Brendan Gallagher: Kenya national side hope to lift the nation

They could be dancing in the streets of Nairobi by sundown tonight, well more than normal. Nearly 1,500 miles away to the south east in Antananaviro, Kenya's emerging rugby team face the biggest match in their history when they run out against Zimbabwe at the Mahamasina Stadium in Madagascar.
Win or draw and Kenya will qualify for the World Cup Finals for the first time, in fact they could even lose and still make it through to London 2015 as long as they get a bonus point and Zimbabwe don't, but it would be much easier and less stressful for all concerned if they could finish the job with a convincing win.
And their reward for such an historic moment would be what exactly? An opening game against the New Zealand All Blacks in front of a capacity crowd at the Olympic Stadium. Nothing to get nervous about then.
Kenya, previously noted in rugby circles as a dangerous Sevens side capable of beating anybody on the day, have been making a concerted effort in the long form of the game recently under their South African coach Jerome Paarwater, despite a limited international fixture list.
New sponsors Tusker Lager and the Mega property group have put their money where their mouths are and paid a small monthly retainer to squad members and funded training camps in the famous Kasarani Sports Village where decades of world-class Kenyan middle distance runners have based themselves.
Mind you, don't go running away with the idea the Kenyans are becoming pampered. All but those on a Sevens contract have to work for a living and they recently acquired a huge empty ship container in Mombassa and had it trucked 480km up the A109 to their little Ngong Road ground in Nairobi where it has been transformed into a busy gym and sweat shop.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday the majority of the squad meet at 6am sharp for a full-on session, using mostly old-fashioned free weights, before going to work. Evenings are for running sessions and rugby.
Arriving in Antananarivo, itself at 4,200 feet in the Madagascan Highlands, direct from a high altitude camp, Kenya tore into strong favourites Namibia in the opening game of the African qualifying tournament to record a famous 29-22 which also garnered them a bonus point for four tries.
The Namibians, without the injured Jacques Burger who has undergone a shoulder operation, knew that Kenya could play ball in hand but were not prepared for the ferocity and strength  Kenya showed up front. Then on Wednesday Paarwater brought in 11 fresh sets of legs and ruthlessly used their physical superiority over the home team to win 34-0 with a pragmatic “ten man” display, rumbling over for four short-range tries and interception.
It was like watching ‘Pooler' of old in the mud of Pontypool Park, a performance designed totally to nullify the remote threat of the free-running Madagascans becoming competitive in an entertaining counter-attacking game. Not pretty, but mightily effective.
Five of Kenya's Sevens stars have been integrated into the national 15s squad and talisman Humphrey Kayange has been lured out of semi-retirement to re-join forces with his full brothers Collins Injera and Michael Agevi. Both Kayange and Injera are former nominees for IRB Sevens World player of the Year.
In addition, for over two months earlier this year, many of those involved here in Madagascar have been based in Cape Town where they replaced the Argentinian Development XV, the Pampas, in the Vodacom Cup. Eight tough fixtures against unforgiving South African provinces who never take prisoners.
A few thumpings along the way but also one win and a couple of very decent performances. Most importantly was an invaluable crash course of what it takes to be a fully professional rugby player.
“Fitness and conditioning was the biggest challenge when I was asked to help,” says Paarwater a former coach at Western Province and Aironi in Italy before being seconded to Kenya. “That is where you can make the biggest, quickest, improvement whatever level of rugby you play.  The skill levels and the tactics take longer.
“I would say that Namibia and Zimbabwe are probably still ahead of us in their basic 15s skills and savvy so to be competitive we have had to make ourselves fitter.
“I'm afraid I got a bit ruthless about that before we flew down, we had two or three of our more senior players who had niggles and I insisted that all 26 we travelled with must be 100 per cent fit to play because it was always my plan to make as many changes as possible for the second match. Three Tests in eight days is tough, especially when you start with Namibia who are always bruising physically.
“I've been delighted with the progress although there is a long way to go and should we be blessed and get through against Zimbabwe, we will look to achieve new levels altogether with our fitness.
“Kenyans, with their love of athletics, understand that mentality and none of my squad are afraid of hard work and a little suffering on the training pitch. You can't give them enough work actually and it was also an eye opener when we went to Kasarani and trained alongside and mixed with some of the great runners.
“They were up at 5am to do their runs so we started getting up at the same time to do our morning runs and weights. We didn't want to be shown up. It was a great elite environment. People like Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha took a real interest and the guys got to see how the best in the world conduct themselves.
“Not just training but diet, nutrition, resting and the mental approach to things.” Paarwater is still officially the head of talent identification at the Western Province Union and WP have proved good friends to Kenya. Along with the IRB they met half the cost of Kenya basing themselves in Cape Town for the Vodacom Cup and have also made their facilities and back-up available. Next season they are expected to sign a couple of Kenya's more promising players.
“They have been excellent, good rugby friends, and so have our sponsors. When we asked, pleaded actually with, potential sponsors to get involved it was a hard sell because Kenya is not a wealthy country and the more visible Kenya Sevens squad would probably be the more obvious outlet, a safer bet. I assured them there was a good chance of qualifying for the World Cup in which case their loyalty would be rewarded. We have a chance to deliver.
“There are a lot of permutations and we have done the maths but that has gone down on a piece of paper in my back pocket and won't be referred at all in the build-up. As far as we are concerned this is a must-win game.
“The boys will be nervous, the stakes are high, but they have a good attitude. I always tell them they don't have to wear a mask around camp and hotels. As long as they give 100 per cent in training and matches I don't want them walking around with serious faces because they feel that is what is required. They are much happier when they laugh and sing. As long as they switch on when they need to I am happy.
“Somethings aren't great in Kenya at the moment and particularly Nairobi with all the killings and terrorism. We have adopted a motto, ‘let's put smiles on faces'. This team would like to give the people of Kenya something to smile about. As a South African I remember   the incredible power of sport at the 1995 World Cup.
“There's a chance here for Kenya's rugby players to do something very good and significant for their country.”