Moim replaces Agala as Kenya volleyball team captain

Newly appointed Kenya women’s volleyball captain Mercy Moim says she is “humbled” to have been picked to lead the country’s most successful national team.

The Kenya Prisons player - who currently turns out for Finland’s top flight club ORPO VCt - was on Friday named skipper of the national team by the Kenya technical bench replacing Brackcides Agala.

The bench consists of technical director David Lung’aho, coach Japheth Munala and assistant coach Josep Baraza.

Kenya Pipeline attacker Noel Murambi was also appointed assistant captain.

The duo are expected to lead the team at the Olympic Games qualifiers in Cameroon starting on February 12, where Kenya will compete against 18 other countries including arch-rivals Egypt, Algeria, Morrocco, Tunisia, Senegal and the host nation, for the sole qualification berth reserved for Africa at the Rio sporting extravaganza.

“I am more than humbled with the opportunity. Playing for the national team is in itself a big honour and now with a crown of captaincy I pray that God continues to guide me in this new role as we look forward to a bright season,” Moim said.

Moim’s appointment coincides with a rich vein of form the player, who holds the rank of corporal at the Kenya Prisons Service, has exhibited in recent times. 

Formerly at KCB, the 25-year-old was an integral part of the triumphant Kenya team during the Africa Cup of Nations in Nairobi and FIVB Grand Prix in Mexico, Algeria and Australia last year.

She also emerged eighth overall on the top scorer’s charts for the National Oil-sponsored Kenya team at the FIVB World Cup in Japan last year.
Moim and Murambi replace long serving superstars Brackcides Agala and Janet Wanja whom alongside another highly rated player Esther Wangeci have surprisingly been omitted from the team since the start of this year.

The trio will not feature in the Cameroon assignment but Munala has announced that the “door is still open for them” to make a return.