Dennis Mwanja embraces challenge of guiding Kenya Lionesses to historic HSBC 7s qualification
Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 27.02.25. | 21:47
The tactician explained that coaching the ladies does not come with shortcuts or magic solutions
It is one thing to guide a national team, and it is another thing to coach a women's side.
Not even his experience as a former player could prepare Dennis Mwanja for a task like that of coaching the women.
In an exclusive interview with Mozzart Sport, Mwanja outlined the challenges brought about by his job, noting that patience, strategy, and an intricate balance between discipline and encouragement are key.
The KCB Rugby coach is currently in South Africa with the team as they seek to qualify for the HSBC World Rugby 7s Series for the first time in history.
"I will say it is a blessing. I am used to coaching KCB, which is a very professional setup. Coaching Lionesses builds character. You get to learn a lot—you need patience and endurance," Mwanja offered.
The tactician went on to explain that coaching the ladies does not come with shortcuts or magic solutions, stating that success is a work in progress requiring persistence and faith.
He acknowledged its unique dynamics, noting that female players naturally pay attention to details and ask many questions, making it essential for a coach to have clear answers.
However, he stressed the importance of balance in approach.
"I believe girls naturally love the details. They have many questions and you must have the answers. At the same time, you cannot be too soft, and you cannot be too hard. There is a method to the madness in this," he added.
The Lionesses have been drawn in Pool D alongside Poland and Samoa.
The goal for the Kenyan side is to secure a top-four finish in the overall standings, which would earn them a spot in the HSBC SVNS play-off tournament in Los Angeles.
Last season, the team narrowly missed out on qualification, finishing fifth overall, just outside the crucial top four.
Poland edged them to the fourth spot and went on to play in the final shootout in Madrid.
This year, the Lionesses are determined to break that barrier and qualify for the elite competition for the first time.
Kenya recently gained a psychological edge by defeating Poland 19-12 in a friendly match at RFUEA Grounds a month ago.
While the win was a confidence booster, Mwanja remains cautious about reading too much into the result.
"Both teams are worthy opponents. We played Poland here in Kenya, but we cannot assume that we are going to automatically beat them,” he warned.
He continued: “Seeing the European sides coming from winter, they were looking for a place to train. It was a good build-up for them. You meet a European side in Dubai 7s, but you meet them later during summer when they have prepared well, they are a different side altogether. We cannot use that to gauge."
Reflecting on their last competitive outing at the Safari 7s, Mwanja identified composure and intensity as key areas that needed improvement.
He attributed some of the struggles to the team’s inexperience and limited training time, having only trained for less than a week before that tournament due to their commitments against Madagascar in a test match.
"With more preparation now, with a steadier ship, we look at a great outing in Cape Town," he concluded.
The Lionesses landed in Cape Town on Wednesday 26 February for the task ahead.
