Philippine club Cocolife has announced the signing of Serbian coach Moro Branislav to a two-year deal, according to website VolleyVerse (Source 1, Source 2). Joshua Ylaya, the team’s general manager, stated that the club hopes that coach Moro is the key to turn the young team into a solid force in Philippine volleyball:
Had the honor of coaching against you. Who would have thought that exactly 2 months after that match, you will now be mentoring our team? Excited for things to come! ?? @UVC_Cocolife @SuperLigaPH #PSLGrandPrix2018 pic.twitter.com/Q9D0lT4B57
— Joshua Ylaya (@joshuaylaya_) December 28, 2017
Moro is a very experienced coach, with stints in Belarus, Greece, Kuwait, Libya, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and the now defunct Yugoslavia. At the international level, he has coached the national teams of Yugoslavia, Zaire, and North Korea. In the Philippines, he has become a coaching legend after he led PSL Manila to a participation in the 2016 FIVB Women’s Club World Championship and Foton to a Grand Prix title. Here is what Ylaya had to say about the signing and the coach’s free hand at organizing the team and signing foreign players:
Our goal in our first year in the PSL was just to be a dark horse and be competitive. I guess we’re already quite successful with that so we’re raising the bar higher for next year by hiring a proven mentor in coach Moro. We’re optimistic that he can lead us to where we want to be next year. We know that things don’t happen overnight. That’s why we sealed a two-year deal with coach him. He’s now the main man in charge. This is his team now. With these outstanding players – and a brilliant coach – on board, we’re confident that we can make a serious run in the next Grand Prix. Our roadmap to the title is now complete. Winning it long journey, but at least we’re taking the first few steps.
Moro has already met with team officials to lay down plans for the team’s next competitions:
For me, team Cocolife is already a good team. We just have to add and develop some players to make it even more competitive. Part of my job as a professional coach is to make these players work together as a complete unit.
As was expected prior to his signing, Moro already recruited a player to the club, his Serbian protege Sara Klisura, who was playing under him in Proton. Klisura had stints in Italy, Romania, and Russia, as well as 39 caps for Serbia’s national team, but it was in the Philippines where her career enjoyed most success. The prolific Serbian spiker recently broke the league scoring record when she tallied 41 points in last season’s Grand Prix. She stated that winning a PSL Grand Prix title was her biggest motivation on signing with the new team:
I’m very excited to remain in the Philippines. I failed to lead Foton to the title. So I have some ‘unfinished business’ over there. I promise to do everything to help my new team win the championship.
Sara Klisura wishes you all a Happy New Year ? #CocolifeAssetManagers @SuperLigaPH ?? pic.twitter.com/ZBZWEnuHUt
— United VC-Cocolife (@UVC_Cocolife) December 30, 2017
Cocolife is already home to American players Taylor Milton and Tai Manu-Olevao. The Philippine Superliga (PSL) Grand Prix opens on Feb. 17
Leave a Reply