers understand their own development and take greater responsibility for their progress.

What footballers can learn from Kenyan athletes?

The presentation also explored the concept of transferable learning across sports. Rather than looking exclusively at footballers, Rangers' academy players were encouraged to study how elite performers in other disciplines prepare, cope with setbacks and ultimately achieve their goals.

Preparation was another major focus, the players were reminded that elite performers can spend considerably more time preparing than they actually spend performing.

That principle is particularly relevant to young footballers, whose development involves far more than what happens during matches.

As Gay highlighted in her LinkedIn post, the session was intended to broaden the players' horizons and challenge the sometimes narrow definition of success within academy football.

Success is about more than reaching the first team

One of the most interesting elements of the session was the discussion around how academy players define success.

For many young footballers, progression through an academy is naturally measured by whether they eventually make the first team but Rangers' education programme is encouraging players to consider development more broadly.

The academy message was that becoming a successful person and performer should not be reduced simply to reaching the Rangers first team.

Exposure to elite athletes from other sports can demonstrate that there are different routes to high performance while encouraging players to develop characteristics that will remain valuable regardless of where their football career takes them.

Thomas also emphasised the importance of learning from setbacks, with the message:

“Failure is not the opposite of success; learning from failure is often part of the process of becoming successful.”

The session ultimately encouraged Rangers' young players to become more curious.

As Gay explained, asking “What can I learn from someone who does something completely different?” can be a powerful characteristic for anyone operating in a high-performance environment.

That philosophy fits into a wider approach to academy development which seeks to produce players who are not only technically and tactically prepared, but also capable of understanding their own development.