The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has granted the Philippine National Volleyball Federation’s (PNVF) request for a Brazilian coach for the national women’s team by appointing Olympic gold medalist Jorge Edson Souza de Brito to the post.
PNVF President Tats Suzara said Souza de Brito will work with PH women’s team mentor Odjie Mamon for two years upon his arrival in June or July with the FIVB subsidizing his salary.
“We are thankful for the FIVB’s quick response to our request and we are more thankful that the federation picked an excellent man for the job,” Suzara said in a statement.
Suzara is optimistic Souza de Brito’s wide experience as both coach and player will also help the “transfer of technology” to the local coaches.
Suzara added Souza de Brito’s hiring falls under the FIVB’s coaching support for technical and tactical development of national teams project agreement.
Souza de Brito was a member of the Brazilian team that won gold at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics before becoming coach of the Brazilian women’s squad later on.
He mentored the Brazilian women’s team that won the gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The 54-year-old mentor also coached several top club teams in the Brazilian league since 2002, winning titles and earning podium finishes in Turkey and Japan.
His resume states that he “specializes on teamwork and challenges, planning technical and tactics practices and draws strategies based results and analysis by the DataVolley program and personal sense.”
While FIVB will take care of Souza de Brito’s salary, the PNVF will handle his accommodation, food and local transport.
Suzara sealed the FIVB assistance in a recent virtual meeting with FIVB General Manager Fabio Azevedo, Head of Technical and Development Department Steve Tutton, Director for Asia and Oceania Luis Alexandre Pontes Rodrigues and Sports Development Department Hitesh Malhotra. PNVF board member Ricky Palou joined Suzara in the meeting.
The development came after the PNVF held tryouts for the indoor and beach volleyball teams last week.