Coach Dennis ‘Ironman’ Mwanja had some of the best players at his disposal, yet the national women’s rugby sevens team, Kenya Lionesses, repeatedly fell short against South Africa in crucial moments.
Mwanja admitted that missing out on qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games left his players devastated, with tears flowing and nothing to console them.
The heartbreak began in October 2023, when the Lionesses lost 12-7 to South Africa in the dying moments of the Africa Cup final, which doubled up as the Paris Olympics qualifier.
They got a second chance at the final Olympic qualifier in Monaco in June 2024, where they battled through the ranks to reach the final.
Despite an impressive run—including dominant victories over Samoa (31-5) and Argentina (19-17) in the preliminaries—Kenya Lionesses fell to China 24-7 in the final, dashing their Olympic dreams.
It was déjà vu from the 2019 Africa Cup, where South Africa narrowly edged Kenya 15-14 to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. However, South Africa later withdrew, allowing the Lionesses to take their place at the Games.
“You can be the best coach and have skillful, physical players, but if their mental aspect is weak, you will struggle,” said Mwanja.
“We were physically good, but our mental structure failed us. We were always grasping at straws, distracted by sideshows, and ready to blame others.”
Kenya’s Grace Okulu kicks the ball against South Africa in the final of the second leg of the 2025 Challenger Series in Cape Town on March 8, 2025. Kenya defeated South Africa 17-0 to win the title.
Photo credit: Pool | World Rugby
However, that has changed with the return of experienced Mental Strength Coach Binny Brahmbhatt.
She worked with the team ahead of their Women’s World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series campaign, and the results have been impressive.
Brahmbhatt was officially appointed Mental Strength Coach for both the Kenya Lionesses and Kenya Shujaa on March 18 this year.
“Binny was with the team two years ago when I started coaching the side,” said Mwanja on NTV’s SportOn! show, hosted by Bernard Ndong and James Wokabi, on Monday night.
“As a coach, there are things that take ages to instill, but a professional like Binny can do it in a short time. She came at the right moment,” he revealed.
The impact has been evident, with the Lionesses dominating the ongoing 2025 Women’s World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series.
Kenya's Freshia Oduor scores a try against South Africa during their women's Cup Semifinal match at the 2025 HSBC Sevens Challenger - Cape Town 1 at Athlone Sports Stadium on March 2, 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Photo credit: Pool | World Rugby
They remain unbeaten after winning the first two legs in Cape Town, topping the 12-team standings with 40 points.
In Cape Town I (March 1-2), they edged Argentina 17-12 in the final after a hard-fought 19-15 semi-final victory over South Africa. They went on to blank South Africa 17-0 in the Cape Town II (March 7-8) final.
The team is now preparing for the final leg in Krakow, Poland, on April 11-12. The top four teams from the Challenger Series will proceed to the play-offs in May in Los Angeles, where they will compete against the bottom four teams from the 2024/2025 World Series for a spot in the elite league.
Appearing on the same show, Lionesses captain Grace Okullo credited their success to sessions with Brahmbhatt.
“She took us through some of the situations where we lost focus in matches,” Okullo said. She highlighted how poor reactions to referees’ decisions previously cost them. “We used to argue with referees, but she taught us how to handle such situations.”
Kenya Rugby Union CEO Thomas Odundo affirmed the decision to rehire Brahmbhatt, citing her positive impact.
“We have experienced her work, and her professionalism was the missing piece. The results speak for themselves, not just for Kenya Sevens but also for the Lionesses,” said Odundo, hinting that a third national team could soon benefit from her expertise.
Brahmbhatt, an Indian-born Kenyan, holds a Mental Strength Coaching Certificate from the National Strength Conditioning Association in US, and is a licensed Counseling Psychologist in Kenya under her brand, Binny Empowers.
She has nearly a decade of experience working with athletes, coaches, and teams, providing mental health, strength, and well-being support.
“I hope to continue imparting mental strength skills to these incredible athletes and witness their growth as they combine mental resilience with their robust technical and physical skills,” said Brahmbhatt upon her appointment.
She also worked with KCB in 2021-2022. Co-captain Sheila Chagira emphasised that the Lionesses are now mentally stronger, with back-to-back victories against South Africa proving their transformation.
“We are analysing top teams in the World Series like Australia and New Zealand to position ourselves better,” he said.
With a renewed mindset, tactical discipline, and growing confidence, Lionesses are well on course to reclaim their place among rugby’s elite.
