Volleyball: A Vibrant Lady Takes Over Men’s National Team coach Role
The Uganda Volleyball Federation appointed current Air force Volleyball Club tactician, Shilla Omuriwe Buyungo as the head coach of the Men’s Senior National team, the Volleyball Cranes.
The vibrant Female Coach in the game of Volleyball in Uganda, took the challenging task off Nason Bwesigye who has received the National Teams Technical Advisor’s role.
“She is a highly trained Coach, with lots of success too with men’s teams”. Volleyball Uganda’s Technical Director, Tonny Lakony told Inside Volleyball news outlet.
Omuriwe cut her Coaching cloth at KAVC leading the men’s side to the 2014 National Volleyball League title, before moving to coach Division two side Airforce. Airforce are now in the men’s Serie A of the Uganda national Volleyball league.
Omuriwe’s first task as the head Coach is to handle the men’s side to the African Nations Championship tourney which is scheduled between 19th August and 19th September 2021, meaning she has less than a month to prepare a competing team.
However, Shilla is ready to use the short period she has with the Technical team to have a fit team for the challenge.
“Given the short time frame we have to prepare, we a going to call 18-players and select who to focus on after some analysis”.
“The current plan is to get everybody in camp/bubble to make sure that the players are safe”. Said FIVB level 2 tactician.
The Former KAVC head coach takes over a team that is ranked 116 in the FIVB World rankings, a feat that should improve or drop depending on the performance at the Nation’s Championship in August.
Omuriwe Will working with Volleyball Cranes former middle blocker Luke Eitit as the assistant Coach.
Omuriwe who also represented Uganda as libero at the Lady Volleyball Cranes is Beach Volleyball not only the most qualified female coach in Uganda but also with a track record of coaching men’s teams. She was the first woman to coach at the African Club Championship 2015 in Tunisia with KAVC.
Who is Shilla Omuriwe?
Full Names: Shilla Allison Omuriwe Buyungo
Born: July 17th
Club: KAVC (1999 to date)
Positions Held
Asst. Coach National Team – women (2018-2019)
Head Coach, Airforce Volleyball – Men (2018 to date
Head Coach, KAVC- Men (2014 –2017)
Coach, Kyambogo University Coach (2017-2018)
Youth Coach, ISU – Girls (2018 – 2019)
Youth Coach, KISU – Girls – (2016 – 2017)
Grad Assistant Coach University of Bridgeport (2007 – 2009)
Coach, Connecticut Sports Center – Girls (2008 – 2009)
Profession: Human Resource Management
Marital Status: Married
Qualifications:
University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT: Masters in Business Administration (Management) & Masters in counseling- concentration in Human Resource Development.
Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda: Bachelors in Social Science – concentration in Political Science & Social Administration.
Other qualifications:
FIVB level 2 coach
International coaching diploma, University of Leipzig
USA Volleyball level 1 coach
Shilla Omuriwe Buyungo began coaching for the KAVC in 2012. Previously, she studied at the University of Bridgeport (UB) earning a Masters in Business Administration (Management) & a Masters in counseling- concentration in Human Resource Development and at Makerere University earning a Bachelors in Social Science – concentration in Political Science & Social Administration.
She is also the only female coach to have led a men’s team to the National Volleyball League title in the FIVB volleyball History. She did that with KAVC men’s team in the 2014 NSSF Volleyball League.
Before returning to Uganda in 2010, Shilla was a Grad assistant volleyball coach at University of Bridgeport. Prior to that, she was a first team Libero for the team while completing her master’s studies during which time she was honored by The New York Collegiate Athletic Conference as a member of their 2005-2006 All Academic Team. Also in that period her outstanding academic performance was recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Shilla has also coached at the Connecticut Sports Center (16s) and Schools Volleyball at The International Schools Uganda and Kampala International School of Uganda(13 & under). She has also assisted at the KAVC annual Holiday Clinic.
In addition to her volleyball coaching experience, Shilla has significant playing experience in Uganda and the United States. She was a Libero for her club and the National Women’s side “Lady Volleyball Cranes” winning several awards as the best defender.
She also does sand volleyball. She has been a member of the Beach National team since 2001, winning 9 circuits and crowned seed one in 2006 and 2012.
Shilla is a certified FIVB Level Two coach – March 2019.
Source: Inside Volleyball