Volleyball: Why Mercy Moim is enjoying life in finland

National volleyball team player Mercy Moim is enjoying life at her new club Liiga Ploki in Finland. Moim, however, says she misses her son and would have loved to eat ugali in Finland. Moim spoke to Game Yetu’s Bismarck Mutahi on how it has been so far with her team having won three out of the four games played so far in the 22-team league.

GAME YETU: To start with, kindly tell us who’s Mercy Moim?
MOIM: Mercy Moim is a Kenyan volleyballer, a dedicated mother of one Cedrick Kibet from Bungoma County in Mt Elgon. My home village is Kaboywo.

National volleyball team player Mercy Moim with her Liiga Ploki teammates in Finland after a league match.

GAME YETU: Have you adapted to life at your new club?
MOIM: It has been easy to adapt to life here, everyone is welcoming. It feels like home.

GAME YETU: How were you received at your new club and what position are you playing?
MOIM: The moment I set foot at our base everyone got excited. They really wanted to see us form a great unit and keep the fire burning. They got more love for me. I play as an outside hitter/left attacker.

GAME YETU: What language do you use with your teammates?
MOIM: I use English though the common language here is Finnish. There are few foreign players here. Me and two from USA.

GAME YETU: What has been your experience so far in the Finland League?
MOIM: It has been humbling for me to learn more. The training facilities, the gymnasium and the kind of discipline being instilled into us is awesome. I gain a lot of exposure and experience in each and every game.

GAME YETU: Are you the only black in the team?
MOIM: We are two blacks, the other one is from USA.

GAME YETU: How do rivals fans react to you while playing?
MOIM: In Finland its one big family, everyone comes to field to enjoy and make friends. No hate at all.

GAME YETU: What’s the comparison between Finland and Kenyan volleyball?
MOIM: The difference is on facilities and how players get equipped. But our federation back home is doing a wonderful job considering the resources it has.

GAME YETU: What have you learned in the short time you’ve been in Europe?
MOIM: That hard work pays, no pain no gain. I have also realised volleyball is all about love.

GAME YETU: What do you miss about home?
MOIM: I miss everything from my son Cedrick, friends, teammates in prisons and my family back at Kaboywo, Mount Elgon.

GAME YETU: Which type of food in particular do you miss and how are you coping with the new diet?
MOIM: I miss Ugali so much. We do a lot of junk food over here

GAME YETU: How do you handle attention from men while playing?
MOIM: I talk to everyone as a friend. I keep most concentration on the game throughout.

GAME YETU: What do you hate most in men?
MOIM: Dishonesty

GAME YETU: How did you juggle between volleyball and work while at Prisons?
MOIM: The job at prisons is well prescribed. When not playing you can do field work and that is always after end of the season.

GAME YETU: If not playing volleyball, what would you be doing?
MOIM: I would be volunteering at a children’s home

GAME YETU: With you, Brackcides Khadambi Agala and Jane Wacu playing in Europe. Do you think that will make Kenya challenge the best in the world?
MOIM: Yes indeed exposure is instrumental in any sport, we equally have able players back home with whom we can make a good team.

GAME YETU: What are you achievements so far in the matches you have played?
MOIM: I have already won MVP in one match and also best attacker in another game.

GAME YETU: What do you like most about your new club?
MOIM: Everything from the management, the facilities and the love players share.

GAME YETU: What’s the most weird thing you have ever done on the pitch?
MOIM: Nothing

GAME YETU: What do your teammates know about Kenya?
MOIM: They know Kenya much as Africa volleyball giants and that we are also good in athletics and have also heard much about our wildlife.