11 March 2010
Nairobi — The news left him reeling in the devastation he had occasionally subjected his rivals to in rugby. He simply describes the moment as the lowest in his life.
Not that his adversaries had cracked the jig-saw to nip this Kenya Commercial Bank lock, but it dawned on him that he could bid his a sport he has religiously adored goodbye in his prime.
Dennis "Ironman" Mwanja had just orchestrated Kenya's qualification to their third consecutive Rugby World Cup Sevens in Tunis, Tunisia, in November 2008 when the doctor relayed the news.
The medic said the 28-year-old player required an urgent anterior cruciate ligament surgery that could decide his rugby future.
But after slightly more than a year in the cold, the resolute tackler, who has overcome many obstacles, is back and in a more refined and devastating form.
It could not have come at a more opportune time. When Benjamin Ayimba handed Mwanja a recall to the Kenya Airways-sponsored national sevens for the Adelaide and Kong Hong Sevens, it was a birthday present.
Another crafty Kenya Harlequins winger, Victor Sudi, was also re-drafted as his club mate, centre Dennis Muhanji, was given his maiden first team call-up.
Mwanja turns 29 on March 19 and he hopes to celebrate his birthday with an opening showdown between Kenya and Papua New Guinea in Adelaide.
They will then meet Wales and Fiji the following day.
An Africa derby awaits Kenya in the Hong Kong Sevens due March 26-28 when they play South Africa and Zimbabwe before facing South Korea.
"This is the perfect birthday gift from Ayimba," notes Mwanja.
One cannot wait to see how Mwanja, who tips the scales at 101kg and stands 6 feet 2 inches tall, stages his devastating burst through his opponents as he lives up to his nickname.
Mwanja thanks his doctor, Mendoza, and mentors, rugby greats Edward Rombo and Maxwell "Mad" Muniafu, for keeping his spirits and dreams alive despite discouragement from many quarters.
The player was able to run and play touch rugby last July, six months after the surgery. He would side-step and switch directions by August and was playing contact game in October.
"I had some slight discomfort in the knee that made me rest during the 2008 Driftwood Sevens in Mombasa. I was to feel better and feature at the World Cup qualifier in Tunis," Mwanja recalled.
It was after Tunis that Mwanja discovered all was not well. He checked in at Nairobi Hospital before being referred to Kijabe, where he underwent an operation.
"People told me that I would not play rugby again and that lowest moments in my life," said Mwanja. "But Doctor Mendoza, Muniafu and Rombo assured me that it won't be long before I was up again kicking like a lamb.
"I now feel reborn and more focused than before. Some things happen with a purpose and it helps one look at life differently."
"I know what is expected of me and I am looking forward to deliver and adjust to the current high pace.
Ayimba acknowledged Mwanja's prowess in the sport.
"His urge and hunger to make things happen easily makes Mwanja a pick," said the national sevens coach.
Named player of the tournament in the season opening Floodlit tournament in February, Mwanja would later score four tries in their first Kenya Cup match against Mean Machine.
He last featured in the IRB Series as the sevens team skipper during the 2008 London and Scotland legs.
At that time, Mwanja was Kenya's all-time leading try scorer in the series with 54 touchdowns. The break however saw him overtaken by Collins Injera, who has 83 tries to his credit.
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