Fan favourite Mumuni returns as Hemel Storm captain

The popular 6ft 5ins forward, who won Hemel’s Most Valuable Player and Players’ Player honours last season, was the priority signing for new head coach Dave Allin ahead of their National League Division One campaign.

Allin said: “We’re all delighted to have Walid back after his fantastic season last year. I see his return as probably the most important signing of the summer.

“His continued leadership and talent will be vital to us building on our achievements from last season.”

Mumuni will captain Hemel after sharing the role last term with Simon Kearney who has retired.

Mumuni led the country in individual steals last year and brings high level experience and silky smooth skills to the club for his fourth consecutive season.

The former England u-20 international played professionally in Italy before returning and joining Storm in 2013/14 where his work ethic, versatility and court savvy made an immediate impact.

“I can’t wait to get going again and to build on the momentum that we created last season,” said Mumuni. “Storm is a special club both on and off the court and I’m proud to be taking on the sole captaincy.”

Mumuni’s on-court sunny personality belies a steely competitiveness and commitment to winning, both qualities acknowledged by Dave Titmuss, the former Storm head coach and one of the club’s founders who has just retired. Coach Titmuss recently turned 70 and is stepping down after a successful ​national and international coaching career spanning 45 years.

Titmuss, who coached Mumuni at Reading where he led them to all four available national titles, is thrilled he is returning to Storm and said: “Walid leads by example and does all of those tough things that sometimes don’t show up on stat sheets but which make a huge difference to the result,”

The Storm’s season gets under way in mid September.