Onyala delighted after Kenya Sevens reappoint New Zealand-born coach

Former Kenya Sevens captain Vincent Onyala has welcomed the return of renowned strength and conditioning coach Chris Brown, terming his presence in camp as a major boost as Shujaa step up preparations for the decisive European legs of the HSBC SVNS World Championship Series.

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Shujaa have already reported to the residential camp at Kasarani Stadium, with 18 players called up as the technical bench sharpens focus ahead of back-to-back assignments in Spain and France.

Kenya Sevens will first compete in the Valladolid leg scheduled for Friday, 29 to Sunday, 31 May, before heading to Bordeaux, France, for the Friday, 5 to Sunday, 7 June showdown. The team is expected to remain in camp until Wednesday, 13 May, before taking a short break ahead of departure.

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Brown, a New Zealand-born high-performance expert famed for his intense “House of Pain” training sessions, rejoins the set-up to strengthen the team’s conditioning programme.

His previous stints with Shujaa, including the 2012–2013 period and the 2023 Olympic qualifiers, have left a lasting impact on the squad’s physical edge.

Speaking on the first day of camp, Onyala highlighted the significance of Brown’s return, noting that his expertise comes at a crucial point in the season.

“Day one in camp is always exciting because it’s our first chance to come together again as a group.

Having Chris Brown back with us is a big boost; his experience will help us fine-tune a few critical areas as we prepare for the final legs of the Championship,” Onyala told sports journalist Stephen Ochieng.

Shujaa head into the European leg with renewed confidence after finishing seventh in the opening round in Hong Kong, where they sealed a 21-7 victory over France in the 7th-place playoff.

According to Onyala, the team is not settling for mid-table finishes, with ambitions firmly set on climbing higher in the standings.

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“We’re continuing to build as a team. Finishing seventh in Hong Kong was a solid step, but now the focus shifts to going even higher.

We want to push for the top spot, especially with an Olympic year coming up, because what we achieve now sets the tone for next season,” he added.

With Olympic qualification at stake, Onyala revealed that the team is targeting a top-four finish, which would guarantee direct qualification, while also ensuring they maintain a top-eight position to secure their place in the core series.

“With the Championship, a top-four finish could secure direct qualification to the Olympics, and that’s something we’re targeting. At the same time, we’re determined to maintain a top-eight position and secure our place in the main division next year,” he noted.

Onyala further urged his teammates to maximise the opportunity of working under Brown, emphasising the value of his high-performance expertise.

“Having Chris Brown on board means we need to absorb as much as we can from him. This is a brilliant group of players; they’re capable of producing exceptional rugby, and there’s a lot to be excited about going forward,” he said.