Hungry Lionesses back to training, focus on tactical drills ahead of HSBC

Kenya women’s national rugby sevens team, ‘The Lionesses’ returned to training on Tuesday morning at the RFUEA Grounds following their preparation tour in Spain, as they step up preparations for the HSBC SVNS Division Two tournament scheduled for next weekend, at the Nyayo National Stadium.

The squad focused on tactical drills, fitness conditioning, and team cohesion as they fine-tuned their approach ahead of the high-stakes home tournament.

Head coach Simon Odongo outlined the team’s priorities during the final phase of preparations.

“We are in a tough week, focusing on tactical areas we struggled with in Spain, as well as building on our strengths. The key is to ensure our tactics are clear and that the team is fully ready for next week.”

Odongo also emphasized the importance of hosting the tournament on home soil.

“Having a sold-out Nyayo Stadium is impressive for us as a country. It shows that all 50 million plus Kenyans are behind the team.”

Team captain Sheila Chajira echoed the pride of representing the nation, describing the moment as a dream come true.

“Playing in the HSBC series has been a dream for many girls. To play at home means you are fulfilling someone else’s dream. Wearing the black jersey is always a privilege.”

Chajira also praised the rise of young talent within the squad.

“We have young players coming up like Nila from NYS, who is very impressive, and Namnyak as well. She may be small, but she has the heart of a Lioness.”

Veteran player Janet Okello urged the team to focus on simplicity and unity.

“We just need to keep it simple, play rugby, and play together as a team. Go out there, have fun, enjoy the game, and make Kenyans proud.”

Debutant Nila Charity shared her excitement at achieving a lifelong dream.

“When I started playing rugby, I used to watch the Kenya Lionesses and tell myself that one day I would be one of them. Today I’m here, training and playing with them, and it feels really good.”

Assistant coach Simon Peter highlighted the intensity of the team’s training programme.

“We normally train four times a week, and we make the sessions as tough as the matches. The goal is to prepare the players for the demands of competing in multiple games a day. Most of these players are our future, and the earlier we expose them to high-level competition, the better it is for us as a country.”

With the full squad back in camp and morale high, the Lionesses are ready to showcase their skill, teamwork, and national pride as they take to home turf at the HSBC SVNS Division Two, aiming to make a strong statement in front of a passionate home crowd.