Vihiga Queens face the herculean task to replace long-serving captain Enez Mango who is away for a two-month trial in Norway.
Mango, who prides herself as the most decorated captain, has bagged four women's Premier League titles in five years.
The marauding left-back also won the Cecafa Club Championship gong (2021) and guided the history-making Legacy Makers to their maiden appearance in the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League competition last year in Egypt.
Queens' coach Boniface Nyamunyamu admitted that it would be almost impossible to replace the all-action diminutive defensive lynch-pin whose leadership qualities were her pillars of strength.
He, however, hinted that three players are all in the running to fill the vacant role. "Mango has done well and her servant leadership will be missed," Nyamunyamu pointed out.
He added: "Phelisters Kadari, Maureen Ater and Marceline Wayodi are capable leaders but we will settle on one as soon as possible. Leadership is not about age but also entails aspects like maturity among the components we will be looking at before making the decision."
Wayodi is a surprise choice considering the dynamic midfielder only joined the county-sponsored side last season from Kisumu All-Starlets but Nyamunyamu thinks otherwise.
"It won't be about how long one has stayed at the club. We want a captain who can unite the dressing room the way Mango did. A player who can be relied upon on and off the field," he said.
Mango becomes the sixth player to quit Vihiga in a span of one year. She joins the likes of Tereza Engesha (South Korea), Jentrix Shikangwa (Turkey), Topista Situma (Tanzania), Lilian Awuor(France) and Winfrida Seda (Kenya-Kibera Soccer) in their quest for greener pastures.
Meanwhile, Kenyan players continue to flock to Tanzania's Serengeti Lite Women's Premier League and Jentrix Shikangwa is reported to be finalising her deal to join Simba Queens.
The deal to sign former Lakatamia FC (Cyprus) and Eldoret Falcons burly defender Ruth Ingosi is also at an advanced stage and could also be announced anytime.
Simba are restructuring their squad to boost their Champions League prospect after booking the sole slot reserved for the Cecafa region. Kenya's indefinite suspension by the world football governing body, Fifa prevented Vihiga from defending their Cecafa crown.
