Asati, Chajira set the tone as Kenya eyes HSBC Sevens promotion

For the men’s team, the road to Nairobi has been shaped by an intensive high-performance training camp in South Africa, where Shujaa were exposed to elite-level rugby in a demanding environment designed to test both skill and resilience.

The camp, which included joint training sessions and build-up matches against South Africa, allowed the squad to address critical gaps that had previously limited their consistency on the world stage.

Reflecting on that experience, Asati said the time spent in Cape Town had sharpened the team’s understanding of the modern sevens game, particularly in areas that often decide tight contests.

“We came from a high-performance camp in South Africa where we trained with South Africa and had several build-up games,” Asati said.

“Training with them is a big plus for us, especially because we focused more on the technical and tactical aspects.”

The Shujaa skipper explained that Kenya deliberately targeted the finer details of the game, acknowledging that structural discipline had been a challenge in recent campaigns.

“If you watched us play last season, the technical bit is where we struggled,” he noted. “So we focused on line-outs, scrums, kick-off receipts and defence, and that has really boosted us as we continue with our preparations.”

With the tournament pools already confirmed, Asati believes familiarity with the opposition gives Kenya a strategic advantage, provided the team remains disciplined and self-focused throughout the round-robin phase.

“The good thing about this tournament is that it’s round-robin and we’ve played against almost all these teams,” he said. “If we focus on ourselves, our structure and play our cards right, we shall have it.”

Asati stressed that the Nairobi leg carries added significance, as it sets the tone for the remainder of the campaign, which includes challenging away legs in Montevideo and Rio de Janeiro.

“The opening leg will set the pace for our journey back to Sevens One,” he said. “Winning here would be a big plus and put us in a good position going into the other legs.”

Beyond results, Asati sees the Nairobi event as a milestone for Kenyan rugby, with benefits that stretch beyond the pitch and into the wider economy.

“Hosting a championship like this is a plus for the country,” he said. “It shows Kenya is growing rugby-wise, that we have talent, and that sports should be taken seriously. It also opens opportunities for vendors, sponsors and fans.”

On the women’s side, Lionesses captain Sheila Chajira says preparation has been deliberate and methodical, with the team entering the final phase of its build-up after months of structured training.

“We’ve been training for a long time, and right now we’re sharpening our game,” Chajira said. “The camp in Spain will expose us to the same quality of teams we’ll face here in Kenya.”

Chajira explained that facing familiar opponents offers a clear benchmark as the Lionesses chase promotion.

“Whether we are hosting or not, the pressure is always there,” she said. “Our goal is to qualify for Division One, and that means beating every team we meet.”

She added that growing institutional and sponsor support has strengthened belief within the squad.

“Seeing sponsors come in gives us hope and motivation,” Chajira said. “It pushes us to work harder and take this team back to Division One.”