Coaches raise expectations as Africa Women’s Sevens approaches

Coaches raise expectations as Africa Women’s Sevens approaches

With the qualification race now firmly in focus, the coaches' messages underline the different pressures facing the leading teams before the action begins in Nairobi on November 7.

The race for Africa’s lone HSBC SVNS 3 qualification ticket is beginning to dominate the conversation among coaches ahead of the Africa Women’s Sevens in Nairobi, with Kenya calling on its home crowd, Uganda demanding its best performance and Zimbabwe admitting to the pressure created by the success of its men’s teams.

The tournament will be held at the RFUEA Grounds on November 7 and 8, but with preparations entering their final stretch, the competing teams are already making clear what they want from the championship.

For Kenya, the message from head coach Simon Odongo is directed as much at the supporters as it is at his players.

“I urge all the fans to come and support us,” Odongo said. “Come and be the extra player and push us to win gold.”

Kenya finished runners-up to South Africa in last year's championship and will now attempt to reclaim the continental crown they last won in 2018. The Lionesses are in Pool B with Tunisia and Ghana.

Uganda, meanwhile, have made qualification for SVNS 3 their stated priority.

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Head coach Charles Onen knows the Lady Cranes will have to produce their best rugby if they are to return to the international sevens pathway.

“Our goal is to qualify for the SVNS 3 and get back to a stage we’ve played before, and learnt a lot,” Onen said. “It definitely requires our best performance.”

Uganda are in Pool C alongside Madagascar, Mauritius and Burkina Faso.

Madagascar's ambitions are similarly clear, although Women’s Rugby Manager Ando Niaina Herimahefa sees the tournament as an opportunity to measure the progress of the women's programme while competing for qualification.

“This competition will also be an opportunity for us to develop by competing at a high level, while allowing us to objectively assess our potential, our strengths, and the areas we need to improve in the long term,” Herimahefa said.

“Of course, we approach this competition with ambition and determination, ready to seize any opportunity to qualify for the SVNS 3.”

For Zimbabwe, the pressure has come from the achievements of the country's men's teams.

The Sables have qualified for the Rugby World Cup, while the Cheetahs won the Africa Men's Sevens in Uganda to secure their own SVNS 3 qualification.

Zimbabwe Women's coach Cyprian Mandenge admits those results have increased expectations on his side.

“Obviously we’re under a bit of pressure. The men’s sides have done really well for the country,” Mandenge said.

Mandenge, however, does not want the lack of resources to become an excuse for his players.

“We can’t keep on talking about resources; we should talk about what we have at the moment, and work with what we have,” he said. “We will give all we have, give our best shot for the country.”

Zimbabwe have been drawn in Pool A with defending champions South Africa, Zambia and Rwanda.

South Africa's presence adds another layer to the competition. The Springbok Women’s Sevens 'A' side are already competing in a higher division and therefore cannot take the SVNS 3 qualification place available in Nairobi, but they remain the dominant force in the continental championship, having won 13 of the 15 editions.

Their coach, Cecil Afrika, is taking a different approach, using the tournament as an opportunity for his young players to gain experience.

“As a player, you learn and grow from tournaments like these, and that is exactly what I wish our young squad will do next week,” Afrika said.

With the qualification race now firmly in focus, the coaches' messages underline the different pressures facing the leading teams before the action begins in Nairobi on November 7.