Generika players find father figure in coach Vicente

Veteran volleyball coach Francis Vicente has achieved the reputation of being a disciplinarian, but his players in Generika sees the hard-nosed tactician as a father figure.

Lifesavers captain Wensh Tiu said Vicente doesn’t only treat them as players but also like daughters in need of advice and protection.

“I’m surprised coach Francis is like a father especially to the players,” said Tiu Thursday at SportsIQ, the country’s only omni-platform sports talk show. “He protects us, gives advice in life in general and he acts really like a father.”

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“He even helps my teammates in terms of financial aid.”

Even Darlene Ramdin and Polina Liutikova, the Lifesavers’ foreign reinforcements who only arrived in the country two weeks ago, were impressed with how calm and fun-loving Vicente is, a contrast from the usual coaches they encounter.

Both imports said they weren’t expecting to ease immediately into Vicente’s circle.

“In Ukraine and Russian we have a style of coaching that puts pressure, and it’s harder,” said Liutikova who hails from Ukraine. “Here it looks like, it’s more easy-going and more relaxed.”

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Ramdin, who hails from Trinidad and Tobago, is the more outspoken of the two imports and she was relieved to have an approachable coach in Vicente.

“He’s very easy-going and he’s a coach whom I feel comfortable when I approach him and when I need corrections in the aspects of the game, or if I need any technical advice,” said Ramdin. “I was really surprised with his coaching style.”

“I’m more relaxed to play and for me it gives me a better result when you play for a coach like that who is easy-going and doesn’t put a lot of pressure but you have to do your job.”