As a player, Dennis Mwanja popularly known as Iron Man for his hard running style, crunching tackles and never-say-die approach to the shorter version of the game always wanted to play at the highest level.

At the time, Kenya were just making their presence felt in the then International Rugby Board Sevens Series. The allure was to play against some of the top teams such as New Zealand, England, Scotland, Australia, Wales, Fiji who had a good sprinkle of star players they had only watched on TV.

Mwanja retired from the game and has since been elevated to another role as coach of Kenya Lionesses, the women’s rugby team which is on the verge of making history. The team will be in action in Krakow, Poland for the third and penultimate round of the World Rugby Challenger Series where the top eight teams in the men’s and women’s category will battle for the top four slots.

Top Teams

The top four teams shall proceed to Los Angeles, California next month to play against the teams that finished in the bottom half of the recently concluded league stage of the World Rugby Sevens World Series.

In a winner takes it all scenario the top two teams in each pool shall be promoted to next season’s World Rugby Sevens Series as a core team.

Kenya Lionesses are the top seeds after achieving a rare feat by winning the opening two tournaments in Cape Town, South Africa. Mwanja has been inspiring this team of believers by sharing what it takes to compete at the elite stage.

Personal Journey

By sharing his personal journey, Kenya Lionesses have set their sights on qualifying for the play-off in LA and eventually earning a core team status. In an interview with SNA, Mwanja explained to the players that the priority at the moment seems to favor the men’s team Shujaa. “It has been hard despite our achievements to change this notation,” the coach admitted.

His silver lining comes from a resolve of the players to deliver on the pitch. “Players have told me of their ambition to move to the next level,” Mwanja revealed and added in a more emphatic Kiswahili word: Wamechoka! They’re tired. Mwanja often defaults to Kiswahili to clarify their mission.

At the Africa Sevens championships, he had predicted/charted the ‘arrest’ of South Africa women’s team at home. Arrest, to those who are conversant with the military language/expressions  loosely translates to ‘tutawakamata’.

Pool A Draw

Kenya has been drawn in Pool A with Colombia, Thailand and a late replacement Belgium who were slotted in after Uganda withdrew to have some players in the seven’s team called up to the 15’s team for the Africa Women’s championship in Ivory Coast.

Mwanja was disappointed by Uganda’s withdrawal but reflected on the challenge in Poland by stating the two tournaments in Cape Town were a building block towards this weekend’s event. “Every match we have played has been a building block for the next phase of the competition,” Mwanja explained. He added, “it will be tough in Poland because we have won twice in South Africa.”

This is where his experience, inspiration and expertise kicks in by encouraging the players to believe in their potential. Some of the players also relish to face prime players in the core team with the likes of Australia’s Maddison Levi and New Zealand’s Michaela Brake as a role models.

Statement Performance

After their statement performance in Cape Town, rugby commentators said Kenya Lionesses appeared to be a force that cannot be stopped especially after beating South Africa twice who have a similar technical bench.

Renfred Dazel and Cecil Africa, the coach and assistant of the South Africa women’s team played against Mwanja in the World Series. It would be exciting to have two African teams proceeding to LA with a possibility of South Africa and Kenya becoming core teams. The bottom teams from he Series they will face are Brazil, China, Spain and Ireland.  

Remembering Scars

Mwanja remembers the scars that have catapulted Kenya Lionesses to the limelight beginning with a loss at the Africa championship in Tunisia and later in Ghana. One of the biggest challenges for Kenya Lionesses has been lack of resources and the player’s allowances have been often delayed for as much as one year!

“We deserve a reward for our resilience and achievements,” Mwanja states. “The players have been attentive and buying into the ideas of the technical bench,” the coach added. His assistant Simon Odongo who as moved through the ranks has been playing a crucial role in the team.

Organic Inspiration

Before the team boarded their flight to South Africa, Kenya Lionesses did not have a crucuial training camp but the inspiration among the players has been organic. “We want to transform the sport,” they assure. An achievement by Kenya Lionesses is fast changing the rugby scene with many more young players looking up to donning the national jersey. 

After the feat in South Africa, messages of congratulations poured in from unlikely places because this was a rare achievement that sparked a debate about the potential of the team. “We are keen to finish the vision in Poland and LA,” Mwanja assured.

The coach stuck to the team that won the two legs in South Africa. They are: Grace Okulu, Naomi Amuguni, Judith Okumu, Sharon Auma, Sheila Chajira, Diana Owino, Christabel Lindo, Moreen Muritu, Freshia Oduor, Stella Wafula, Phoebe Akinyi and Sinaida Nyachio. 

Challenger Series draw

Women

Pool A: Belgium, Colombia, Kenya, Thailand.

Pool B: Argentina, Czechia, Poland, South Africa.

Men

Pool A: Chile, Germany, Samoa, Tonga.

Pool B: Canada, Japan, Madagascar, Portugal.

Fixtures

Chile v Samoa, Germany v Tonga, Portugal v Japan, Canada v Madagascar, Colombia v Thailand, Kenya v Belgium, Argentina v Czechia, South Africav Poland, Chile v Tonga, Germany v Samoa, Portugal v Madagascar, Canada v Japan, Colombia v Belgium, Kenya v Thailand, Argentina v Poland, South Africa v Czechia, Germany v Chile, Samoa v Tonga, Canada v Portugal, Japan v Madagascar, Kenya v Colombia, Thailand v Belgium, South Africa v Argentina, Czechia v Poland.

Play off

Fifth place semi-final: A3 v B4, B3 v A (men); 

Women: A3 v B4, B3 v A4.

Cup semi-finals

Men: A1 v B2, B1 v A2.

Women: A1 v B2, B1 v A2.