Taking part in an international school’s sports event is one thing and competing against the best at the same level is another.

While taking part may not be as demanding, competing calls for preparation in terms of upgrading the team or individual technically and psychologically.

With less than three weeks to the International Schools Sports Federation (ISF) volleyball championship in Belgrade, Serbia from April 19 to 29, Uganda and African girls team representatives Bukedea Comprehensive School (BCS) have agreed terms with experienced volleyball coach Soita Protus Barasa.

Barasa, who is arguably the most experienced local volleyball teacher, has been tasked with the duties of the technical matters during and after the international championship.

The school resident director Jonas Gumisiriza confirmed to New Vision that the school administration reached an agreement with Barasa to guide the young team considering his experience.

“We considered Soita because of his experience in secondary school volleyball having delivered several school teams to several silverware.  His involvement in the national team volleyball men and U-18 girls put his bar higher. We expect him to bring glory to BCS by winning a medal in the ISF games in Serbia next month and also national and FEASSA titles this year. In Soita we trust,” Said Gumisiriza.

Barasa expressed his gratitude for the trust in him, saying, “I am happy to be part of the development program with Bukedea girls volleyball, and from where we have started and reached now, I see we are a balanced team that will represent the country well in Serbia,” he said.

The soft-spoken Barasa is the current national U-18 girls and men’s senior teams’ coach, who also boasts of a bronze medal he won with the national U18 in the 2018 Africa Zone 5 championship in Kampala, having also led Ndejje University angels to a silver in the 2014 East Africa University games in Nairobi.

He has had a 10-year spell with UCU in which he won the national inter-university girls gold in 2019 in Kisubi, and his secondary school coaching experience at Brethren College, Trust High, and Seroma Christian High School since 2006 has seen his team reach every final.

In Belgrade, the Bukedea-based side will face teams from Italy, Germany, and Georgia whom they have been pooled against.